Preparing the younger generation for the working world has become increasingly important.

Whilst girls in senior school have “strong career ambitions”, only 16% feel they have “adequate guidance on what the working world will be like”, as found in the GDST Girls’ Futures Research report. Our intention at our recent Year 12 Mock Interview Day was to change this, by sharing our working world knowledge, but crucially, allowing Year 12 to put it into practice.

 

 

On Monday 30 June, we welcomed over 17 employers to deliver a full day of interactive sessions for our Year 12 students. The morning featured a series of engaging masterclasses covering topics such as LinkedIn and personal branding, CVs and Personal Statements, Entrepreneurial Thinking, and an inside look at Careers in Law — all led by industry professionals and alumnae.

Each pupil also took part in a one-to-one mock interview. Interviewers provided scores and personalised feedback for each “candidate”, helping students understand their strengths and areas for growth in future professional settings.

 

 

  • One Year 12 student said: “My interviewer was really nice and they were asking good questions and follow up questions. They created a positive atmosphere, I thoroughly enjoyed it! They covered a large range of questions and were really thorough, and gave me a lot of helpful and good feedback afterwards” 

After lunch, the day concluded with a dynamic assessment centre run by Gleeds, a global property and construction consultancy, giving students another taste of real-world recruitment processes.

  • A facilitator from the days workshops said: “The girls were really engaged in the presentations and got on with the activities. They had questions during and after the session as well.”

This was an invaluable opportunity for Year 12 to gain insight, experience, and confidence as they prepare for life beyond school – or a part-time job! It was clear they had prepared, and we’re incredibly proud of the hard work and bravery on the day. We all know how scary interviews can be – whether it’s your first job, or your eighth.