Last week our Directors, Sponsors and Employers joined together to coach our year 11, 12 and 13 learners through the interview process. Leading companies across various industries sat through a forty minute interview, asking learners competency based questions and offering feedback from their responses. 

Companies who came to support our learners include Lendlease, Jerram Falkus, Tideway (Jacobs), Costain, Skanska, Thames Water, Morgan Sindall, Ramboll, Kilnbridge, Higgins, Bouygues. 
Being such a feat of collaboration within the LDE community, it is fitting to report this career event through the voices of some of those who made this possible.  

Izzy, Civil Engineering Degree Apprentice for Costain:  
The learners that I’ve interviewed have been very confident in their approach to the interview itself and you can also see that they are very passionate about the roles they want to get into as well as their extra-curricular activities. Today, I tried to support the learners to better articulate that passion so they can make the next step into their desired career pathway. I would encourage the learners I interviewed to do more research into the roles and companies that they want to work in as to set them apart from the competition.  

Lucy, External Affairs Director at Tideway and Director of LDEUTC: 
Absolutely fantastic to meet the learners today and hear about their career aspirations. I was blown away by the quality of the interviews, everyone gave such a good account of themselves by articulating what they want to do but also what they got to offer. 

Gabe, year 13 learner:  
During the mock interview, I learnt a new acronym that I can use to better structure my responses. S.T.A.R: situation, task, action result. With tools like these, I feel more confident going to interviews because I have an idea of how they will go and how best I can respond and articulate what I have to say.  

These mock interviews offered our learners the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with industry leaders, workshop their CVs and gain insight into different career pathways. 

‘I am always astounded by the level of company support at these events, these opportunities are what makes the difference to our learners as they move ever closer to beginning their careers as a higher or degree apprentice.  Giving our learners a ‘’live’ experience prepares them and allows them to consider the knowledge and skills that they have to respond to the interviewer with a considered answer. Thanks to everyone who gave up their time today to join us,’ Janice, Careers and Progression Lead.