Aiden joined our online Civil Service programme with the goal of obtaining employment in a Civil Service role. Aiden feels the course has helped him become more positive in job applications and interviews, even helping him secure employment since being on the course. Read more on Aiden’s journey below as we wish him the best of luck in the new position!

What were you doing before you started the programme?
After school I completed a L3 Music Technology course at college. I started looking for work straight away. In terms of work experience, I held a seasonal job at Royal Mail, and another as an audit administrator. My administration role lasted for seven months before I was let go in February. I was unemployed before starting the course with Release Potential.

How did you find out about the training?
Through my Work Coach, Julie at Willenhall Jobcentre. She advised that it could help me to obtain a Civil Service role, something I wanted.

Why did you decide to join?
If it could help me, I was interested. I was happy to consider any general administration role no matter what the department.

What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
I enjoyed the training and thought it was a positive experience to put on my CV. It gave me another qualification to strengthen my applications and something new to talk about in interviews. It has helped me with the application processes for jobs I have submitted subsequently and to cope better with answering interview questions. I have been able to apply the different interview techniques I learned in a range of situations, not just those relating to the Civil Service.

Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
Not really, but I needed to try to use the course to get a job.

What are you doing now?
Following a recent interview on Teams, I secured employment as a Patient Access Clerk in the Department for Rheumatology with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Foundation Trust. It’s a general administration role which will involve handling phone calls, data input into a range of systems, filing, case notes and appointments.

What impact has the training had on your life?
The course has helped me to be more positive in answering application questions and handling interview situations. It helped me to get more interviews and be successful with this one!

What are your plans for the future?
I’m focused on my new job for the time being. I would like to try to progress in the NHS, and hope that if I do well, there could be other opportunities to go for.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
It’s worth it! I changed the direction of my job search, and the course has proved to be helpful with the applications and interviews I have had for a range of jobs.