The STAR method is a tool you can use to answer certain interview or application form question clearly and effectively. It helps you structure answers to questions like “Tell me about a time when…” by breaking your story into four clear parts: 1/ Situation Briefly describe the context of your example. Include who, what, when, and where. Keep this part short using 1–2 sentences. Example: “At my last job, we were preparing for a seasonal product launch and our team fell behind

You’ve landed an interview and now it’s time to prepare. Use this checklist to help you plan ahead so you don’t have any last minute worries on the day! Before the interview day: If you’ve been invited to interview, be sure to confirm the appointment. This allows your potential employer to plan for your arrival and offers you an opportunity to clarify any details/request reasonable adjustments regarding the interview process. If you're applying for lots of roles and need to r

When I first joined the team programme, I was hoping to step outside my comfort zone, learn new skills, and be involved in something that made a difference. Looking back, IAF gave me so much more than that. It became a place where I built confidence, formed lasting friendships, and grew both personally and professionally. I had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of projects that challenged me and helped me grow. One of the highlights was participating in a community

When Kevin* first came to IAF, he joined our Team programme looking to build confidence and employer connections as part of his local job search. He wanted to show he was being productive in his personal development and whilst he was a little unsure at first, he soon settled into the group. Kevin later secured a work experience placement with one of our corporate sponsors, ROMO, and can safely say those 2 weeks were definitely worth it; "I never really had much confidence bef

Harriet* came to IAF looking to explore her career options as she wasn't 100% sure on what she wanted to do. She expressed an interest in a career in childcare but had no experience to help her stand out. Luckily IAF staff are well connected and having previously placed a young person with a local soft play centre, we knew just where to reach out to. Harriet was nervous going to her first shift but felt reassured that Alex, a former Team participant of ours, would also be the

Mansfield Building Society have been longstanding partners of IAF since the beginnings of it's Charitable Trust in 2015 and as one of their first grant recipients, IAF has had the pleasure of watching the trust become a force for positive change in Nottinghamshire. Since those early days, MBS has helped us to deliver mentoring to many young people in Mansfield, ensuring those most vulnerable have support in place to navigate complex personal barrier such as addiction, debt,

If you've never had a mentoring appointment before, you might be wondering what you're supposed to say, worried about what they will ask or whether you need to have a big plan for your future already. In this blog, we want to put your mind at ease - no one is expecting you to have all the answers, that's why we're here to help you work through things one small step at a time. What is mentoring? Mentoring may sound very formal but a mentoring appointment is a chance to have a

Building works continue at the hub so our reduced timetable is still in operation. This week you can look forward to: Dungeon's and Dragons: Join Mark and the adventuring party on Tuesday as they face new challenges and level up their characters. Wilmott Dixon information session: Come and say hello to the friendly team at Wilmott Dixon this Wednesday as they share advice and opportunities in the construction industry. Indoor sports with Jordan: Pre-empting the wet weather, t

Sleep is a really important factor in maintaining our health but can be pretty tricky to manage when you've got a lot going on. Your brain is saying 'I need to get to sleep because I've got to be up early' which suddenly makes it even harder to switch off and despite your best attempts it's getting later and later. You might not get a perfect night's sleep every night but there are things you can try to help you get better quality rest when you do. Start simple with a sleep r