The Old Bedfordians Club has always taken pride in offering assistance and support to young OBs as they venture into the job market. In today’s highly competitive world, it’s crucial to distinguish oneself. Making a strong first impression involves projecting presence, confidence, and authenticity.
Young OBs joined course facilitator Jonathan Hooley (89-96), who has recently transitioned into a new career, drawing on his diverse experiences to redefine presence, confidence, and purpose for individuals.
Jonathan introduced the course’s objectives, guiding participants on how to shape the raw material of their lived experiences into an authentic, memorable story that communicates who they are, their beliefs, and why they are the ideal candidate for a job.
The workshop, supported by a playbook developed by Jonathan, allowed participants to document the key concepts introduced. These encompassed developing the raw materials that form the foundation of one’s story, the crucial starting point for any interview. Jonathan delved into the essential attributes employers seek and demonstrated how to incorporate values, motivations, and mindset into the narrative.
Practical exercises were integrated into the course to illustrate how to compose a personal statement for a CV, ensuring that it stands out by highlighting motivation and adaptability. Jonathan emphasised the importance of researching the prospective company, including reading articles, posts, podcasts, and exploring the website, as well as profiles of key clients. While the first interview may be intimidating, it is vital to articulate your beliefs, motivations, and aspirations for working with the interviewing company.
Upon concluding the course, participants reflected on their newfound knowledge and how the outlined techniques could potentially secure them the perfect job. We eagerly anticipate hearing about their experiences in due course.
Our sincere gratitude extends to Jonathan for his pre-course preparations and the delivery of the workshop. Looking ahead, we are exploring the possibility of delivering the course online through a webinar.
