Week 11
Welcome to the eleventh bulletin
This week’s Activity
If you are not working, whether you are seeking work or furloughed, as lockdown rules begin to ease maybe it is time to start actively looking for opportunities to volunteer.
Volunteering can be an excellent route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change.
It can be a great way of:
gaining new skills, knowledge and experience.
developing existing skills and knowledge.
enhancing your CV.
improving your employment prospects.
meeting new people.
gaining an accreditation.
using your professional skills and knowledge to benefit others (usually described as pro bono).
In a discussion at one of our WISH clubs earlier in the year, looking back people wished they had signed up to do volunteering after about a month of unemployment regardless of what sector they were previously working in. It might feel as if it would take your focus off applying for paid work, but it is a great way to keep going while you are not working and feel part of something bigger. You never know who you might meet and it might lead to paid work.
Obviously, with COVID the opportunities to volunteer have been hugely impacted, with new ones appearing, new ways to deliver existing services and existing ones being put on hold. Some which have previously been delivered face-to-face, are now moving online so if you are self-isolating or shielding, there are still ways to contribute to the local community.
A good place to start would be the new Horsham District Council volunteering site - volunteerhorshamdistrict
If you need support to find just the right role for you, there are several organisations locally who can help you, so let us know and we will be happy to introduce you to them.
Online courses that you might wish to consider
British Red Cross has launched an online refresher course for qualified First Aiders which is also suitable as an introduction. (Please note that in order to become a nominated First Aider in the Workplace there is a practical part to the learning, so this is not sufficient to give you that qualification. It will, however, serve as a good reminder if you did your course over a year ago and will give you some awareness of what to consider in the event of an emergency if you are yet to do one).
There is also a COVID 19 Mental Health training course which will introduce you to some of the concepts that you would meet if training as a Mental Health First Aider. Speak to Richard if you would like to take things further once you have completed it.
Keep going with the other online courses that we have suggested, just look back over the previous bulletins for lots more suggestions. Most are still free to join so make the most of it while they are.
Don’t forget to update your CV with all those that you complete!
Skill of the week - “Listening skills”
Listening skills are not taught at school or college, we are taught to read, write and speak but actively listening to other people is a gift and a free opportunity to show that you're interested and that you care.
We all remember a time when we've been properly listened to and also when someone hasn't listened properly, or at all (far more common).
Whether you are still staying in for much of the day or have the opportunity to get out and about a bit more, contact with other people outside your home is likely to take a bit more effort than usual. How are you finding it? The usual day to day chit chat between random strangers has been challenged by the lockdown restrictions but it is important for our mental health that we keep making the effort to stay in touch and remember that we are not alone.
This week we would like you to get in touch with at least one person that you have not spoken to since March and check up on how they are getting on. It doesn’t have to be by phone or other online “face to face” method, but it will all the more effective if they can actually hear your voice. If you find taking the first step difficult, why not email or text them and see if there is a time that would suit you both for a catch up?
Try listening more than you would normally, ask a question and just sit quietly. They will notice and so will you, it is very nice actually to just sit silently giving your 100% attention to another person. Not always easy to do, but worth the effort.
If you have been really missing conversation with other people and recognise that you need some help to get back into the habit, let one of us know. We are here to support you.
Interview question of the week - What are you looking for?
This is perhaps something that you might be asked outside of an interview situation, but it could also be posed as a very open question for you to deal with. The challenge is to come up with a short punchy summary that you are ready to deliver it at any time and to anyone – after all you never know when you are going to meet your future employer either in person or online!
This is sometimes called your “elevator pitch” and it is well worth spending time developing and practising it. You need to be able to say everything important in about 30 seconds. Remember it is not intended as a massive long sales pitch, it’s just to gain their attention and hook their interest.
It may be that it has been a long time since you had to answer this question and you are not really sure what you want, other than a regular income to pay the bills. Time considering how your skills can be transferred to another role, business or sector is going to make sure that you are ready to give a coherent response.
If you are struggling to do this on your own, now is the time to get in touch and book a chat. There is a strategy to creating this and we're happy to assist if we can.
Maintaining good Mental and Physical Health
This week we turn to the Horsham Wellbeing team for an update on the help they provide in all kinds of areas. If you previously attended one of their sessions at the Horsham WISH you will already know that they provide support and encouragement in a number of ways for you to improve your health and wellbeing.
There may be issues that have challenged you while you have been in lockdown and you are ready to take action – time to get in touch and get started! Health and Wellbeing Bulletin
Job Vacancies
here has been an enormous increase in the advertisment of local vacancies over the last week or so. We have been searching and listing a decent selection of what we have found for you. Please click here to see a wide variety of new jobs - wish-live-vacancies
If you would like some one-to-one job searching support, then fill in your details on this link contact-us and we will get in touch.
And finally
We are committed to helping you on your journey towards employment so please get in touch if we can help you in any way. It has been great to speak, text or email with many of you over the last couple of weeks and hear how you are getting on.
Richard Brooks FIEP - Director.
Mobile - 07783 222956
Office - 01403 627766
Email - richard.brooks@setas.org.uk
Specialist Employment, Training and Advice Services
Mel Simmonds
Mobile – 07855 634679
Email – simmondsmel@icloud.com
