The Stephen Longfellow Academy worked in partnership with Teaching Personnel and Leeds City College to arrange mock interviews for Year 10 students. The aim was to prepare students for future college, apprenticeship and job interviews, which students will face in Year 11.
Prior to the mock interviews, students spent time during form time learning about what an interview is, preparing possible questions and identifying what makes a good answer. Some of the questions included:
Tell me something about yourself?
Tell me about any volunteering or work experience that you have done?
Give me three words that your teacher would use to describe you and why?
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
In the interview students were not only graded by their answers but were judged against eye contact, body language and manners. Each interview lasted approximately 10 minutes. At the end of the interview, students were given individual feedback on how they could improve their interview answers and technique.
In total 72% of Year 10 students who were in the academy on the day engaged with the Mock interview process. Students who participated were very positive about the experience. Those students who missed their interviews will have the opportunity to undertake a mock interview with Mr Gill in the Careers Department at a later date.
It was clear to see from student feedback forms that:
82% of students said they now felt more confident about interviews since undertaking these mock interviews.
94% of students said they had become more aware of the interview process.
100% said it was useful to practice Interview questions.
100% said, the interview helped them become more aware of employer and college expectations.
100% said the interviewer’s feedback was useful.
Student feedback comments included:
“It helped me understand the questions I could be asked in an interview.” L A
“Very respectful interviewer”. S A
“Was a good experience, I learnt a few things” J A
“Gives you an idea of the job world” L S
Interviewers feedback
- “Everyone gave it a good go, even if they were nervous. Some excellent interviews, specifically J, K and Everyone was really adaptive, could see the students were well prepared in advance. Some real characters, who got to show their personalities in the interviews.”
Cameron Prince (Leeds Recruitment Consultant – Teaching Personnel)
- “Very positive outcome from the students, they were well engaged and mature about the interview. They all had plenty to speak about and had some varied and unique experiences. It was good to see great passion and thoughts about their future careers. Special mention to J and L.”
Bethany Powell (Schools Liaison Officer – Leeds City College)
The Year 10 mock interviews were a very successful careers intervention, and even though several of the students found this experience challenging, it helped increase their confidence in facing interviews and understanding the interview process. Every student who participated will be provided a certificate of participation for their Record of Achievement and gained £5 on their amazon accounts for excellent interviews. The Stephen Longfellow Academy will continue to work with Teaching Personnel and Leeds City College to support its careers programme.
Raj Gill (Director of Careers)