We held a second successful event bringing employers and HeadsUp participants together, this time in our Colchester offices. On the day we were pleased to welcome fifteen participants and a broad range of employers: Colchester Borough Council, Lloyds Bank, St Helena Hospice and Colchester Institute who were all there to talk about employability, application tips and volunteering opportunities.
As well as hearing general presentations, most of the participants spent some one-to-one time with employers to explore opportunities and discuss application strategies. Throughout the day it became clear just how much employers respect volunteering experience on CVs, as it shows a willingness and ability to learn new skills and build on existing ones. Participants who currently volunteer also described the benefits of increased confidence and new friendships, so it wasn’t surprising to hear that several of our participants have since gone on to volunteer with St Helena which will develop their skills and give them valuable experience for their CV’s.
Following the event, several participants met with our Employer Engagement Manager to explore new directions which they might not have previously considered possible. One of the most important parts of the HeadsUp approach is that we focus on the right outcome for an individual rather than trying to rush people through a set programme of work, this means that we can help them discover what’s right for them and then do our best to help them achieve it.
More employer engagement events are being planned across the county for the coming months.