No drama: Pupils and volunteers channel their inner Idris Elba and Adjoa Andoh

Some 26 Urban Synergy volunteer role models got “into character" with 150 sixth form students aged 16 to 17 from Christ the King Aquinas Campus in Brockley, South London on 14th May, to practise mock interviews.

The career role model volunteers interviewed students for a part-time role and provided the students with:

• Feedback on their interview performance,
• Knowledge about the company and
• Their suitability for the imaginary role on offer.

The students also had a chance to ask our career role models about their own jobs to gain some valuable insights and top tips.

Students said:

“I learned good conversational skills during the mock interviews”

“I enjoyed being able to engage with people who had different experiences and being able to learn and understand how they overcame these boundaries and setbacks and turned them into a success.

“I learned the 3 main aims of an interview and how I can improve my overall presence by smiling more”

“It was educational, informative and helped to answer all the questions I needed answers for.”

“I learned the concept of a real life interview, as I’ve never done one before. I learned the style and the way to ask the questions and what they expect me to cover in my answers.”

“Thank you to our role model volunteers, the teachers and staff at Christ the King Aquinas, and to the students who took part,” says Urban Synergy’s Head of Programmes, Dianne Johnson. “It’s great to see everyone channel their inner Idris Elba or Adjoa Andoh and act out interviews.

“The mock interview is a keystone in the Urban Synergy programme, and prepares young people for their first interview - something that’s as up there in terms of being ‘nerve wracking’ as your first driving test. Practice, as we know, is the best way to make perfect.”