19 November 2021
Secondary schools in the Pilbara are connecting students with local employers to provide job opportunities through speed recruitment events.
Hedland Senior High School and Karratha Senior High School this term each hosted speed recruitment events to help students get a foot in the employment door, while also assisting local businesses who may be struggling with job vacancies.
The concept, similar to “speed dating”, involved students meeting with several employers to have short casual interviews instead of traditional formal job interviews.
Students in the Pilbara attended speed recruitment events with local employers.
This provided students with the opportunity to meet employers in a relaxed setting, helping put them at ease with the employment process.
The events were held in partnership with the local TAFE, with positions on offer including part time and casual work, traineeships and apprenticeships.
More than 130 students attended the event at Hedland Senior High School, which school VET Coordinator Teneal Russell said was a fantastic turn out.
“The evening was an extremely successful event with over 130 students in attendance and at least 16 employers, plus volunteers from various organisations around town such as Bloodwood Tree and Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation,” she said.
“It was great to see students come prepared with their resumes and a willingness to get out of their comfort zone and speak to potential employers.”
In Karratha, about 45 job seekers and nine businesses attended.
North Regional TAFE WA School Delivery Coordinator Dawn Hunter said the employer feedback was positive.
“They found students to be enthusiastic, smartly presented and well prepared for the event. It was a great experience for what would have been for many their first ever interview experience,” she said.
A similar event was held at Broome Senior High School in Term 2 as employers in the region were struggling to find staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Year 12 student Gwyn Belleza told ABC Kimberley the event helped remove many of the existing barriers involved with traditional application processes.
"I'm a bit shy to apply directly to the [companies], but speed recruiting was comfortable," she said.
"What helped me was that the teachers were around, supporting us when we needed them, and they made me feel less nervous talking to employers.”