Interviewing Year 10 Students

When I was in Year 10 I wanted to be an author, Whitney Houston’s bodyguard, a space marine fighting aliens and a mafia boss who only hurt and ripped off bad people. My in-real-life work experience was limited to a short stint at Boots and a week in an office supply store where I earned £50, a mug and a clock. That summer I would begin my weekend job at Waitrose to prepare myself for the world of work.

Back then, I did not know how difficult it would be to find a job I liked and was good at. A job that would provide meaning and purpose and enough money to enjoy life. Even when you find it you still want more, counting down the days to achieve your dreams before you retire and spend the days wandering around supermarkets, looking for something you can’t remember.

Before that happens, I like to share my wisdom at mock interviews for Year 10 students. I have been selected for this volunteering opportunity because I am an inspirational HR professional, know how to engage with youths and am available during the day because my employer has a volunteering policy.

When the young people I interviewed finish education and start dropping their CVs in employer inboxes, I hope I played a small role in their development. I was impressed by their interpersonal skills and understanding of how their character traits and hobbies are as important as work experience in developing their employability.

At 14/15 years of age, work experience is limited, with a week here and there in hotels, charity shops, the school’s IT office, car garage and digging up gardens. One student worked at the company where his dad is a director. Yeah, easy to make assumptions, but I could tell that he did this job to the best of his ability. He cared about his job and how geopolitics affected his trading of currencies on the foreign exchange market. Forex, for those in the know!

Compared to the students I interviewed two years ago, they seemed more level-headed and realistic. They referred to their sporting interests and achievements as something they do for fun and to answer questions about teamwork, facing challenges and personal growth. As opposed to wanting to earn a living from sports. As if they know professional comes before whatever sport they are good at, because business is business and what they learn from sports can help them thrive in other career paths.

I liked that esports achievements made CVs and how the lessons learned from martial arts, scouting, coding, coaching, moving to a new school and improving your behaviour to go on a school trip shape young minds. When someone listed Spanish on their CV, I said ‘Cómo estás?’and received a ‘Muy bien’ back, with the student unflappable and able to continue seamlessly.

Two years ago, I told students that CVs will be disappearing soon, but that does not seem to be happening. There must be a better way of showcasing your experience and applying for jobs.

When other interviewers spoke for longer than I did, I felt anxious and came up with some useless questions to prolong the interview. The girl I was interviewing showed her potential for the boardroom when she said: ‘I think you’ve asked everything.’ I gave her positive feedback on her assertiveness.

When interviewing a teenager who cannot make any eye contact, I do not comment on it. If that teenager wants to improve their communication skills, I write in their feedback not to change who they are because that’s what other people want. If you know your stuff, are polite and have your own way of communicating, you don’t have to look someone in the eye to be accepted. You are fine, just the way you are.

You feel a connection with the students during the ten-minute conversation until they sit back down at the end of the hall, then you cannot remember who it was you were talking to as you wave their feedback sheet in the air.

I apologised to a student who applied for the fictional sales job for asking him to sell me the pen on our table. He started well, then I asked him about labour laws and working regulations at the factory. ‘I do not know how to answer that question,’ he said.

Good answer, nor do I. I am sure you will do just fine.

To all the young people out there, never give up on your ambitions.