College News

Mock interview Masterclass

Attending your first job interview can be a daunting experience, however a group of students from QE were able to prepare for this important occasion by participating in a mock interview workshop with local employers and businesses. The students, who are all hoping to secure an apprenticeship or employment upon completing their A Levels, were asked to choose from a list of real vacancies a week in advance, including positions in engineering, childcare, accountancy and cyber security, to research their job roles and construct answers to potential questions. Each interview lasted 30 minutes and the employers provided constructive feedback on how well the students performed, how prepared they were and how to improve their CV.

Following the workshop, several employers, including representatives from Gestamp, Santander and Clive Owen LLP, were so impressed with their interviewees that they requested copies of their CVs. One employer comments: ‘The students seemed really well prepared and there are a couple who I will definitely be looking out for during the next application cycle’. The students have also benefitted from this positive experience on a personal level with many now having the confidence to begin applying for upcoming apprenticeship opportunities and using the advice given to them in their mock interviews to ensure they are fully prepared for the real thing.

James Byrne, Higher Education and Careers Adviser at QE concludes: ‘For some students, this was the first time that they had found themselves in an interview setting and I am extremely proud of how they handled the situation. They took the event seriously and the employers were fantastic, giving the group a real insight into what to expect from an interview scenario. This was the first time that we have organised a workshop of this style, however I’m looking forward to running a similar one next year, with even more employers and students involved’.