Helping Year 10s Present Themselves with Confidence
In the last few weeks I got to delivering Checkpoint 4: Presenting Yourself in Person - Interview Skills to Year 10 students at Barnsley Academy and De Warenne Academy as part of Esh Group’s Building My Skills programme.
Across both sessions, we spoke with over 300 students about something many adults still find daunting: interviews.
But the message we start with is simple.
An interview isn’t about catching you out. It’s about deciding whether you and an opportunity are a good fit - and whether you can explain yourself clearly.
For young people who may never have experienced an interview before, that shift in perspective matters.
What Employers Are Actually Looking For
One of the biggest misconceptions young people have is that employers expect perfection.
They don’t.
Most employers hiring young people are not expecting:
- Perfect answers
- Years of experience
- Confidence like an adult
Instead, they’re looking for something much more achievable:
- Effort
- Attitude
- Communication
- Willingness to learn
- Reliability
When young people realise this, interviews suddenly feel much more approachable.
First Impressions Start Before You Speak
We also talk about something young people often underestimate: first impressions.
Research shows people form impressions within seconds, and much of that comes from non-verbal communication.
Things like:
- Body language
- Eye contact
- Facial expression
- Tone of voice
- Presentation and clothing
Small habits can make a big difference. Sitting upright, making eye contact and answering in full sentences instantly makes someone appear more confident and engaged.
A Simple Structure for Answering Questions
Another challenge young people face is knowing how to answer questions about themselves.
Many assume they don’t have anything to talk about yet.
But in reality, their experiences already provide great examples - from school projects and sport to helping at home.
We share a simple structure they can use when responding to questions:
- What happened
- What you did
- What it taught you
This works brilliantly for explaining teamwork, responsibility and problem-solving - even without formal work experience.
Confidence Isn’t Personality - It’s Behaviour
One of the most important points we discuss is that confidence isn’t something you simply have or don’t have. It’s something you can practise.
Simple techniques can help young people feel more in control during an interview:
- Speak slightly slower than normal
- Finish sentences clearly
- Pause and think before answering
- It’s okay to say “I don’t know yet, but I’d be keen to learn”
Once you realise confidence is learnable, the whole process becomes far less intimidating.
Encouraging Young People to Be Curious
We also encourage young people to remember that interviews go both ways.
Asking thoughtful questions can make a strong impression and help them learn more about the opportunity.
For example:
- What does a typical day look like?
- What skills help people do well here?
- What opportunities are there to learn?
Curiosity shows interest - and interest is something every employer values.
Helping Young People Recognise Their Own Value
One of the most rewarding parts of these workshops is seeing young people realise they already have more to offer than they thought.
Their experiences - it's probably not about work, it doesn't have to be about what happens in a classroom: hobbies, responsibilities, teamwork - all contain the foundations of employability skills.
They just need help recognising them, and learning how to talk about them.
In earlier sessions we explored how hobbies, interests and everyday experiences can demonstrate valuable skills (see Helping Year 9s Stand Out from the Crowd).
We’ve also previously worked with students on how to shape their experiences so they demonstrate responsibility and initiative (see Shaping Your Experiences to Demonstrate Responsibility).
And that’s exactly what programmes like Building My Skills are designed to do: connect students with employers, raise aspirations, and help young people understand the opportunities available to them.
Opening Doors to Future Opportunities
It’s been a great experience to be part of a programme that brings together schools, employers and organisations across the region to support the next generation.
For many young people, this may be their first real exposure to the world of work.
If these sessions help even a few of them walk into their first interview feeling more confident, prepared and able to explain who they are - then they’ve done their job.
If you’re a school or organisation interested in employability workshops like this, get in touch:
