Kuldip Kaur – Civil Service Learner

Kuldip was in need of a confidence boost and generally wanted to see what options were available to her in the working world. Finding out about the course from Universal Credit, Kuldip decided that it would be a good experience to help expand her knowledge and push the boundaries of her comfort zone, especially when it came to searching for new jobs. Finding out that experience doesn’t just come from your working life, but can also be obtained in your day-to-day activities, Kuldip has now gone on to find work as a Youth Custody Officer! Congratulations, Kuldip, and best of luck!

What were you doing before you started the programme?
I worked for a Medical company from January to July. I was calling hospitals or therapists and booking appointments for patients, people were claiming insurance from accidents, car accidents or things like that. And then from July, I was unemployed.

How did you find out about the training?
I found out about the course through the Job Centre. I got a note in my Journal from Universal Credit giving me an option to join and I thought I was not doing anything, and it was something to go on my CV.

Why did you decide to join?
I’m always one for learning, keen to learn new things and to expand my knowledge. I think if you expand your knowledge it allows you to get out of your comfort zone and it can give you more confidence to look further afield and at jobs you normally wouldn’t do.

What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
The training was fun even though it was just through Zoom. We had a lovely group and we had a good laugh, it was relaxing, it wasn’t too intense. There were no exams, and the Tutors and Support did help you. It gave me a bit more confidence to look out of my comfort zone. Back in 2021, my confidence took a knock a bit, so I think that’s why I joined.

Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
Yes, there were a couple of obstacles but we overcame them. I think that I’m going through a difficult phase in my life, that has made it difficult for me to understand some things. I sometimes had to ask the question again at the end of the task, there were some things that I didn’t know how to expand on, but the team helped me and went over the things I needed more time on. It wasn’t as difficult in the end as I thought it was going to be.

What are you doing now?
I’m now working for GEOAmey, as a Custody Officer for young people aged from 10 to 18.

What impact has the training had on your life?
It’s put a light on things; some of the job roles we look at and think “I can’t do this” because it’s asking you certain questions or giving examples of certain scenarios, and I’ve always struggled with that as I always think of work examples. But the course has shown me that it’s not always about working and can be about your personal life as well, which I didn’t know.
I think the impact is learning that we do a lot of things in daily life that we don’t think about. When we teach children, or if we have someone shadowing us we’re coaching them at the same time. I would say that it’s helped put things into a perspective you wouldn’t normally see.

What are your plans for the future?
I do want to make a difference, I have been told by my manager and trainer that I’m really going to be an asset to this job, which was nice to hear. I’m hoping that they’re right and I’m going to give this a chance. I’m 56 and I still have that bit of spark, so I’m hoping I can grow in this job. I just want to grow in my job and hopefully progress onto bigger things.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
I’ve already been saying to people that they should join! If you can get on it, get on it, because it’s good and it does help you a lot, especially with your confidence. It will also help people who are closed up, who are shy and people who don’t have the confidence to talk openly. I think I’m always scared to go into a group and then once you get to know the group and everyone starts asking questions and you want answers, you start interacting.
Even before the course ended I was telling a lot of people about it! Once you’ve been on the course you can grow from it and go out of your comfort zone and do the jobs that you might have thought you couldn’t do.

Leave a Comment