Posted: Wednesday 27 October 2010

Kilmarnock College Hosts Interview Event for CMI and Ayrshire School Pupils

Kilmarnock College recently hosted a successful ‘interview' evening for the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Work Shadowing Initiative which aimed to equip Ayrshire secondary pupils with the best skills to enter the workplace or further education.

Thirty-three sixth year pupils, along with teachers and parents from schools across east, south and north Ayrshire, attended the interview stage of the project at Kilmarnock College.

The event allowed pupils to access a variety of career enhancing workshops on CV preparation, Completing Application Forms, How to Impress at Interview and a CV Advice Drop-in Clinic.

HNC Business students from Kilmarnock College worked closely with CMI managers on the evening to conduct the interviews and helped to select successful pupils, while NC Business students acted as hosts on the evening and worked hard to prepare the College for the event.

Martin McGahon, Chair of CMI, said: "The CMI Work Shadowing Initiative provides school pupils across Ayrshire with the opportunity to prepare for a job interview and to develop report writing and presentation skills based on a three-day shadowing experience with a CMI manager.

"The project gives pupils a practical insight into the competitive nature of the world of work and further education and to experience at first hand what a senior manager does in his or her working life.

"During the interview stage of the project at Kilmarnock College, CMI Managers assisted by the College's business students, worked with the school pupils to equip them with interview techniques. The purpose of the event is to create real-to-life interview situations, so that pupils identify how to prepare for entering into the competitive jobs' market.

"The evening proved a worthwhile partnership event that will go a long way in helping our next generation with their future careers. I would like to thank Kilmarnock College staff and students for their assistance in hosting the evening. The next stage for the pupils on the Work Shadow Initiative will be to meet their Manager followed by three days of shadowing them in their respective businesses."

Anne Granger at Kilmarnock College said: "It was a great opportunity for the College to host the interview phase of the CMI Work Shadowing Initiative. The success of the event was down to a real team effort from College staff and students.

"It was a beneficial evening for all involved. Our HNC Business students were able to display their interviewing skills and were given great feedback from the CMI managers on their techniques which they can use in their Human Resource Management Unit - a core part of their course.

"Meanwhile, our NC business students were able to gather evidence for their Skills for Customer Care Unit following their roles in preparing the College for the event.

"Martin McGahon, Chair of the CMI presented our students with certificates on the evening and thanked them for their support which was a lovely way to finish the evening.

"The CMI and Kilmarnock College are keen to develop further enterprising projects in the future, by exploring ways to develop the relationship between CMI, the College and businesses. Perhaps a CMI FEBIP (Further Education Business Intern Programme) would provide a win-win situation for all."

CMI also organised an event at The Gailes Hotel, Irvine in May 2010 for Ayrshire colleges. Teams from the colleges and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) were invited to research and present their vision for the future of Ayrshire. The Kilmarnock College Team won on the day and they are the current holders of the CMI Ayrshire Colleges Team Challenge.

For further information on courses available at Kilmarnock College please call 01563 523501 or visit www.kilmarnock.ac.uk.

-Ends-

For more information, contact:
Joanna Wilson, Beattie Communications, 01698 787847/ joanna.wilson@beattiegroup.com

Jacqui Donachy, Beattie Communications, 01698 787843/ jacqui.donachy@beattiegroup.com

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