Interview success for Work Club members
The Work Club continues to offer support to an average of 12 people every Monday at Allen Park. The club is funded by Allenton Big Local and delivered by Derby Adult Learning and offers a range of support to job seekers and those looking to improve their career prospects.
Chris, who runs the Work Club, said: “Most of the people drop in and stay for around an hour. They take part in a mixture of self-directed job search, mediated help to apply for jobs and information and guidance.”
During the last quarter of 2017, some of the longer term job seekers managed to find employment, including a gentleman who had suffered anxiety and lack of confidence for some time. With help and perseverance he has managed to secure a permanent position at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium.
In October and November Derby Adult Learning conducted a focus group, which was run independently by a senior staff member. When asked about the support offered by the Work Club the feedback from the focus group was positive. People said that it provided a service that was needed and not provided elsewhere in the area.
One focus group member said: “If it wasn’t for the help provided at the club I would be ‘snookered’ as I have no computer facilities at home’.
Work Club Case Study
Z was referred to the Work Club by her work coach at the Job Centre at the beginning of October 2017. She had suffered a recent bereavement and had found her previous role too stressful, so she had resigned. She wanted to return to employment in an administrative role but felt that she needed some support and a welcoming place to search for jobs. Z had tried the central library but time constraints on the computers made it difficult. An initial information and guidance session was carried out which identified improvements that could be made to Z’s CV and application process. Z worked with Chris from the Work Club to re-write her CV and she was subsequently offered an interview within the NHS. As Z wasn’t feeling very confident about the interview process, Chris completed a separate interview practice session with her on the morning of the interview and Z was offered the job.
Z said: “When I first met with Chris at Allen Park I was lacking in confidence, so he suggested that we meet to talk properly and have a thorough discussion. I learned that it was important to apply for jobs that were right for me, jobs that suited what I wanted. This was very good advice as, in desperation, I could easily have made the error of applying for unsuitable roles.
“I made regular use of the Work Club at Allenton and soon got an interview. I was very nervous, so Chris agreed to help prepare me for the interview. He talked to me about the kind of questions I should expect and advised on how to respond. I learned the importance of explaining my experience on a task and saying how I did it and what the outcome was. I attended the interview fully prepared and was successful and offered the post.
“I feel this was all thanks to Chris as he prepared me and gave me the confidence that I needed. Without this support I would not have been empowered to do so well. I am very grateful to Chris at the Work Club and will not forget his help ever.”
If you are seeking employment, need help with your CV or would like support to improve your career prospects, feel free to call into the Work Club at the Allen Park Centre (next to Allenton Library) on Mondays between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
