Job Success For Student Elliot
A group of students from a Denbighshire secondary school have been put through their paces for an experience of a job interview – with one enterprising student managing to earn himself a real life Saturday morning job as a result.
Denbighshire County Council, through its Economic and Community Ambitions Board, commissioned and funded a new project entitled ‘Pathway+’. One of the activities of the project programme was to develop and pilot an interview toolkit, with local employers and schools.
The first pilot was held at Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen when Year 11 students made a choice (deleted ‘of employers’) from six advertisement, applied for the position and were interviewed by one of several local employers present at a special event.
Employers included A.N Richards, Ifor Williams Trailers, Lawson Construction, Xenos, Employability Academy, Denbighshire County Council, Waterco and Mondelez International.
Each employer interviewed several students throughout the day, and Elliot Tudor-Evans was interviewed by Jenni Edwards from Denbighshire County Council. At the interview, Elliot enquired whether there was an opportunity for any Saturday work with any employers present.
Jenni referred Elliot to Johanna Cooke of A. N. Richards (car & commercial recovery and repair service), who informally spoke to Elliot and advised him to send in his CV/application form and they would invite him for interview.
A week later Elliot sent in his CV/application form and attended a formal interview with the company.
Rose Richards, who interviewed Elliot, said: “Elliot arrived on time, well presented and conducted an excellent interview. He showed a genuine interest in our company and asked all the right questions.
“We were so impressed that we offered Elliot a Saturday job. We are hoping that once Elliot has finished his exams he will join us as a full time member of staff and have a successful future with the company.
“Our company would like to continue to be involved in the Pathway+ programme as we believe it is important, as employers we give back to the community and support our young people in local schools.
Mark Hatch, Deputy Head Teacher at Ysgol Dinas Bran said: “This was the first time we have taken a full cohort of students through the interview process from application to interview and whilst they were a little nervous, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It was fantastic how well they responded to the challenge, and we will certainly be doing this again. We like to offer our students as many extra curricula opportunities as we can, particularly when it involves working with local employers’.
Elliot said: “I attended the interview at the school, and was unsure what I wanted to do once I had finished my exams. I am so pleased that I have been given this opportunity by A N Richards and intend to prove to them I am worthy of the trust they have placed in me. I am determined not to let either myself or the school down’.
‘This opportunity would not have happened if I had not attended the interview day, and I would say to other students, you will be nervous but if you are well prepared, you will never know what comes from such an opportunity and even if you don’t get a Saturday job like myself you will know how to conduct yourself at an interview before leaving school”.
Jenni Edwards, Pathway+ Coordinator for Denbighshire County Council, said: “The success of the pilot has shown us that we are on the right track, and that our students are benefitting from working with employers and participating in such important skills development programmes.”
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