New platform content: ‘Interview Ready’ learning module

The Persona Life Skills online learning platform now includes a new teacher-facilitated learning module, 'Interview Ready', in which students learn social-emotional life skills to help them plan in advance for an interview and adapt their communication to their audience.

22-Feb-22

By Dr Leila Khouja Walker, Chief Product Officer

In the Persona Life Skills social-emotional online learning platform, 'Interview Ready' is a new 60 min teacher-facilitated learning module, where students learn how to plan in advance for an interview, become more aware of their strengths, and adapt their communication to their audience. This new module is part of a growing library of modules covering different aspects of Life Transitions, including Work Experience, First Job, and Leadership. 

Students are taken on a journey through thinking about interviews, planning ahead, identifying their strengths, gaining confidence and learning how to adapt their communication approach to achieve more positive outcomes. They are given communication tips, and opportunities to reflect upon how they would like to approach interviews in the future.

Questions and activities in this module help students develop three social-emotional life skills, through a personality insights lens:

• Being Adaptable – Being able to adapt my thinking and communication, to achieve positive outcomes
• Speaking Formally – Speaking Formally to others, eg. giving a presentation or in an interview
• Self-confidence – Having trust in myself, regardless of what others may think

In the 'Get Your Bearings' warm-up, students consider different types of interviews and formal communication basics, as well as how to dress appropriately. A key theme throughout is the importance of adaptability, in an interview situation.

In the 'Explore' knowledge acquisition section, students are provided with tips on how to prepare for an interview, including some practice scenarios such as a summer job at a sports club, and a part-time job in a radio station. They are asked to consider how their own unique mix of personality styles gives them strengths which they can highlight in an interview.

At the same time, students are asked to consider the interviewer's mix of personality styles, and how they can be ready to adapt their communication and behaviour accordingly.

As students reach the 'Viewpoint' plenary at the end of the module, they are asked to reflect upon strategies they could apply in future, to help ensure that they feel well-prepared for an interview, and leave knowing they did their best.

Interview Ready is part of the Discovery Islands curriculum – the Persona Life Skills life challenge learning modules. Teachers with a free account can play through this module. A subscription is required to make it available to students. 

Persona Education offers free access to its Persona Life Skills e-learning platform for secondary schools and colleges interested in developing their students’ social-emotional life skills, to boost wellbeing and employability. To request a live demo of the platform please get in touch – we would love to talk to you!

About the author: Dr Leila Khouja Walker has been working in the education sector for 25 years. An ex-teacher and pastoral deputy head, she is now a respected edtech and pedagogy thought leader, leading development of the personality insights life skills e-learning app Persona Life Skills, at the Bristol based edtech company Persona Education Ltd. www.persona-life.com