This 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, NIACRO tells us about a participant who was referred to Working Well by his Probation Officer with the hope that he could be supported into employment after receiving an Enhanced Combination Order.
The participant had a long term career in ICT but needed support to explore other fields of employment due to the conditions of his order. The challenge was to focus on the client’s transferrable skills and find roles suited to him where these skills would be desirable to an employer.
Streamlining CV
At the initial assessment stage, we agreed that we would complete a disclosure statement and streamline his existing CV to make it more relevant to a wider range of employers. We also agreed to explore options for training to expand his CV.
After a discussion about disclosure, the participant used templates and guidance that were shared with him to complete a disclosure statement. The participant shared this initial draft with me and his Probation Officer and made some small adjustments based on our feedback. Following a discussion with the participant about his existing CV and how to focus more on skills rather than experience, we reduced his CV to a two page document.
Securing full-time employment
Using this new CV the participant successfully secured full-time employment. He is currently enjoying his new role and is happy to be back at work after a long period of unemployment. Having completed his induction training, he was offered a supervisory role.
The participant stated that what he found most helpful about the Working Well programme was having someone to offer advice and answer questions as he had no previous convictions and found himself in a situation where he had to seek an entirely different career.