Guidance – Help with Resumes/Mock Interviews

Helping young people prepare Resumes and get interview practice

For many young people the first time they get proper feedback on their Resumes or interview techniques is when they first apply for jobs and find out just how hard it can be to get into work.

Schools and colleges know that young people need to be helped to ensure that don’t go into the jobs market without any preparation. They often run Resume workshops and arrange mock interviews so that pupils get to practice in a supportive but realistic environment. To help make pupils take it seriously and get fullest value out the sessions, they look for working professionals with first-hand experience of recruitment to get involved.

Research shows that these sessions are really effective in helping young people to develop skills which will be essential to later job hunting, but also gives them the opportunity to reflect on what they want and need to achieve out of education whilst still at school or college.

Who can volunteer?

As a volunteer, there is no need for training or the normal Working with Children checks to help out. By making the offer to help, you are offering to share your own expertise and experience as to what a good and bad Resume looks like and/or how to come across effectively in an interview.

You could work in HR/Personnel or be someone who regularly interviews or looks at Resumes as part of recruitment. Teachers are looking for people with real life experience to add an extra dimension to what they do. Teachers might be looking for help in illustrating good and bad practice.

How you can get involved?

Through Inspiring the Future, there is a simple, quick and free way to identify yourself as someone who willing to be approached by schools and colleges to help young people with their Resumes or interview skills. Thousands of teachers across the UK are using Inspiring the Future to find people who can help at the time they need it and we anticipate that will be the case in Australia.

It may just be once a year, but makes a huge difference. If are already registered on Inspiring the Future, just log into your account and update your profile.

Please note that under no circumstances should you contact students directly, and ask for their personal contact details. All correspondence would need to go through the teacher present.

What difference does it make?

As key exams loom, Resume and interview advice helps young people to reflect on what they are studying and how well they are doing in relation to prospective careers. Surveys consistently show that young people really valued opportunities they have to practice Resume writing and interview techniques whilst they are still at school.

Teachers testify that they really do make a difference and can even improve attainment by bringing home the reality of what the modern jobs market demands.

Resources for your school and college visits

Volunteers

Guidance – Help with Resumes/Mock Interviews

Helping young people prepare Resumes and get interview practice

Who can volunteer?

How you can get involved?

What difference does it make?

Resources for your school and college visits

The following documents have been put together by Inspiring the Future -UK

The following Australian links may also be helpful:

A helpful series of video clips from the USA