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Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Driving Economic Transformation

202 Students Participate in 2023 Mock Interview Days

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202 Students Participate in 2023 Mock Interview Days

202 Students Participate in 2023 Mock Interview Days

IALR, Longwood University and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) collaborated to offer AspHIRE Mock Interview Day 2023 to 202 high school students this Spring. Tenth through 12th graders from six school systems participated in this event to hone their interview and employability skills with local professionals. Students came from Danville City, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, Nottoway Pittsylvania, and Prince Edward Counties.  

“The AspHIRE mock interview day provides valuable experience to high school students across Southern Virginia, exposing them to important workplace skills and allowing them to experience an authentic interview process,” said Jessie Vernon, IALR Advanced Learning Program Manager.  

The event was organized by IALR and held on April 7 and 26 at IALR, on March 29 at SVHEC, and on April 25 at Longwood University. Local employers led work-readiness sessions and served as mock interviewers. To make this event possible, 66 volunteers provided their time, serving as interviewers and providing employability skill sessions.  

“The trip to Asphire was both informative and fun. It helped me widen my horizon about the working field and opened my eyes to new possibilities.” – King Catubig, Lunenburg County

“Something that was beneficial for me was learning to ask questions at the end of my interview.” – Chasity Robertson, Nottoway County. 

AspHIRE Mock Interview Day is designed to give students an opportunity to build their skills through a practice interview with a local professional and several employability skill sessions. Students are given a “conference” style experience, networking with peers and professionals at a professional lunch and attending breakout sessions. The latter included topics on Benefits and HR Basics, LinkedIn and Indeed, Personal Brand and Presentation, Professionalism and Communication, Teamwork and Problem Solving, and Time Management and Work-Life Balance. 

The first event was held at IALR in 2019 for students in Danville and Pittsylvania County and was expanded to include additional partners in the years since then.  

IALR Seeking Businesses to Partner in Work-based Learning Programs 

IALR Seeking Businesses to Partner in Work-based Learning Programs 

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is seeking employers and businesses across Southern Virginia to partner and participate in several work-based learning programs. With varying levels of time and financial commitments, these programs help employers grow the regional workforce and allow students to connect and learn about quality career opportunities in the region.  

“We operate a variety of youth workforce development programs that are mutually beneficial to the participants and the businesses involved,” said Jessie Vernon, Program Manager for Advanced Learning at IALR. “Our programming helps build recruitment pipelines and exposes youth in the region to the opportunities available with area businesses. While we coordinate these programs, they truly would not be possible without the support of our business and community partners.” 

Each of the programs below are part of EmPOWER, an employer-driven system to empower and connect students to careers. Through career awareness, engagement, and experience we can build pipelines of students whose interests and skillsets align with current employer needs and economic development interests. 

Exploring Careers through Industry Teacher Externships (Excite)

IALR is looking for businesses to host teachers or school counselors through Exploring Careers through Industry Teacher Externships (EXCITE), a professional development program operating for educators across 15 counties in Virginia. By placing educators in local businesses through this teacher externship program, IALR helps connect the classroom to the workplace. With first-hand exposure, teachers can design and implement classroom activities, projects and work-based learning opportunities that will add relevance and meaning to students’ classroom learning.  

Participating businesses commit between one and three days during the summer to host an educator. There is no financial commitment associated with this program.  

Businesses interested in hosting an educator this summer can reach out to Jessie Vernon. The deadline to sign up to host an educator is May 19th.  

Host a Teacher

Two women talk with a man in a manufacturing plant.

IGNITE – Internships (already completed) 

IALR is looking for businesses that can host a high school or college intern this summer. Companies will receive project/business support as they mentor and aid in the skill development of a young person and might just train their next hire.  

More than 26,000 students across Southern Virginia have access to MajorClarity, a work-based learning platform where all internships will be posted. This gives businesses access to the best and brightest students across the region. Internship duration and hours are customizable and companies may be eligible for matching funds for the cost of the intern.  

Those interested in hosting a summer intern at their business should complete this online interest form. The deadline to request a summer 2023 intern is April 28th.

HOST AN INTERN

AspHIRE – Meet Your Future Workforce (ALREADY COMPLETED)

IALR is looking for volunteers to participate as mock interviewers or session presenters at AspHIRE mock interview days across Southern Virginia. The mock interview days provide high school juniors and (primarily) seniors an opportunity to hone their interview skills with a local professional. In addition to their interview, students take part in a formal business lunch and six work-readiness sessions. 

The AspHIRE Mock Interview Days will take place at the following locations and times:  

  • South Boston, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center: March 29 & 30 
  • Danville, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research: April 7 & 26 
  • Farmville, Longwood University: April 25 

The minimum volunteer commitment is 1.5 hours, but business professionals and employers who would like to invest more time are welcome. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.  

 

 

AspHIRE Mock Interview Day a Success

AspHIRE Mock Interview Day a Success

Adah Haley with American National Bank interviews a student at the AspHIRE Mock Interview event at IALR.

IALR, New College Institute (NCI) and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) collaborated to offer AspHIRE Mock Interview Day 2022 to 200 high school students. Tenth through 12th graders from six school systems, ranging from Henry County to Charlotte County, participated in this event to hone their interview and employability skills with local professionals.

“I truly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about real-life interactions and situations I will encounter in the future,” said Layton Wilson, Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center Precision Machining Senior at Gretna High School. “Being there was a great experience, because I now feel a lot more confident going into the workforce.”

IALR, NCI and SVHEC each hosted the event at their respective locations. IALR welcomed students of Danville and Pittsylvania County on April 27-28; SVHEC served Halifax and Charlotte County students on April 27; and NCI hosted Martinsville and Henry County students on May 5. Local employers led work-readiness sessions and served as mock interviewers, and some even held real interviews to fill open positions within their company.

In addition to a 20-minute mock interview, students participated in a professional networking luncheon as well as work-readiness sessions. The latter included topics on Benefits and HR Basics, LinkedIn, Personal Brand and Presentation, Professionalism and Communication, Teamwork and Problem Solving, and Time Management and Work-Life Balance.

The first event was held at IALR in 2019 for students in Danville and Pittsylvania County and was expanded this year to include SVHEC and NCI.