Accrington, Lancashire, November 22, 2022
The Make it Work Day has been designed to provide our Year 11 pupils with all the information and guidance, study skills and well-being strategies they will need to help them with their future choices. They also take part in a Mock Interview, to provide them with valuable insight into the process before they start making applications for work, apprenticeships or sixth form.
The mock interviews themselves generally last 15 minutes each and representatives from the wider school community, local employers and volunteers are invited to attend. We are very grateful for their help and for taking the time out of their busy days. Representatives have been from Sundown Solutions, Accrington Stanley Community Trust, NHS East Lancashire, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Leeds City College to name but a few.
The formal interview covered their career/training/course plans and why they are interested in that industry; why they are a suitable candidate; what are their strengths and weaknesses; as well as going through their CV and Record Achievement. It also made them think more about appropriate dress and appearance. This all leads to invaluable feedback from their interviewers that will help with their future applications. One interviewer commented, “The children – wow! What a pleasure it was to be a part of their day. They were polite, had clearly put effort and prep into the day and had made a real effort with how they presented themselves. They should be very proud. It was so lovely to hear of the experiences they have within school and out, that enhance the skills and knowledge they have to offer in their career pathway.”
In addition to their mock interview, pupils attended workshops titled Brand ‘ME’; Organising Knowledge; My Future Finances; And Breathe…. delivered by external guests and current staff. We’d like to thank Leanne Burrows from the Department for Work and Pensions and Nicola Stott from Burnley College who delivered the Brand ‘ME’ workshop which focused on CV writing skills; Mr Allen; Miss Kelly; Mr Dickinson; Miss McGuigan and Mr Costigan. With a special thanks to Miss Sutton for bringing the whole day together.
It was a great event, and the Year 11 pupils were fantastic throughout, taking it seriously and ‘really looking the business’.
