DOZENS of teenagers from a York secondary school have been put through their paces at one of the city’s biggest private employers.

About 50 students from York High School were given some interview practice with a difference when leading York employer, CPP, stepped in to offer Year 11 students’ mock interviews to help them prepare for the real thing.

Two members of the CPP recruitment team, Debbie Ibbotson and Lisa Yeomans, organised the event, giving students the chance to put employment skills learned in the classroom into practice. The students, who are currently completing a BTEC in employability skills, used the mock interviews to complete a course module and the opportunity also helped them to fine-tune their interview skills before the real thing. At a time when finding work for school leavers is harder than ever, the interview practice and detailed written feedback will no doubt help the young students feel more confident about their interview chances in the real world. Matt Archer, employability skills teacher at the school, said: “The two days of interviews have been very successful and we’re grateful for the support from the recruitment team at CPP. The students have learned what it’s like to face an interview panel and seemed to enjoy the experience. All of them emerged from the interviews with big smiles on their faces and I think it was something they will remember long after leaving York High School.”

Debbie Ibbotson, recruitment manager at CPP, said: “We were really pleased we could help so many students. Hopefully the feedback we have given them on what went well, and areas for improvement, will increase their chances of finding a job after leaving school in the summer.

“Being articulate, smart and doing your homework on the company interviewing you can make all the difference to between a successful and unsuccessful candidate.”

CPP employs 1,100 people at its headquarters in Holgate Park.

Founded in 1980, the company has transformed from a provider of card protection to an integrated marketing services organisation, that works with more than 200 business partners, including many high street banks.