Last week, our Animal Management students took part in mock interviews with employers to provide them with valuable insight into the application process for a full-time job following college.

With employers such as the RSPCA, a local Dog Groomer, a Zookeeper, a Conservation Ranger, and a Vet Assistant, this broad range of employers prepared our students for a variety of pathways, giving them the chance to ask questions, experience a professional interview setting, and gain an understanding of the criteria and qualities employers typically look for when recruiting.

During the interviews, students came prepared with their CVs, researched into the background of the organisation, and sat down with an employer to simulate a real-life interview. This not only prepared them for future careers, but it also gave them a fantastic networking opportunity, connecting with industry professionals and learning invaluable insight from people in the industry.

Mock interviews are a fantastic way for students to build their confidence and gain an understanding of the potential questions employers could ask when applying to full-time roles in the future. It reduces anxiety, boosts confidence, and refines their communication skills through personalised and constructive feedback from professionals within a safe environment.

The feedback from the employers was fantastic, with the RSPCA Animal Care Supervisor, Verity Carley, sharing how impressed she was with all the students, saying, “The interviews with the students went really well! I could tell that the students had been preparing themselves, with many of them having researched the RSPCA by giving me quotes and statistics. I could feel the passion and enthusiasm that they had for the RSPCA which was amazing. Mock interviews like this are very valuable for the students as it is very scary going into an interview having never done one, so the fact they have this practice and our feedback for them to know what they did well and what to improve on is fantastic.”

Chris D’Agorne, former Conservation Ranger and current Animal Science lecturer at Weston College, said, “When I left my A Levels, I didn’t have a clue about going into the working world, and even when I left university, I still wasn’t trained in interview techniques or knew what was expected of me during that process, so for these students to be receiving these skills and practical experience of sitting down in a real interview scenario so early in their career is invaluable for their professional development.”

Also, receiving comments regarding the impressive hands-on experience our students have already received in the industry has increased their confidence and given them a deeper understanding of how their course has prepared them for a range of pathways in the Animal Management industry.

A huge thank you to the employers and industry professionals for taking the time to interview our students, share your insight, and provide detailed feedback for each learner so they can apply this to future interviews.

This mock interview scenario forms part of the Animal Management Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Animal Management! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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