Inspired students praise ‘Dress for Success’ initiative

THIS was the first time that these students would have done an interview session complete with all of the business attire. So while they were nervous at first, they became more comfortable as the interview process went on.

 

This was the consensus when The Barbados Advocate spoke to some of the students who participated in mock interviews for employment and college and university placements with fifth form students under the programme heading of ‘Dress for Success’ recently at the school.

 

Destiny Alleyne, 16, said that the interview was a “bit stressful at first, but then she got hang of it and it was not as bad.” She said that this is her first time doing an interview like this, although she has done something similar for theatre arts.

 

Doing an interview of this type was also new to Kayleigh McKeever, 15, who said that she was also “nervous” at first but then she got accustomed with it. While Dakota De.Freitas, 16, also agreed, stating that “it was quite nerve wracking at first, but then once I relaxed, it was good.”

 

Alleyne said that her mother helped her to prepare for the interview by teaching her how to conduct herself as well as how to answer questions that they would ask. McKeever said that she was also taught how to conduct herself during an interview and in addition, she also prepared a cover letter and a resume. De.Freitas stated that she also prepared a cover letter and resume and learnt how to conduct herself during an interview and she also practiced answering questions that she believed they would ask during an interview.

 

All three of them said that they decided to take part in the voluntary session because they realised that it would be great practice since they would soon be applying for colleges and universities and later on down the road for jobs and therefore, getting an understanding of the interview process would be a valuable experience to have.

 

As for future plans, Alleyne said that she plans to head to the Barbados Community College (BCC) when she graduates this July and take their visual arts course and then she would like to work on improving her theatre and graphic arts. Then she wants to complete her studies in either Canada since she has family there or in Japan since that is the land of animation.

 

McKeever said that she would like to complete the Associate Degree in Business at the BCC before heading to the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.) to do her Bachelors in the same field while De.Freitas said that she plans to head to the BCC to continue studying languages and then she wants to go to Italy to learn Italian.

 

All three of the young ladies advised students in forth form that when their time comes next year, to participate in this initiative because it is a good practice for them later on when they are actually applying for university or to get a job, so it would help to improve their confidence levels.