Year 10 Mock Interviews

Year 10 Mock Interviews

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week 176 Year 10 students were involved in Mock Job Interviews. These interviews represent the practicum of the Year 10 Career Education Program which is aimed at providing students with learning opportunities to develop essential knowledge, understanding and skills for participation in the rapidly changing world of work. Some of the most important of these skills are Job Seeking skills such as the preparation of a resume and Job Interview Techniques.

Students were supplied with information on 6 entry level job vacancies, from which they were to choose one to research and prepare for an interview. Five interview panels were set up, each comprising of a staff member and a non-teaching member of the College community. At their scheduled interview session, students were asked for their response to a range of common job interview questions. This was followed by detailed feedback and advise from the interviewers on their performance and what areas they could improve on.

For the great majority of Year 10 students this was their very first interview of any kind. In spite of this and the nervousness that is a part of such a stressful situation, our students without exception exceeded all expectations. Interview panel members were extremely impressed with the level of preparation and the mature and confident way our students conducted themselves in the interview.

Why are Interview Skills development so important to our students?

Our Year 10 students are part of the Generation Z (people born between 1995 and 2015) and as such will experience a world of work very different to previous generations. Members of Gen Z in the workforce are already proving to be the most mobile professional generation and are 3-4 times more likely to change jobs than Baby Boomers.

There have been numerous reports published since 2015 which clearly show that work is becoming increasingly flexible. These predict that the average 15 year old, throughout their lifetime, will have 17 jobs over five different careers.

So for our students the one constant when they enter the workforce will be constant change. To be success in their work lives they will need to develop the whole range of job seeking skills as they transition from one job or career to another.

Thanks to all our volunteer interviewers –On behalf of the entire Year 10 cohort I would like to sincerely thank  the following parents and friends for giving up their valuable time to provide this learning opportunity for our students: Mr Archie Andony, Ms Lisa Baiardo, Ms Judith Burrows, Mr Fred Cicci, Ms Margaret Diodoto, Ms Marilyn Gangemi, Ms Julie Jacobs, Ms Kym Leahy, Ms Liliana Mammoliti, Mr Alister Pereira, Mr Tony Ricciadello, Ms Nicole Stoffers and Ms Maria Vilardi.

A few decades ago, it was possible to ask a child what they wanted to be when they grew up and know the role would exist by the time they entered the workforce. But for Generation Z, nothing is certain. Technology is changing the way we work and creating new roles faster than we can dream them up. For members of Generation Z, this presents some challenges when it comes to choosing a career and planning for the inevitable changes that will occur during their time in the workforce.

Mr Cosimo Schirripa
Head of Learning Area – Career Development