You are leaving school? “The first step is always the hardest.”
I find myself in a rather awkward position when tackling this topic. Since I can’t really say I have had any real first-hand experience. I left school, clearly. But I left in such an unceremonious time that positivity was quite a fleeting emotion. I left in year 9 which naturally skewed my options and would go on to spend the next several years in the comforting glow of an LCD monitor. Suddenly realising that I had to earn money to have any chance was jarring to say the least, to say nothing of my grand GCSE count of absolutely zero. We live in an economic minefield, an absolute meat grinder I have heard people say.
What possible chance do I have at employment? People who have left school with far more than I did were having trouble. The first step is always the hardest and it is one I would never have made alone. Support, support is such a powerful motivator. Without the push from my inner circle I may not be where I am today. So my first message to you is to not distance yourself from those closest to you, they will stop you from falling to a dead halt during your low points and make your achievements all the sweeter. Just remember that the responsibility is always on you, this is your journey. Tendring Youth Network is absolutely packed with opportunities and ways to broaden your horizons so you will certainly not be at a loss for things to do.
I personally started my training at TBG Learning. They have since withdrawn from Tendring but may still be found in Colchester. Without any GCSEs I tried to fill the gap (more like a bottomless pit) in my CV by taking Functional Skills alongside the MAHST program at SIGNPOST which taught practical skills such as plumbing and carpentry. The idea was that I wasn’t intending to enter such a role in employment but to just get accustomed to getting up in the morning for a purpose. Along the way I did learn a huge amount, met some brilliant individuals (such as my current boss Diane Boyd). Passed the MAHST (I am sorry for the rhyme) and earned my Functional Skills in both maths and English, failed ICT oddly enough but…never mind. Confident that I was slightly more suited for a work environment, I started to apply for whatever I felt I had a chance at. No such luck, unfortunately. But I wasn’t really taking all the action I could have so the cold spell may be partly on my shoulders. I needed more training and more qualifications if I was going to break out of unemployment.
It wasn’t long before SIGNPOST had contacted me to let me know about a spot in a Gateway to Advice and Advocacy course that the Citizen’s Advice Bureau had set up. Just a few weeks and I’ll have the chance to earn qualifications that make me more desirable in an office environment. Sounds exactly like something I need! Coping while on reception and handling incoming calls. It was such an immense exercise for building upon my confidence which had been diminished by the silence from employers. Even with this however, it seemed that finding work was just out of reach. I do put some blame on the impossibly high standards of some employers for even menial work but I won’t fault them for expecting quality. The rejection was draining, nevertheless. What I wasn’t expecting was another call from SIGNPOST, or rather a call from Diane Boyd, letting me know that I could apply for an apprenticeship at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Community Connector has a nice ring to it I thought. This was an interview I think I suffered for, thanks to the unfortunate case of ill-fitting shoes. But the pain was worth it, that very same day I was called back telling me I had gotten the position. I don’t think I could adequately describe how good I felt after that but thankfully for me I don’t need to.
I guess the purpose of this recount was to just highlight how perseverance and a positive attitude can contribute just as much as support and training to your job hunt. I left school with literally nothing and things are looking up. My intent is imparting a confidence that there is no such thing as a total dead end. There is action you can take and the power to change your life is literally within reach; it simply depends on your initiative and taking advantage of the support available, such as the Tendring Youth Network.
