If a group of fourth-formers at Wolmer\u2019s Boys\u2019 School in Kingston were to apply for jobs today, they would be that bit more confident that they would blow their interviewers away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because of an innovative job-preparation and orientation programme dubbed \u2018Wolmer\u2019s Go to Work\u2019, which seeks to familiarise the boys with the process of searching and applying for jobs and boost their confidence in transitioning from high school. In fact, the venture has been such a success that it has sparked jealousy among sixth-formers and their parents, who want to share in the benefits. Administrators are so proud of its scope that they want other schools to explore the model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wolmer\u2019s Go to Work, which operates in a competition format, pushes the boys to find suitable jobs, prepare r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and \u00adapplications, and be grilled by interviewers. Out of the pool of fourth-formers who entered in January, 15 outstanding boys were on Monday recognised and awarded during devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am now in a great position if I were to really pursue a job,\u201d J\u2019havier Lynch, who applied to become a highway designer, told The Gleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a very interesting \u00adexperience for me. It is very new, and it gave us a real simulation of what it will be like in the working world,\u201d the 15-year-old said. \u201cOur teachers gave us a website to search for jobs on. Wanting to be a civil engineer, I pushed for the position of a highway designer. The process was no hassle for me because we got a lot of help from the teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His schoolmate, Matthew Campbell, said that before getting into the cut and thrust of the competition, he was not at all familiar with the process of drafting job applications. Now, he\u2019s brimming with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI applied for an accounting job at Windrock International Accounting Agency. The experience applying for the job was quite fun, especially learning how to sell myself to the interviewers,\u201d said Campbell, who is also 15. \u201cI constantly had to redo my r\u00e9sum\u00e9 just to make sure everything was in tip-top shape. The day of the interview was a real experience!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The implications of social-media posts on job prospects was one of the highlights of the programme for J\u2019havier. That sage advice was also reinforced by his mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the things they taught us was to be careful what we post on social media. My mother warned me about that stuff,\u201d he told The Gleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt can probably be a big factor in what you may or may not be successful in, because you are showing the world a big piece of your personality. If a company chooses to do further research, that is the first place they will look to find more information on you to know your true personality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Programme organiser Caprece McCleary said the initiative was taken so seriously that the students even had to submit to psychometric tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe utilised parents, old boys and various working professions [for the judging]. The students had to do a cover letter and r\u00e9sum\u00e9. They also had to do psychometric tests, because that is one of the things employers now require,\u201d said McCleary, who is also head of the English Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey had to get recommendations from teachers, and they had to do interviews. We explored career paths, dress, and building reference lists. Sagicor\u2019s talent, acquisition unit, as well as Grace Ann Miller from KPMG, conducted workshops preparing them for interviews,\u201d McCleary added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome of our students lack self-esteem. They don\u2019t know much about themselves and how to perform outside the classroom. Even at the end of the interviews, the panel gave them feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn terms of being aware of the demands of the working world, young people can be extremely na\u00efve, so this is extremely valuable. It is something to be done in other schools. Parents have asked us to do it with sixth-formers, so even the parents realise the value. Some of them were really impressive; the interviewers said they could get jobs now,\u201d McCleary outlined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Mortgage Bank, Courtney Wynter, who was one of judges, described it as an excellent programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is imperative that you do research on the company and the management. In the interview, you need to focus on how well you articulate and communicate. Focus on dress code nowadays is less of an issue. Just ensure you are properly groomed,\u201d Wynter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe other thing to impress upon the young men is how they use social media. Ringing in every new year with a bottle of Hennessey on social media says that the person may have an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
J\u2019havier Lynch knows the \u00addangers of posting inappropriate material and can share that with his schoolmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs it relates to social media, I post pictures of me doing sports and so on. That is not a problem for me, because my mother warned me about that stuff!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n