Eleven senior students from Impact Mentoring Academy have spent a day at XL — for a lesson on the world of work.

The “Impact Day” was designed to give the Smith’s Parish school students an opportunity to learn more about potential careers, and how to present themselves when applying and interviewing for jobs.

President of XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd, Patrick Tannock, was executive sponsor of the project and he, along with other XL colleagues, talked candidly to the students about their own career paths and professional experiences.

Activities included a panel discussion with XL employees from various parts of the re/insurance business, a tour of the O’Hara House offices, and workshops on preparing a resume and interview techniques.

Students also participated in “speed interviews” — mock interviews where the young people had five minutes to make an impression on their interviewers, before moving along to their next interviewer to do it all again.

Finally, the group of 16- to 18-year-olds looked at the issues of globalisation and what this will mean for them when they enter the workforce.

The event was enthusiastically received by the students with the majority (82 percent) rating the day “Very Useful”, XL said. Comments from the students included: “I learned how to think on the spot”; “you made it all easy to understand”; and “I loved it all”.

Impact Mentoring Academy’s executive director Trace White added: “The event gave the students great exposure to the industry with lots of opportunity for active learning. The activities really helped develop the students’ employability skills.”

Mr Tannock said: “The students were actively engaged and asked numerous questions — so we found it rewarding too. More than a dozen XL colleagues volunteered time to share their knowledge and professional experiences with the young people, and all were very passionate about doing so. If we can empower just one young person to realise their potential, it is time well spent.”