Customer Services Academy 'Participant'
What is your employment status?
I am currently unemployed.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what motivated you to join this academy?
I joined this academy for help to get into employment. I have been speaking with employers and sending my CV to them for roles but haven’t had any luck with finding a job.
I am still looking for jobs while on this academy.
What skills do you hope to gain or improve through this academy?
I wanted to get a few extra qualifications to help with getting into employment, so the World Host Customer Service Training and Manual Handling are helpful to have.
I would like some more help with creating CVs and in interviewing, especially how to make one with AI being so common now.
I do a lot of self-learning with courses at home.
What challenges have you faced in your job search or career path so far?
While I have job experience, the most difficult part of the job search is trying to get through to companies and potential employers. I speak with recruitment specialists from these companies who ask to send a CV in, which I do, only to get an email back I was unsuccessful for the role – despite being told to throw in my generic CV and not replying for any role.
I also have gone through interviews, but either get rejected, or I have companies cancel interviews and ghost me.
Have you ever faced any obstacles in your job search, such as gaps in employment or lack of experience in certain areas?
It is mostly employers that have been an obstacle for me, but also AI. It can be confusing whether to use AI to help create a CV, as it’s been recommended, but there are a lot of mixed reviews on it.
What do you like about the employment academy? Are you finding it useful/are there new things you are learning that you haven’t learned before?
I am definitely learning new things – such as Manual Handling, COSHH, First Aid.
The interaction with the other participants is also really helpful – job searching can make you feel alone especially when you’re stuck in the house on your own. It’s helped my mental health being with others who are in the same position and having that structure of coming to training.
Has it increased your confidence in building your skills/potentially finding employment?
My confidence is still up and down, but I attribute this a lot to the job search.