Connex Education in Nottingham recently attended an event at Ellis Guilford School to conduct mock interviews with year 11 students to help with their career skills. The event saw experienced consultants from Connex provide expert advice on interviews and CV writing tips.
Year 11 students at the school who will be taking their GCSEs during this academic year, were encouraged to try the mock interviews. The activity was to ensure students knew what to expect when they begin their careers, after this year or in the future. Connex also provided the students with an overview of various careers and how to go about finding their first jobs once they finish studying. Connex Education Strategy Director Gemma Charvet said:
“This was a really useful event for the students of Ellis Guilford. For many, it’s difficult to decide upon a career at that age. Most don’t have any real-world experience of the working environment. By providing advice on the processes of finding a job, including CV writing tips and mock interviews, we were able to provide assistance and valuable insight into what they can expect in the future.”
Connex has previously carried out events in schools in different areas of Nottingham and Gemma has noticed a significant knowledge gap about career avenues between inner-city children and their suburban counterparts. She said:
“The biggest thing we’ve noticed from these events is that inner-city children from more challenging backgrounds tend to have a knowledge gap about the different careers available. That’s why it was so valuable to attend the event today and talk about the different career paths available and skill sets required. Hopefully, they can go away with more information and skills.”
The Careers Leader of Ellis Guilford, Mrs Arberry also attended the event and was pleased with the results. She said, “It’s important that companies such as Connex are able to attend and share their expertise. Our students really benefited from the event, particularly the mock interviews which were professionally carried out by the Connex staff.”
Connex Education is an established education recruitment agency in the Nottinghamshire region and is planning to attend more events similar to the one held at Ellis Guilford. The agency was set up in 1999 and has over five boutique offices across the UK. It recruits for primary and secondary teachers, teaching assistants, cover supervisors and early years practitioners on a day to day, long-term and permanent basis. It also provides an employment-based SCITT programme for aspiring teachers.
Ellis Guilford School is a secondary comprehensive school in Bar Lane, Old Basford, Nottingham. The school provides education for students aged 11–16.
