Connecting people with work is vital to local and national economies. But what about people who need help with the steps before hiring?
That’s where community partnerships come in. And that’s how SIMOS Recruiter Christina Wassem ended up conducting mock interviews on a sunny January afternoon.
A few weeks earlier, Wassem was driving through Covington, Ky., looking to connect with local organizations that could help her recruit workers for a local customer. She stopped by the Life Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization that helps those affected by abuse, poverty, incarceration or addiction learn job and life skills, to learn about the organization.
After discussing how they could form a partnership to recruit workers, Wassem was invited to join mock interviews with program participants to give them a sense of what to expect in job searches.
“This was my first time being invited to this event and I thought it was a great opportunity to help others in need of practicing the interview process,” Wassem said. “I conducted mock interviews with six candidates, each lasting 15-20 minutes.”
She joined other local business leaders, asking questions provided by Life Learning Center, but also explaining SIMOS’ work and giving program participants advice on interviewing, presentation and more.
The mock interviews were part of a 12-week program focused on addressing barriers in five domains of life: physical, financial, spiritual, relational and emotional. The program is free and available any time they need it, providing on-site resources and living wage career opportunities.
“It was an honor and a pleasure to join Life Learning Center and so much fun to help individuals in their program by doing mock interviews and giving feedback,” Wassem said.
