Baljit Manku - case study

  • By admin

BaljitBaljit registered onto the Jobshop Community Outreach project on 3 March 2012. She attended a Jobs and Training Fair event at Becontree children centre where she received advice about the steps she should take to find part-time work, participated in a CV surgery and found out about available job vacancies.

Following this she met with an adviser to complete an Action Plan which outlined the goals she wanted to achieve in the short and long-term and the support she would get in order to do so.

Baljit was interested in applying for our Apprentice Project Officer role but initially didn’t feel confident enough to go for the position. After a 1-1 mentoring session with a project adviser, which included talking through the job description and person specification and how best to prepare for interview, she felt encouraged to apply.

Baljit applied for the position and was invited for a 1st stage group interview; she was early, participated in all group activities and dressed smart. She did so well that she was invited for a final panel interview. Baljit was by far the best candidate for the job, she’d prepared well, done her research, looked smart and had questions prepared to ask after the interview.

Baljit has been working with us for over 5 months and in this time she has:

  • Engaged over 30 people onto the project
  • Progressed people into work and further courses
  • Help set up and run a weekly job club at Barking Foyer
  • Started a PTTLS course
  • Started an Information, Advice and Guidance Level 3 NVQ

Baljit says

`I would never have had the confidence to apply for this job if I hadn’t had the encouragement and support from East Tenders staff. I have learnt so much from the job and am really enjoying myself. I’ve had a lot of support, training and the job fits in around dropping off and picking up the kids from school. The team even talked with my Jobcentre Advisor to make sure I am better off in work and applied for the right in work benefits. I recently increased my hours from 16 to 25 per week and got a pay rise because I’ve been doing so well.  I would encourage parents to sign up to this project it has changed my life.’