Jennifer found out about the course from her Work Coach, and after working in retail and hospitality wanted to explore a new potential area of work. After joining the course and regaining confidence, Jennifer was able to apply for roles she never would have previously. Read on to hear more of her story!

What were you doing before you started the programme?
During my career, I have mainly worked in retail and hospitality. Before starting the programme, I was a Supervisor with Ryman Stationery for four years before being made redundant when the store closed. Prior to this, I needed to care for my Mum for a couple of years, but I have also held a Supervisory role with Holland and Barrett, worked in a local restaurant for two years, KFC for two years and McDonald’s for twelve years.

How did you find out about the training?
I found out about the training from my Work Coach during my second visit to the Job Centre, Halesowen, who explained about the varied vacancies available in the Civil Service and helped me recognise I had transferable skills I could apply in the roles that were available.

Why did you decide to join?
I thought it sounded like an interesting course. It was another potential area of work which I didn’t know about previously that I wanted to explore.

What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
It restored my confidence. I thought I was never going to get another job at my age, but it stopped me thinking like that and going down that rabbit hole! All the tutors were extremely helpful, explained everything, were reassuring and on hand for support throughout.
It gave me the confidence to apply for roles I would never have thought about applying for before the course. It prepared me for what to expect in the Civil Service application process. I wasn’t as apprehensive and felt confident enough to apply for a number of roles in the sector after the training.

Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
I found taking part in the recorded interview daunting, but the opportunity to practice helped me.

What are you doing now?
I was successful in gaining a position with Poundland originally but have since obtained employment at Managerial level with Ryman Stationery but this time in a different store. It’s a varied role.

What impact has the training had on your life?
The main thing is it’s built my confidence again. It’s also helped me to be more comfortable with IT generally. The course was delivered remotely with everything online, and during group activities we used screen sharing which was new, but it all helped me.

What are your plans for the future?
I’ve only got five years of work left until I retire. However, I’m enjoying working at Ryman, and am still interested in the type of administrative roles offered by the Civil Service and local Councils.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
I would advise them to do it! For me, it opened up a whole different perspective on work and opportunities. I had worked in two sectors for most of my working life, but the training gave me the belief I could do other things.