Dale, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in guiding young people towards successful careers, virtually joined our learners for a transformative three-part masterclass. Through sessions on work experience, personal branding, and CV writing, our learners gained invaluable insights and skills to shape their vocational aspirations.
| With over 30 years experience, Dale has launched the careers of over 6000 young people into the careers and industries they aspired to be in. |
During the first session, learners delved into the significance of work experience and its potential impact on their future prospects. They explored the value of gaining practical exposure in a workplace environment and seeking to enhance their CVs and personal statements. Dale discussed various work experience opportunities and provided practical guidance on finding placements aligned with their career interests.
In the second session, learners embarked on a journey to understand the essence of personal branding. Dale began by exploring the quote by Jeff Bezos, ‘Your personal brand is what people say about you when you leave the room,’ as a starting point to expressing the significance of personal branding. Learners explored the different paths of degree apprenticeships and traditional university routes, examining notable the requirements on programs offered by leading companies and universities. Dale also emphasised the significance of effective communication skills and leveraging social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, to showcase passion and interest.
For the final session, Dale unveiled the secrets to crafting an exceptional CV that opens doors to interviews. Dale revealed the golden rule for a successful CV—keeping it to a single page. By sharing exemplar bios and CV passages, Dale provided valuable advice on how to present oneself effectively on paper. Learners gained insights into tailoring their CVs to highlight their unique strengths, achievements, and experiences, increasing their chances of securing interview opportunities.
'Dale gave us vital information about how we would go about getting work experience. The best takeaway form this session was trying to use any contacts we have in the sector we would want work experience in,' Nicolos, year 12 learner.
'I really loved the sessions we had with Dale because they gave us an insight to how to make yourself viable to the different companies that are out there. I also loved how it went through how your social profiles should look and how it will attract companies and businesses to your page,' Rosie, year 12 learner.
Reflecting on these sessions, Dale commented 'I've really enjoyed 'visiting' the students at London Design and Engineering college virtually for the last 3 weeks. The sessions have had well over 100 young people watching together every week at the college and have really demonstrated to me that whilst in-person sessions are great....'live' online delivery can also be really effective.’
‘These three masterclass sessions, delivered by Dale, have positively impacted our learners’ vocational aspirations. By understanding the value of work experience, crafting their personal brands, and mastering the art of CV writing, our learners have gained crucial skills and knowledge to navigate their future career pathways,‘ Janice, Careers Lead.
Thank you to Dale for empowering our learners to take charge of their vocational journeys and pursue successful careers. Thanks also to the following authorities for generously funding this amazing opportunity: Local London, The Careers and Enterprise Company, Mayor of London and European Social Fund.
