Year 13 students have been widely praised by local and national employers following the school’s dedicated Interview and Networking Day, which took place on Thursday 6 November at Heathfield Community College.
The event was designed to provide students with high-level professional interview experience and critical networking opportunities with visitors representing diverse career pathways. This included; Civil Service, HR, Engineering, Finance, Creative Sector, NHS, Construction and Project Management.
Interviewers, from a wide range of different employment backgrounds, expressed significant admiration for the students’ professionalism and preparedness. The day’s success was attributed to the students’ commitment, evident in their smart dress code and positive, engaged interactions throughout the interviews and the networking session.
The event generated glowing feedback from participating interviewers, highlighting the bright future of the students. A selection of comments includes:
- “The enthusiasm with which the students looked to their futures was palpable and the quality of interaction refreshing!”
- “The focus and confidence of these remarkable young people is something I will talk about for a very long time.”
- “Their drive, enthusiasm and self-awareness give you great hope and are a credit to the school.”
One interviewer succinctly summarised the general sentiment, stating, “The calibre of your young people is outstanding.”
The commitment displayed by the students has reinforced the Interview and Networking Day as a crucial part of the Sixth Form experience in preparing them for Post 18 destinations and the world of work. Students involved in the day said:
- “The PSHEE lessons about interview techniques really helped me find what I was going to say during the interview. I felt more confident going into yesterday’s interview then previous ones I have done outside of school”
- “The networking introduced us to the importance of getting yourself out there and making a good first impression.”
- “The person that I had my interview with was very kind and reassuring, he made the whole process feel like a conversation which really took the pressure off and cleared any nerves that I would have previously had.”
Samantha White, Head of Year 12 commented, “I was especially proud of the way the students conducted themselves during the networking event. It is a challenging situation to prepare for! However, each Year 13 student took the event seriously, gave their absolute best and impressed both staff and visitors with their engagement and professional approach. It was lovely to see students step away from their interviews looking genuinely pleased with their performance” We extend a huge amount of thanks to all of the Interviewers who volunteered their time for our students. Without their generosity this day would not be possible.