Interview Evening at Dalriada School

DALRIADA School opened its doors to over 50 professionals from the local area and from further afield, and over 100 sixth formers, as it hosted its 11th annual Interview Night last Wednesday.

On this occasion all the pupils in their final year of A level study were interviewed for the careers or university courses in which they are interested.

The students prepared for this evening by attending lessons through the school’s tutorial system where they focused on how to present themselves at interview and how to anticipate the questions that might be posed. They also attended a presentation by one of the school’s governors, Mrs Helen McCann, who was kind enough to pass on some of her expertise in Human Resource Management, giving pupils advice on interview skills and preparation.

The evening opened at 7.00pm with a briefing session in which the interview panels read through the pupils’ personal statements and prepared suitable questions. Following a warm welcome to all the interviewers from Mr Tom Skelton, headmaster, the interviews started at 7.30 and included Law, Medicine, several branches of Engineering, Dentistry, Psychology and Computing to name but a few of the many occupations represented. A very welcome supper was provided at the end of a demanding and very cold night.

The students received oral and written feed-back on their performance and have gained a great deal from the advice and help offered. They will now have more focus for their university applications and the interviews they will face.

Claire Kelly and other Careers staff, who organised the event, were very pleased with the success of the evening. They paid particular tribute to the professionals and employers from organisations in the local area and from as far away as University of Ulster, Jordanstown, who gave so generously of their time and expertise. Their continued support of the school’s Careers Department is greatly valued and ensures that the pupils are well prepared for the world of work and the employment challenges of the twenty-first century.

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