City of Westminster College students enjoyed a workshop on CV and interview skills hosted by nine senior staff members from financial services group Prudential.
The event, which was organised by Employment Engagement Coordinator Barry Coleman through the organisation Employee Volunteering, matched top executives with learners at the College who have been improving their skills in order to enter or re-enter the jobs market. Most of the learners are on the Employability Skills Programme, with two students attending from the College’s Lone Parent Group.
The students benefited from one-to-one advice from executives who regularly assess CVs and interview job applicants – and this meant they were offered ‘insider’ advice on what to do to stand out from the crowd. They had the chance to ask anything they wanted and get tips on doing well at interview and presenting their skills in the best way on their CVs.
The workshop also focused on preparation of SMART! Goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound and inspiring) and creating action plans for employment and progression.
Tracey Stechman, who is from the Lone Parent Group and studying an NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service says: “I’ve always found I become really awkward around people in suits, but this was a brilliant event and very useful for me. I had the chance to speak to women who run big departments, I could ask all the questions I’ve always wanted to ask – including what to wear to an interview – and I had really positive feedback on my CV.
“Having been out of work for 20 years, and spending much of that time caring for a terminally ill child, I’ve found it difficult to reinvent myself for the jobs market. Previously I’d applied to 64 jobs and not even got a look in so I’ve spent the past year at the College brushing up on all my skills because I really want to get back into employment – ideally in community work. The workshop was such good preparation for me and a real boost to my confidence.”
Abeer Elkhateb, who is on the Employability Skills Programme and is also undertaking a work placement at the College, says: “This was very useful – as well as being informative. My previous experience has been gained in a specialist area of IT in continental Europe so it was good to focus on areas such as making the most of my skills on my CV.
“One of the executives I spoke to had a very similar background to me and was incredibly helpful. He also took my CV away with him and has offered to forward it to colleagues who may be interested in my experience. Talking to the team from Prudential has been a very positive experience for me.”