Are you worried that your CV or Application Form isn't showing employers that you're the person they're looking for?
In this blog we explain how our employment support programme can help you to feel confident you're sharing all the right skills, experience and knowledge you have to secure the job you want.
If you're new to job seeking, or haven't had to do it for a while, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
At a time when everything seems like it has to be done online, the process can be daunting.
In a faceless process of applying for work, it can be difficult to know the best way to get yourself noticed by an employer.
This is where employment readiness support is invaluable. It can help people to feel confident with the process of finding work, and reaching their employment goals.
But what is it? Who is it for? and How can it help?
Foundation 4 Work delivered by the Foundations Furniture charity takes you through the answers...
What is job/employment readiness training?
Job readiness training prepares a person to begin work, by providing them with the skills to find, apply and attend interviews to successfully obtain a job. It also helps to look at your work experience, training and knowledge in relation to the job(s)you would like to have, to create an action plan towards reaching your goals.
What does it involve?
Job readiness includes many different areas of the job seeking process including:-
Discover your goals and aspirations when it comes to employment
What job would you like? Or if you’re unsure, what skills and experience do you already have that would match up to different roles and industries?
Discover your job readiness strengths and weakness
Do you have an excellent CV writer struggle with interviews for example, or do you have great experience but don’t know how to tell an employer this in an application form? Identifying your strengths and weaknesses from the beginning, helps you to make the most of our your job readiness journey.
Get all important, valuable work experience
A good job readiness programme will help you to gain the skills, experience and knowledge that employers are looking for.
One to one support
Learn how to write a CV, seek jobs online, write an application form, how to answer questions and conduct yourself well at an interview or learn about self employment.
Moving on
Job readiness will help you to move on, either to further volunteering, training or work experience to gain more skills, or to move on to searching for work independently with the new job readiness skills you have learnt during the programme. Many people to take part in job readiness programmes move straight on to paid employment.
Why is it beneficial?
It’s one to one – you will have an job readiness coach dedicated to you, that you can get the advice from that you need. Many past participants have secured interviews and jobs quickly after taking part in the programme, or have moved on to further training to help reach their goals.
What Do I Get from an Employment Readiness Programme?
Up to 12 weeks of support, one day per week, usually on the same day each week from 9am to 4pm but this is flexible depending on your needs, other commitments etc. We understand that life happens, but when you commit to the programme as much as you can by coming along for just one day per week, you get so much out of it.
A personalised approach - your journey within our programme is tailor made to your strengths, needs and goals. We spend lots of time with you during the programme, so your personalised programme can grow with you.
Confidence - participants tell us that this is the main improvement they feel, due to working with others and having greater self esteem in their abilities and approach to finding work. They tell us that they have greater aspirations and motivation too. We know exactly how it feels to be apprehensive and unsure about the best way to approach job seeking, so confidence building is a big part of the programme (if you need it).
What Do I Leave With?
Leave with a job readiness toolkit, personalised to you with a CV, application form, and other information so that you can continue to apply for roles independently after you leave the programme, with support on hand if you’d like to ask any questions from our coaches in the future
Free work boots, high-visibility waistcoat and other PPE to keep you safe during the programme, and are yours to keep afterwards.
Where is it held?
All of the work experience and job readiness support is delivered at Foundations Furniture, a charity in Teams, Gateshead. The charity has a retail and warehouse setting, with everything that people need to gain the skills, knowledge and experience they need. Foundations is well known for it’s welcoming, accessible environment where people quickly feel comfortable and included.
Do I do the full programme or just the parts I need?
Foundations believes that personalised programmes are the most beneficial, so that participants get exactly what they need. At the beginning of the programme, the team work with you to identify your strengths and weakness and together you can create your own action plan so that you get the most out of Foundations 4 Work. The action plan is flexible too, so that you can work on different areas, at different times. Sometimes a need does not show itself until a few weeks in, or your goals might change as your confidence grows. This means that your personalised plan grows with you.
How long does it last?
Participants come to us for one day per week for up to 12 weeks.
Can it help me to become self employed?
Yes. Our employment readiness coach, Christine, is skilled in giving advice and guidance about self employment. Christine will take you through everything you need to know, and has lots of links with other support services too, to help you to identify if self employment is something you'd like to do, and how to turn your idea or skill into a business venture.
How much does it cost?
The programme is completely free for unemployed residents living in the Gateshead borough. This has been made possible thanks to funding from The Henry Smith Charity and Gateshead Council.
What if I can't afford the travel costs?
Thanks to funding from the Henry Smith Charity and Gateshead Council, Foundations can reimburse your for your travel costs from home and back again so that you can spend the day with us every week without worrying about the financial impact of travel.
Who delivers it?
Our programme is delivered by an experienced and knowledgeable team. The team has many years experience of supporting people in to employment and self employment, through one-to-one coaching, group training and workshops. They also have a wealth of experience in supporting people in lots of other areas, such as housing, financial planning and budgeting, volunteering and much more, on a one to one basis, as well as in group training and workshop settings.
What if I still need support afterward the employment readiness ends?
The Foundations 4 Work team are available to help you with any queries you have once you leave the programme, and will, with your permission, give you a call after you had left the programme to see how you are and if you need any further help towards your goals.
What is the eligibility criteria?
For free support from Foundation 4 Work, participants must be of working age, unemployed and living in Gateshead. Participants must be able to dedicate one day during the week to spend with Foundations, for a maximum of 12 weeks.
What if I just need a CV?
If you need help with a CV and you are unemployed and living in Gateshead, Foundations 4 Work can help you to write one.
When can I start?
Anytime. Our placement begin when you feel ready, and you can start whenever it suits you best.
To find out more about volunteering and employment support in Gateshead, call Foundations on 07851 478548 or visit the Foundation 4 Work website:-
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