"I have learnt how to present yourself within an interview....the right things, the wrong things. I feel more prepared for what will happen in an interview"
SEND young person
At Leicestershire Cares, we know that taking those first steps towards employment can feel daunting, particularly when you have limited experience of the recruitment process. That is why we recently brought young people from across our projects together for a cross-project mock interview event, giving our young care leavers and SEND young people the opportunity to develop their confidence and experience what it is really like to attend an interview.
The event was made possible through the fantastic support of four business volunteers from Everards, who generously gave their time to provide realistic, industry-standard mock interviews.
Preparing for the world of work
We began the day with an interactive interview skills workshop, giving participants the opportunity to explore what employers look for and how they can present themselves positively during an interview.
The workshop focused on practical advice and encouraged young people to think about their strengths, experiences and aspirations. It also provided a safe space to ask questions, share concerns and learn that feeling nervous about an interview is completely normal.
Rather than simply telling young people how to succeed in an interview, the session helped them understand the process and gave them practical tools they could take away and use in future applications.
Putting skills into practice
Following the workshop, participants took part in individual mock interviews with our Everards volunteers.
The interviews were designed to reflect a real recruitment experience, giving young people the chance to practise answering questions, communicating their strengths and talking about their experiences in a professional setting.
For some participants, this was an opportunity to experience an interview environment for the first time. Having the chance to practise in a supportive setting can make a real difference, helping young people to understand what to expect and approach future interviews with greater confidence.
The Everards volunteers brought valuable industry experience to the event, providing honest, constructive feedback and encouragement to help each young person recognise what they did well and identify areas they could continue to develop.
Creating opportunities through business partnerships
Events like this demonstrate the importance of bringing businesses and young people together.
A mock interview may only last a short time, but the opportunity to speak directly with experienced professionals can help young people build confidence, develop communication skills and gain a better understanding of workplace expectations.
Our business volunteers play a vital role in helping the young people we support prepare for their next steps. By sharing their experience and creating authentic opportunities to practise workplace skills, they can help young people see that employment is an achievable goal.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the four volunteers from Everards for giving their time, sharing their expertise and supporting our young people throughout the event.
We are proud to continue bringing our projects together to create meaningful employability opportunities and help young people build the confidence, skills and resilience they need for their futures.
If you are a business and would like to support Leicestershire Cares by volunteering your time, skills or expertise, we would love to hear from you.