The event was organised by FREBA (Frome Rotary Education Business Alliance), an informal alliance between education, in the form of Frome Community College, and local businesses, with Frome Rotary Club in a facilitator role.
Frome Rotary Club works with Frome Community College to promote business links within the area and, specifically, in trying to provide work experience placements for the students and to give them a glimpse of a real business environment through mock interviews and work experience.
In March 2010, the 350 students in Year 10 were invited to submit job applications and from these 100 students were selected for interview. Students were interviewed by panels of 2 interviewees made up of local employers.
Each student underwent a 50 minute interview followed immediately by a feedback session in which they were able to discuss their reactions and feelings towards the interviews.
It was a very worthwhile and enjoyable day and really encouraging to see how positively the students engaged with the programme. It was also clearly evident that each of the students benefitted from the experience which, hopefully, will help to equip them to deal with their real life interviews in the not too distant future.
At FDC Law, we have always recognised the importance of engaging with local school groups and over the years have given work experience places to students at schools in both Frome and Midsomer Norton and university students from the local area who are looking to work within the legal sector. In 2011, we have already confirmed work experience placements to 3 students over the summer months.
Hopefully, the mock interview programme will continue over forthcoming years as this is a very worthwhile addition to the students’ educational programme, particularly for those that may be entering the jobs market in an uncertain economy.