1 | Mock interviews

  • This activity gives participants the opportunity to develop their interview skills. The session can be structured as follows: 

    1. Model: Work through some examples interview questions, present effective and ineffective examples and discuss the importance of interview skills. 

    2. Practice: Give participants the opportunity to practise answering interview questions – this can be peer to peer (participants take it in turns to interview each other) or volunteer-led (volunteers interview students 1-1 or in small groups) 

    3. Feedback: Allow time for peers or volunteers to feedback on the participants performance and provide some areas for development. A feedback proforma could be provided with success criteria to be scored/commented on. 

  • You could make the “model” section more extensive by demonstrating an interview through role play between volunteers. Participants can then listen to the feedback on the interviewee and or give feedback themselves.  

    In the “practice” section you could involve members of staff who are either actively involved in the hiring/interview process at your company, or new hires who have recently been through the interview process. They can share best practice on recent/current experience. 

2 | CV Writing workshop

  • This activity gives participants the chance to practise their CV writing. The workshop can be structured as follows: 

    1. Model: Work through the key components of a CV, discuss/critique some good and bad CV examples and the importance of CVs in the application process. 

    2. Practice: Give participants the chance to create, or edit an existing, CV using tips/guidelines provided in the “model” section. 

    3. Feedback: Allow time for peers or volunteers to feedback on the participants CV drafts 

  • In the “practice” section you could involve members of staff who are actively involved in the recruitment process at your company. They can share best practice on current experience of reviewing CVs. 

 
 

3 | Application writing workshop

  • This activity gives participants the opportunity to practise answering written application questions. The workshop could be structured as follows: 

    1. Introduction: work through some example application questions, present some effective and ineffective answers and discuss what employers are looking for 

    2. Practice: give participants the chance to answer some example questions. 

    3. Feedback: Allow time for peers or volunteers to feedback on the participants answers. 

  • Give participants time to reflect on the feedback they are given and encourage them to set goals for improving their written applications.

 

4 | Assessment centre activities

 

  • This activity introduces participants to the concept of assessment centres and allows them to gain some practical experience.  

    The activity can be structures as follows: 

    1. Introduction: Introduce participants to the structure of an assessment centre and the various components that could be included. Discuss the aim of these activities, the skills required and techniques for performing well. 

    2. Mock assessment centre activities: Provide students with the opportunity to take part in an example assessment centre activity, such as a group challenge or presentation.  

    3. Feedback/reflection: Allow time for participants to reflect on their own (and/or their team’s) performance in the activity. If volunteers are available, they can observe and provide feedback using some success criteria for scoring/commenting.

  • For a longer, more in-depth experience, you could commit a whole morning or afternoon to a mock assessment centre, mimicking a “real” assessment centre as closely as possible, with multiple activities included. You could have a team of volunteers acting as observers to provide in-depth feedback. 

 
 

5 | Routes into the profession

  • This activity is useful if your company/sector has multiple routes in, i.e. if apprenticeship, degree and other routes all viable. It gives participants the opportunity to understand the various routes they could take, including what you/your sector would look for in candidates on various routes. 

    A facilitator or volunteer from your recruitment or early talent team could present the various routes to participants, including the requirements, application process, qualifications, pros and cons of each. A Q&A could be included after the presentation to allow participants to clarify their understanding. 

  • If possible, you could include a guest speaker to represent each of the routes – they could each talk about the route they took, why they chose that route and the benefits/challenges.