Herminder was unfortunately made redundant shortly before joining the course. Finding out about the course from her Work Coach, Herminder thought that the extra training with a focus on the Civil Service would work well with her Public Sector background. After completing the course, Herminder was able to find employment as a Customer Service Assistant, but is continuing with her aim of working within the Civil Service, utilising the skills and advice learned from the course. Best of luck, Herminder!

What were you doing before you started the programme?
I had been working as a Marketing Executive for a financial company and unfortunately was made redundant after a short time with them.

How did you find out about the training?
I heard about the training via the Department for Work and Pensions whilst I was claiming benefits.

Why did you decide to join?
My work coach recommended the training to me and told me about all of the benefits of participating. I’d previously worked in the Public Sector so thought it would be a good idea.

What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
The training was great and very informative. My Tutor – Owen was really good and very supportive. He was stimulating and very knowledgeable, managing my expectations and that of the other learners. The training approach was adapted to suit each of us who attended which was really beneficial.

Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
No barriers to overcome in relation to the course content.

What are you doing now?
I have recently married and relocated to London where I’m now working as a Customer Services Assistant for a van rental company.

What impact has the training had on your life?
The course equipped me with multiple skills to support my aim of working for the Civil Service. It taught me how to find jobs I wanted to apply for, how to navigate my way through the processes and helped me understand the requirements I may need when applying. It gave me a much better idea of the approach to take when applying for Civil Service jobs including different considerations to use based on the job or department I was interested in.

What are your plans for the future?
It’s my intention to stay in London and ideally secure a role within the Civil Service.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
Give it a try. You 100% won’t regret it.