Project Aims

To raise the self-esteem of mature people (age 45+ - 64) by providing individual support followed by a comprehensive programme of pre-employment training designed to help identify career options, enhance their employability and move into and retain employment. The programme includes job search strategies, job search skills and confidence building.

Description of activity

In January 05 Boston College was awarded an ESF contract to run the Experience Works! project until December 2006. The project currently operates at both the Boston & Sleaford Learning Centres. The full programme is delivered through five half day sessions and is aimed at both employed and unemployed mature people.
All individuals are offered an initial consultation to determine their current situation and needs, exploring their previous training and employment history, their personal aims and ambitions in terms of employment and general learning. If appropriate, individuals are then encouraged to progress to the full Experience Works! Programme.
All individuals work with the project manager to develop a personal action plan which is monitored throughout their attendance, and reviewed at the completion of the programme. The programme includes; Job Search Strategy encouraging individuals to plan and review their progress whilst also developing a better awareness of the current employment market. Job Search Skills – practical sessions aimed at enabling individuals to present themselves effectively on paper and in person. Confidence building which includes supporting individuals to explore their real skills and potential, how they present themselves and how they best learn. There are also additional opportunities to improve ICT skills. Clients are encouraged to engage in ICT learning and skills for life where appropriate , which will not only deal with skills for work but skills for life in general, plus help to re-engage those individuals who have valuable transferable employment skills.

Who is benefiting

Many individuals attending feel disengaged from the current employment market and have difficulty with coming to terms with changed expectations. Many lack confidence and self-marketing skills and are distanced from formal learning/effective job search strategies. They have great difficulty in recognising and valuing their own experience, expertise and/or skills, and do not have an understanding of how to present them selves effectively to potential employers.

Benefits reported from beneficiaries are increased self esteem, confidence in recognising their own skills and abilities, plus an increase in return to formal learning and employment. There are two case studies below which show evidence of success of this project.

Results

From February 2005, 114 individuals have undertaken a one to one consultation with 57 going on to complete the full programme. 38 individuals have gone on to enrol onto further education courses, mainly covering ICT such as ECDL & Clait. 13 currently have found paid employment plus 5 individuals are undertaking voluntary work. As the confirmation re employment is solely dependant on individuals replying to the follow-up letter that is sent three months after completing the workshops, this figure could be higher.

Individual success stories

Some individuals have undertaken more than one qualification and are also working through a Skills For Life course to update their literacy and/or their numeracy. One individual has completed an ICT taster, part one of ECDL, plus level one in literacy and numeracy and is currently working through his level two. The individual concerned did not want any publicity and therefore regrettably would not be a case study.

Good news story one

Sobana Chelladurai, age 54, came for an individual consultation after recently moving to the area. Sobana was keen to get back into a role of learning support assistant which she had done for 11 years in Kent, but was unsure of the opportunities in the local area, and felt that she needed help with her job search skills. In particular Sobana needed help and support with writing an effective CV and covering letter and interview practice. Sobana enrolled onto the Full Experience Works! programme and also to do her Clait ICT qualification which she has recently finished. In the last two months Sobana applied for two part time Learning Support Assistant posts and was offered both positions, one of which was for the college!
“I had no interview skills when I came here but have been helped a lot” said Sobana. “It has really helped my confidence. I didn’t know about covering letters but it really helped me when I sent in my application forms”

Good news story two

Wendy Dawson, age 50 from Ruskington in Sleaford came for an initial consultation to discuss what support would be available in helping her make a career change. As Wendy had always had a love of travel, a transition into the travel industry seemed very appropriate for her. Wendy was looking for help with refining her CV and covering letter and developing her self marketing skills through interview practice. After completing the Experience Works! Programme, Wendy wrote speculative letters to two employers within the travel industry and was delighted when she was asked to attend interviews for both positions! Following her second interview with the national travel agency chain ‘Thomson’ in Sleaford, Wendy was offered the position of Sales Consultant and commenced on 1st September.
“The main thing that Experience Works! helped me with was to ensure that my CV and covering letter emphasised my appropriate strengths and skills “said Wendy. “Plus the interview practice prepared me for the different types of questions in today’s employment market”

Provider Comments

“The ESF contract is enabling us to help and support local mature people who often feel that they have nothing to offer and that their skills are too out of date to be attractive to employers. The funding allows us to offer this unique service to individuals to empower them with the knowledge, skills and renewed confidence, that they too can have a career choice and be a valued member of staff to a local employer.” Tracie Charles-Mclean – Experience Works! Project Manager – Boston College.