College hosts mock interviews

Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina campus has recently hosted mock interviews for its Year 9 students.

The mock interviews were a three-day process where over 300 Year 9 students were interviewed by a panel of community members.

The panel consisted of business owners, retired teachers and volunteers from community groups and employment agencies.

Students spent several weeks during English classes preparing for the interviews by devising resumes and writing cover letters geared towards specific job advertisements.

On the day, the students attended the interview and had a "real life version" of what the interview process was all about.

They were then provided with feedback from the panel of two to three members.

The students and panel members had an opportunity to evaluate the process after the event.

Brisbane Waters Secondary College Umina campus careers advisor Ms Nerrida Vallack-Lewis said many of the panel members were so impressed with the students that they wanted to employ them themselves.

"The students found the experience so useful and beneficial that they left feeling comfortable and well informed," Ms Vallack-Lewis said.

"This was a great experience for our students and an opportunity for our community to see how dedicated and focused our students are.

"The English staff did a wonderful job preparing the students and the day exposed the students to a mock but real event.

"We hope the day gave students an opportunity to see what the interview process can be like and what they can do further to improve their chances of future employment.

"This is the first time I have been involved in something like this and the students left the interviews beaming, proud of themselves and their efforts.

"They valued themselves personally and took tools with them that will help them in the future."

Email, 6 Dec 2013

Nerrida Vallack-Lewis, BWSC Umina