Year 9 is a common time for students to begin thinking about applying for part-time work. Whilst this is an exciting time for many, it can often be daunting as students are unaware how to apply for work or what the selection process may involve. Over the last few months during Pastoral lessons, students have had the opportunity to learn how to create their resume and write cover letters. This resulted in students submitting a mock job application and having a mock interview.
Through our partnership with the Banyule Nillumbik Local Learning and Employment Network for the Real Industry Job Interview (RIJI) program, students were able to be interviewed by experienced local business owners and recruitment professionals. The interview experience allowed students to prepare and feel the emotions that are often felt when being interviewed for a new role - some were nervous going in, but came out proud of how they handled the situation and with a sense of confidence. Students were interviewed for approximately 20 minutes and received five minutes of verbal feedback on their resume, cover letter and interview. In the coming weeks they will also receive individualised written feedback.
Overall, the experience allowed students to have a better understanding of how to not only find suitable employment, but also the knowledge and skills required to land that first job.
Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator
Reflections on RIJI
Going into the day, I was nervous about doing the program, but as soon as I got there, I felt so much better after seeing all the welcoming volunteers. Everyone there was so kind, and made sure that we were ready and feeling good. We were informed about what we would be doing and how it would help us in real-life situations, and getting jobs in the real world. When I went and met my interviewer, she welcomed me and made me feel comfortable so quickly. The whole experience was really eye-opening and I got so much feedback about how I could improve my resume, and advice to improve my interviewing skills. I think that the experience has helped me realise what interviews actually are, and that they are really more about getting to know the person. There are many things that I will take away from doing this program that I can put into use when getting a job in real life and doing interviews. Overall, I really enjoyed the program and think that it was really helpful.
Lily I 9LDA
Through the RIJI experience we created our own resume and cover letter suited to us and the job we were applying for. I choose the job of a Hoyts employee and had to make my resume and cover letter relevant and specific to that job. We then had the opportunity to be interviewed by some volunteers who asked us questions, talked to us about our chosen job and gave us verbal and written feedback about the things we did well and the things we could work on. At the beginning of the day, I was quite nervous about the interview experience and was a bit unsure of how the day would go. However, after having my interview, I ended up really enjoying the day and felt like I got a lot of benefit out of it. I found the interview experience very helpful and positive as I really enjoyed talking to my interviewer, asking her questions and receiving feedback. Through this RIJI experience I now feel more comfortable, confident and prepared for any real-life interviews in the future, and can't wait to continue to improve my interview skills.
Giordana T 9LDA
I was quite nervous at the start of the day before the interview, and I could tell I wasn't the only one when I walked into my Pastoral. The teachers encouraged us throughout the morning, letting us know that it is ok to be nervous because that means we care. When I sat down in the seat for my interview, I could see everyone doing the same, allowing my nerves to ease slightly. Across from me sat a lovely person, who introduced himself and made some jokes to start off with. When he asked me questions I found him intently listening and if I didn't know how to answer he would help me and give advice as to what I could potentially say. Time flew by really fast and before I knew it, the interview was over. This whole experience was really useful to not only myself but my classmates as well. After reflecting on my interview, I realised there was nothing to be nervous about because the interview was the highlight of my day. I reflect back on the experience, thinking about all the jokes that were made and the laughs that were shared throughout the interview with my helpful volunteer. By the end of this experience, I also left the room with lots of useful advice and lifelong lessons.
Romi L 9LDA
