The project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
Participant's story
In this case study USDT tells us about a participant who joined the Belfast Works programme and how they benefitted from the support and guidance which was provided.
This participant contacted Belfast Works for support with CV and interviews as, although she presented with reasonable work experience, she struggled to get interviews. The participant recognised these practical barriers immediately, but underestimated the impact of both depleted self-confidence and a challenging home environment on job searching.
Resilience building
Shortly after registration, the participant began the parallel support aspect of USDT’s project. Her needs were mental health related and exacerbated by the lockdown that started in March 2020. The parallel support sessions focused on resilience building and maintaining emotional health. Her previous employment experiences were explored and we discussed which job opportunities would offer the highest potential for success. With both mentors she discussed her thoughts and feelings about her unemployment and frustrations at not getting a job.
IT support and interview skills training
Whilst on the project the participant often didn’t have access to suitable IT. USDT provided assistance by enabling her to provide answers to application questions to her employment mentor by phone, who then typed her responses onto online applications. Together they created several different CVs; a chronological one that summarised her current experience and skills-based ones to help her diversify her career options. She also received help regarding interview skills including provision of printed resources, practice sessions and a mock interview.
Gaining employment
All these different interventions led to the client successfully gaining a full time job as a night porter.
She said,
“I seriously cannot thank you enough for the endless amount of help that you have given me, I definitely would not have been able to get a job like this without your help. I now have a job in a field that I wouldn’t have thought I could get a job in.”
In the months after successfully finding employment, the client has reported that she is loving her job and that she is receiving training in order to take advantage of promotion opportunities that are likely in the near future. She is happier, fulfilled by her work and hopeful for the future.