Confidence Workshop: events in London and Liverpool on 20 and 24 October
Thursday, September 07, 2006
The Construction Youth Trust is working in partnership with CITB-Construction Skills to support their drive to get more women and ethnic minorities into employment. As part of this, the Trust commissioned a workshop targeting people under represented in the construction industry. The one-day event was supported by the CIOB and hosted by Construction Knowledge Exchange. Gill Trodden of Constructive Education facilitated the workshop. The regional HR Officer from McNicholas Construction Ltd. and the Group Training Manager from Wates Group Ltd. conducted mock interviews.
A group of first and second year undergraduates of Building Surveying, Construction Management, and Quantity Surveying were invited to take part in the event. The two primary objectives of the day were, firstly, to draft a personal skills profile tailored to an appropriate construction industry position and secondly, to practise appropriate language and discussion towards an effective interview for such a position.
The candidates were encouraged to use positive, enthusiastic language to describe their skills, abilities and achievements. Later, they prepared answers to likely interview questions as well as questions to ask of the interviewers. Research, rehearsal and body language were considered. Each candidate was interviewed for 30 minutes by the employer representatives and gained personal as well as group feedback. The plenary session included observers from Construction Youth Trust and academics from London South Bank University and University of Central England who hosted an event in May.
A feature of the afternoon resulted from the input of two ‘role models’, Serena and Aysha, graduates of London South Bank University. They portrayed an image that was professional and confident. More importantly, they reassured the undergrads that ‘it doesn’t matter about race, background or gender. Just tell them who you are and what you can do.’
