Our annual Speed Interview event recently saw 15 Human Resource professionals from leading organisations around the world interview and give constructive feedback to 34 of our Grade 12 students. Now in its second year of being hosted virtually, the innovative event aimed to prepare our students for the virtual interview process they are likely to experience in the future and to provide students with the opportunity to engage with our corporate partners for possible future internship and employment opportunities.
Each student prepared a CV, researched the company and were given mock interview scenarios prior to the interview to help them prepare. On the day of the event, our 34 grade 12 students each had an opportunity to be interviewed one-on-one by one of 15 experienced HR professionals using video conferencing technology. The interviewers, who were from a variety of industries, reviewed each students interviewing skills and provided them with constructive feedback.
“I was interviewed by Dell Technologies and the interview process was quite exhilarating, knowing that I was interviewed by such a big company. I am very grateful to have received this opportunity,” said Noni A., a Grade 12 student.
Stats SA reports that the youth unemployment rate was 46,3% in Quarter 1 of 2021. This makes virtual volunteering interactions and events like these crucial to help students enter tertiary education, land bursaries, and find gainful employment opportunities. Our Career Development Manager, Louise de Marillac st Julien comments, “This event forms a vital part of the chain of career preparation activities, ensuring our learners are moving towards employment readiness. Adding the virtual component has been a gamechanger, allowing a wider group of companies from afar afield as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and other parts of South Africa, to interview our matrics.”
Christel House SA would like to express a special thank you to the following organisations who took part in the Speed Interview event: Allan Gray, Amdec Group, Cape Grace Hotel, Capitec Bank, Coronation, Dell Technologies, Julius Baer Foundation, Maersk (Shipping logistics), MariaMarina Foundation, Mazars, Metrofile, Paygate, Polyoak, RCI, and Roche.
Individuals or companies that would like to provide internship or work opportunities for Christel House’s students, can contact Christel House SA’s Career Development Department on 021 704 9441/2 OR 084 580 4081.