Celia had been wanting to become a part of the Civil Service for a while, but knew that finding a job in that sector could take up quite a bit of time. After receiving a notification about the course in her work journal, Celia decided to join our Civil Service course as a good opportunity to gain some extra qualifications and get support with CV updating and personal statement writing. Since completing the training, Celia has gone on to be employed as a School and Programme Administrator at her local university, and we wish her all the best! Read on below to hear more from Celia!
What were you doing before you started the programme?
I graduated from Cardiff University in 2021 where I studied English Literature. I stayed on in Cardiff after I completed my degree working in various restaurants before Covid hit, and at that point decided moving back home was the best thing to do. When it was possible, I returned to Cardiff and continued working in hospitality. Some travelling in Europe followed, which included teaching in Poland for a month, helping young Polish people with their English and communication skills. I’d been applying for school Teaching Assistant roles from September 2022, but there were not many opportunities available. I had some interviews but found my lack of experience counted against me. I was unemployed before starting the course.
How did you find out about the training?
I received a notification about the training to my work journal, with a list of other opportunities, but this one stood out. My Work Coach, Dan at the Wulfrun Centre was also positive about the course.
Why did you decide to join?
I’d been thinking about applying for Civil Service jobs for a while. I was aware obtaining such a job could be a time-taking process, but recognised it was a good opportunity to gain some extra qualifications, and benefit from support to help with updating my CV and writing the statements required to be successful.
What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
I thought the training was well organised and liked the way it was structured, set around daily remote classes, discussion, and completion of workbooks. James the tutor was really supportive, and the workload was manageable. There was good interaction with others on the course. We were all in a similar position and the training helped the job-hunting process be less stressful. I valued the support we were given which included a mock interview and help with CV construction. It can be challenging doing that sort of thing on your own, so it was good to have another set of eyes looking at what you’re doing.
Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
Not really, my focus was to try and find employment.
What are you doing now?
I’ve been employed as a School and Programme Administrator in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Art and Business with the University of Wolverhampton. It’s a hybrid role, with the week spread between the office and working from home.
What impact has the training had on your life?
It’s played a big part in helping me to secure the employment I now have and be better prepared for interviews. I learned new things, such as how varied a role Customer Service can be and developed a greater awareness of Data Protection. There were questions in my interview that related to both. Without the course I wouldn’t have had that knowledge to help me respond.
What are your plans for the future?
I think my new job will be an enjoyable role. I’m learning new skills and am sure it will help me progress. Longer term, I’m still interested in experiencing further work abroad perhaps teaching English as a foreign language. I’d also like to maintain my interest in writing, possibly through opportunities in journalism.
What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
I would say the training is a good, constructive use of time, is not too long and easy to take part in. The structure of the course was almost like having a job in itself so was good preparation for what was to follow.