You’re hired!

Ngozi Udeagu, Ibironke Adorinde, Naeem Akhtar, Zuzanna Mechlik, Shamima Khanom. Fatemeh Abdi and David Perry

Students have been honing their interview skills thanks to Hopwood Hall College’s ‘You’re hired’ competition.

Nearly 150 students who are all studying to develop their English language and employability skills at the College took part in the competition, designed to simulate the pressure and experience of a real life job interview and the processes involved in preparing for it.

To enter, the students first had to apply for ‘interviews’ that the College had set up on its website. They then spent weeks perfecting their interview skills, including how to present themselves, how to prepare for interview questions and practicing what language to use to describe their specific skills and qualities. After they had refined these skills, they then entered the final stage, where each student was grilled on their experience and skills by an interview panel.

The students performed so well that it was decided on the day to award two first place winners. Fatemeh Abdi, 16, from Heywood and Naeem Akhtar, 21 from Rochdale, were given first place after impressing the panel with their professionalism, attitude, appearance and their responses to interview questions. As well as first place awards, certificates were also presented to six runners-up.

Fatemeh said: “The competition has helped me because coming from a different country, language is a barrier.” While Naeem added: “I feel much more confident in looking for a job now we’ve taken part in the ‘You’re hired’ competition.”

Paul Greensmith, from Hopwood Hall College’s human resources team, who helped make up the interview panel, commented: “It’s been great to see the dedication and professionalism of the students. They were all really good which made picking the winners a real challenge.”