Practice Interview Event - 4-7 March 2024

Please read before applying

How it works and your commitment

Interviews are a difficult and stressful workplace hurdle that everyone has to face. 

Especially so for people who stutter who often experience bias in interviews that favour spoken fluency over substance.  They also face difficult decisions about whether, when and how, to disclose their stutter.

It’s a “lose-lose” situation. People who stutter miss out on the right roles for their talents while employers miss out on talented employees, who often have strengths in resilience, empathy, creativity and listening. 

This is where our online Practice Interview events come in.

What are our Practice Interview events?

Supported by leading employers, we offer interview practice for those who stutter – as well as for those interviewing them. 

We provide the opportunity to practice your interview skills in an online, judgement-free environment and to learn from people who really want you to succeed. 

For employers, it’s also a great chance to learn about attracting and interviewing candidates who stutter.

Who can participate?

You can get involved whether you stutter or are an ally who doesn’t stutter.

If you stutter, you can participate as an interviewee or an interviewer to improve your skills in either role.

If you don’t stutter and your job includes interviewing, you can participate as an interviewer. You may work in diversity, equity & inclusion, talent attraction or perhaps be in a management role. 

Interviewees must be age 18 or over and interviewers must be age 25 or over.

How much time will I need to commit?

You’ll need to commit a minimum of 5-6 hours over 4 days to cover your preparation, the educational briefing, CV review, one interview and the group feedback session. If you have more than one interview, you will need to add an additional 2 hours per interview for your preparation, interview and feedback.

What will the event cover?

With a blend of education, interviews, feedback and further learning sessions, the event is designed to be valuable for everyone involved.

More specifically, the goal of each practice interview will be determined by the interviewee. For example, practicing for an interview for:

• a first job
• a new job
• a promotion
• something else

For more information and feedback on previous events, see our Practice Interview section.

When is it? 

The event will start on Monday 4 March and officially end on 7 March. 

What’s included? 

All times are UK time (GMT).

1. Monday 4 March: Mandatory Education Briefing for all participants - 90 mins

To accommodate participants from different time zones, you have the choice of which mandatory briefing session you attend.

a) 12.30 - 13.55pm  - Europe, Africa, Asia and Pacific

b) 17.30 - 18.55pm -  Europe, Africa, Asia and Americas

Please note: to help ensure the quality of the experience, it is mandatory for all participants to attend one of the Educational briefing sessions. Non-attendance will result in withdrawal from the programme.

2. Tues 5 March: 13.00 – 14.00pm: Optional Q&A session 'Exploring solutions to workplace #barriers, faced by #women who stutter.' This will be led by an all-women expert panel and aligns with International Women's Day on Friday 8 March #IWD2024.

3. Mon 4 to Thurs 7 March: Online practice interviews and feedback sessions – 1 hour each (arranged by participants contacting your interviewer/interviewee).

4. Thurs 7 March: 16.00 - 17.00pm: Group Feedback session (optional).

5. Mon 8 April: Final learning session for interviewees and interviewers.

How are the interviews arranged?

The majority of the practice interviews offered will be 1:1. 

We will offer a small number of 1:2 practice panel interviews (1 interviewee and 2 interviewers).

We will create interview pairs / panels by using the information you provide to us to match you with your interviewee(s) / interviewer(s).  

We will then advise you of the name and contact details of your interviewee(s) / interviewer(s) by Monday 26 February.

You should then contact them to agree the timing and platform you will use for your interview eg Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype. 

Further details will be provided nearer to the event. 

What’s the timing of the interviews and feedback?

Interviews should take place any time between the initial Educational Briefing (Monday 4 March) and the Group Feedback session (Thursday 7 March).  

Each interview should last for an hour, including time for personalised feedback, between the interviewer and interviewee. 

The Group Feedback session is a wonderful opportunity to share your experiences and learn from others, including from participants from different countries and cultures.

What about different cultures?

Our events always attract people from different countries bringing a diversity of cultures and attitudes towards stuttering.  Therefore, it’s possible that you’ll be paired with someone from a different country and time zone with the learning and networking opportunities that brings. 

What about different languages?

The group sessions will all be held in English. Interviews will also be in English, unless you agree otherwise with your interviewer/interviewee.

How can I apply?

There are separate application forms for interviewees and interviewers.

You will find them at the top of this page.

When is the closing date for applications?

Applications close on Monday 5 February.

We’ll let you know after 12 February whether or not you’ve been successful via email.

Whom can I contact?

If you have any further questions, please email us at events@50millionvoices.org.

Please note all information regarding the Practice Interviews will be communicated via email.

Thank you for your interest in our event.

Donations

We are a small Charity/Not-For-Profit and this event consumes a lot of our resources to organise and run. To help us cover our event costs, please make a donation in recognition of the value you expect to gain from participating. Any amount is welcome; it all adds up to enabling us to offer similar opportunities to more people who stutter in the future.