“We have worked with Mark on several projects, including our Preparing for Interview programme.  Their commitment, professionalism and organisation meant that all 280 of our year 11 students received a high quality interview with a skilled and experienced business interviewer, an experience their feedback confirms they found extremely valuable.  We have rebooked for next year and look forward to continuing to work with Essex Work Skills”.

This was feedback we received from a senior member of staff at a school that Essex Work Skills have worked with for many years. The school in question has consistently received outstanding grades from Ofsted for its Work-Related Learning and Careers Education provision and it has previously been awarded ROQA (Recognition of Quality Award) accreditation.

A key phrase used above was “a skilled and experienced business interviewer”. Other adjectives such as enthusiastic, knowledgeable and supportive could have been used just as well to describe the volunteers we recruit to support Mock Interview days but why do people give up their time to participate in this particular work-related learning (WRL) activity?

One reason is that Essex Work Skills is absolutely convinced that young people truly benefit from preparing for, and participating in, a Mock Interview and we convey this message passionately to everyone we meet. We believe, without question, that a Mock Interview should be a statutory entitlement for all students as they prepare for their future.

However, there are many more reasons why businesses and their staff find time to support our Mock Interview events. 

Firstly, our volunteers consistently report how rewarding they find the experience of meeting hard working and aspirational young people. They take this message back to their local communities and often become powerful advocates for the MI process and the schools, colleges and students who offer the opportunity to their pupils. We have found that employers also become more willing to recruit locally if they have met, and been impressed by, a cross section of young people from schools in their neighbourhood.

Secondly, Mock Interview Days are a great way of adding to your networking effort. A wide variety of businesses are represented at our events and our (mock) interviewers will nearly always meet a cross section of interesting, well-connected and community minded individuals.

Thirdly, asking staff to support a Mock Interview Day is a great way of providing training, especially if they are in customer facing or public service roles. 

Fourthly, supporting schools and colleges is a simple, time efficient and rewarding way for companies to satisfy their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives.  

There truly are enormous benefits to everyone involved in a Mock Interview event and Essex Work Skills provides all the training, information and guidance that businesses and volunteers need to participate in these truly rewarding days. 

To find out how Essex Work Skills can help your business support education in this way, please call Mark Sexton on 01376 313999 or contact us via the website www.essexworkskills.co.uk