The skills and knowledge that students need for work and life beyond school extend far beyond proficiency in reading, writing, numeracy and technology. In an increasingly complex and demanding modern world, a broader range of competencies are essential for students to make an effective transition from school or university into the workforce. These include employability skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, decision making, time and self-management, planning and organising, flexibility and the ability to work under pressure. In order to obtain a job in the first place, students must also develop the ability to write a resume and cover letter and sit an interview effectively.
These skills and abilities will help students to differentiate themselves from other qualified candidates when looking for a job. Yet, whilst students, school leavers and graduates usually have the technical or knowledge-based ability to do a job well, they often lack many of the employability skills that are critical to getting and keeping a job. Schools and graduate programs that provide their students with employability skill development are to be commended for their insightful and holistic investment into their students’ futures.
Recently, Consultrain worked with one such school, Emmaus Secondary College, to provide their Year 9 cohort with the interview skills required to assist them to obtain their first casual and part-time jobs. Consultrain delivered information sessions to over 200 students covering how to prepare for an interview and how to answer a variety of different types of interview questions. These information sessions were specifically tailored to engage young people by utilising a variety of age appropriate and participative delivery methods and learning activities including breakout discussion groups, brainstorming, games, quizzes, and the critiquing of short DVD snippets. The sessions were also followed up by mock interview practice whereby each student wrote a resume and cover letter in application for a ‘mock’ part-time position, and then sat a short 10-15 minute interview for that position with one of several volunteer interviewers from the local parent and professional community.
Evaluations received from approximately 40% of these students indicated that 90% of them rated the information sessions as either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’, with 80% reporting that the content was either ‘Extremely Helpful’ or ‘Very Helpful’. An impressive 91% of responding students said that they would recommend the Interview Skills sessions to other students.
When asked what they learnt from the Interview Skills sessions, students’ responses cited learning how to research and prepare for an interview, how to dress and present themselves appropriately, how to ask and answer different types of interview questions, how to display appropriate body language in an interview, and how to write a resume and cover letter. Students reported that this learning would help them to look more professional, feel more confident and make a positive impression in interview situations. Feedback from Emmaus College corroborates this, with many students having subsequently gone on to secure interviews and consequently casual employment.
Consultrain can enhance the work readiness of school students and graduates by customising and delivering information sessions in resume writing and interview skills, as well as highly engaging skills development workshops in many other critical areas of employability, to suit timetable restrictions and student groups from 8 to over 100.
Imagine sending your students on to their university or career goals knowing that you’ve given them the very best preparation to help them stand out and be successful in whatever field they’ve chosen?
For more information, contact adele@consultrain.com.au or call 0412 683 659