STUDENTS from South Bromsgrove High School were given an insight into job-seeking during an year 11 interview day.
The interviewer who held the sessions praised the pupils, adding both the concept, and standard of the students, had set the benchmark for others to follow.
In previous years, representatives from local business and enterprise have visited the school to conduct one-to-one interviews so that all 335 year 11 students could experience and practice what could be quite a stressful situation.
This year, with Covid restrictions in place, the school moved the whole exercise online.
Students joined the interviewers for a video call lasting up to 20 minutes which included questions, feedback on performance and advice for the future.
The students said the experience was of great benefit to them and they received pointers on how they could improve, such as learning to sell themselves better and to develop the examples they used to demonstrate their personal qualities.
Most started off a bit nervous but warmed to the exercise and ended up taking away a big boost to their confidence.
The school’s career lead Mr Clark said: “We are so grateful for the interviewers who have volunteered their time to support our students in this way.
“It is always an invaluable exercise in giving the students a chance to practice their interview skills, especially in the new normal of online working.
“This cohort missed out on their job shadowing opportunity last summer, due to lockdown, so it has been very important to give them the chance to learn how to conduct themselves in an unknown situation.”
The school’s careers programme will utilise online video later in the year with alumni talks for the sixth-form and employer ‘visits’ for year nine pupils.
