Jordan

Jordan was a student at Gower College Swansea stuying A ‘Levels alongside a Level 3 AAT course when he came to Better Jobs, Better Futures. Jordan lacked previous employment experience, however he had volunteered alongside his college course raising funds for a not-for-profit restaurant as well as a college project based in Kenya ensuring children have access to education.

Jordan applied to join the ‘Futures Academy’ at the college: a programme designed to develop an individual employment pathway for students seeking to progress straight into employment or an apprenticeship on completion of their A level studies. Students were given information on the current and future labour market, and different employment route ways, with input from guest speakers and leading employers. They were also supported through a range of group and one-to-one activities to draft CV’s and job applications, and to prepare for interviews, as well as gaining a greater understanding of the world of work.

“I was really pleased when I found out I could join the academy and they could support me. I particularly wanted help with my interview techniques and Dave reassured me that this was something we could work on together to improve” – Jordan

Jordan worked closely with Career Coach Dave and together they carried out mock interviews, practicing questions and appropriate responses. Dave supported Jordan in developing coping strategies to deal with potential interview scenarios, building his confidence and competence. It was clear that preparation was going to be key to Jordan’s success at interview and he worked hard to improve his skills.

Dave and Jordan began job searching for suitable opportunities within the finance sector. With no real direction or career plan, Dave supported Jordan in mapping out his individual pathway to employment, ensuring that all options and route ways were explored.

“Jordan lacked confidence at interview but had all the other attributes needed to succeed. It was a pleasure working with him as he has always been open-minded and receptive to the advice and support we have given him. With such a positive mind-set I knew it was a matter of time before we found him the right opportunity” – Dave

Jordan was proactive in his approach to the one-to-one sessions he had with Dave and together they produced an impressive CV that was ready to be distributed to potential employers. Feeling more confident in his ability and ready to take on a new challenge, Jordan decided to apply for an administration role with an international service provider who offer a wide range of services to a diverse group of customers in the telecommunications, IT and retail industries. Jordan performed exceptionally well at interview and was quickly offered a Business Administration Apprenticeship. Jordan has made significant progress since joining the academy and has proved that, with the right career and employability support combined with hard work and commitment, you can truly take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way.

“I am extremely grateful for the support from the programme and thankful for the opportunity of being interviewed for my new role. It is such a great feeling to be successful in securing a job that I really wanted, and I now feel far more confident in my ability and what I can achieve in the future” – Jordan