Jobshop UK sets up mock interviews as part of Connexions Leap Project
25 August 2009

Jobshop UK is helping teenagers aged 16 to 19 gain essential skills and qualities needed for their career planning and management by providing them with the opportunity to gain a realistic experience of a job interview. The young people are being given the opportunity to participate in a mock interview, with feedback and advice being given by Jobshop UK during the videoed interview session.

Jobshop UK is supplying its expertise free of charge to the teenagers who are all participating in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole’s Connexions LEAP (Local Employment Access Project) programme. Set up by Connexions a year ago to cater for young people not in education and looking for work, the two-week programme is funded by the European Social Fund. The local scheme has so far benefited young people in Bournemouth, Weymouth, Wimborne and Swanage.

During the programme, which has also been devised to help youngsters choose a career path and build their self-confidence, students are given advice on producing a CV, completing application forms and interview techniques as well as learning about their strengths and areas for improvement. At the end of the two-week course the students receive an OCR Level 1 in Career Planning.

Connexions maintains contact with the students after the course and often students are invited back to promote LEAP to other students. To date, 38 students who have attended the local scheme have now secured employment in a range of job sectors including administration; health care; beauty; construction, etc.

“Getting started in the job market is always difficult and it is particularly true of today’s market where many companies are contracting their workforce”, says Tracey Wood, Director at Jobshop UK. “We have been delighted to help with this project which provides local young people with the necessary skills to move into employment”.