Employment and education
involved – it tells you what you’ll be doing in the job. You’ve got to work with your CV to sell yourself and say, ‘I’ve got experience in doing all of these things.’” As well as this, the general rule is to make sure your CV is only two pages, all the information is accurate and up to date and that everything is spelled correctly. Ask a friend or family member to have a read over it before you send it anywhere – or get in touch with an organisation like Remploy to give it the once over.
INTERVIEW PREP One thing which many people turn to Remploy for help with is preparing for interviews. Nerves can be a big barrier, so the organisation offers coaching and advice in group sessions and on a one-toone basis. “I can see people one-to-one and prep them with generic questions we know are going to be asked within that sector to help them prepare,” Ieuan explains. “For example, for customer service, I might ask, ‘Give me an example of a time you provided excellent levels of customer service.’ Then I’ll make sure they know how to answer that. It’s pointless saying, ‘Yes, I can give excellent levels of customer service,’ and no example. They have to tell that story, what skills they used.” Ieuan suggests using the STAR technique – standing for what the Situation was, what the Task at hand was, what Action was taken, and what was the Result. By using this framework, you’ll
gain experience over the course of a placement, and is designed to be the stepping-stone to employment with M&S or with other employers. “Before I joined the Marks & Start programme, I was going from agency job to agency job, which was incredibly frustrating as I didn’t know if I would be needed the following week,” says Jeff. “For two years I was applying for job after job – anything where I thought I might stand a chance. However I was not getting noticed, and the frustration of not hearing back from employers was, at
Use the STAR technique in interviews
be able to answer the interviewer’s question in full, and really demonstrate that you have the skills that they need. As well as practising questions, it’s helpful to know your CV inside out, get clued up on the organisation you’re interviewing for, and practise in front of a mirror so you’re ready for any scenario that might get thrown at you.
DISCLOSURE As well as the practicalities of applying for a job, one of the biggest perceived barriers for many is their disability itself – when to disclose, will it put the employer off, how to tackle it… It can be a minefield. Ieuan points out that choosing when to disclose is a really personal matter – some will disclose straight away while others never do. The employer legally can’t ask for details of your disability until after a job offer has been made unless it’s relating to access for interview. However, by disclosing your disability, it does ensure that adaptations and support can be put in place, enabling you to perform to the best of your ability. It’s illegal for an employer to refuse you a job because you have a disability. If you feel you’ve been treated unfairly as you look for a job, you can contact the
times, overwhelming.” Jeff was referred to Remploy for help with his job hunting. What followed was a package of intensive support, including rebuilding his confidence, tips on how to perform better in job interviews and guidance on working in the retail sector. With Remploy’s help, he applied for a sought-after Marks & Start placement and was delighted when he learned of his success. Lucy Simons, senior customer advisor and Plan A champion for M&S Retail Customer Services and the Executive
Equality Human Rights Commission for advice – give them a call on 0808 800 0082 or head to the website at www. equalityhumanrights. com. Remember too that there is support available to help you in the workplace – the Access to Work fund is there to help employers make adaptations to their workplace that would enable someone to do their job. The Access to Work scheme can also help with the interview process in some cases by providing access to an interpreter. So don’t automatically assume that organisations will overlook you because of the cost associated with assistive tech or specialist seating – you can even bring this up with the employer yourself once you’ve been offered the job. Find out more at www.gov.uk/ access-to-work. Job hunting can be daunting, whether you’re in or out of work – but be aware that there is help out there to get you through the process. If you go in with a positive attitude, you’re well prepared and ready to sing your own praises, the process can be a lot easier than you’d think. And who knows? This New Year could be the one where your professional life changes completely. Good luck.
Office, praised Jeff’s commitment and was not surprised to hear of his success. “During his placement, he was a wonderful addition to our team and his enthusiasm and confidence grew weekly. It’s been a very positive and enjoyable experience for us all, and we’re very excited to see how Jeff’s career will progress with M&S.”
i Find out more about Remploy at www.remploy.co.uk.
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