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Our work experience placement helped Esmat to land a full-time job

Our work experience placement helped Esmat to land a full-time job

Esmat- who came to the UK from Iran (where she’d worked as an Office Manager for six years)- has now found work after job seeking for two years. This comes after our Employment and Enterprise Team supported Esmat into a work experience placement offered by our Accounts Team.

“I was tired of being rejected because I didn’t have [recognised] experience [in the UK]” said Esmat- which is why she approached our Deane UCAN Centre with hopes of gaining work experience in an accounting and/or finance-related role.

Here’s Esmat’s story:

“It was from the Deane UCAN Centre I was introduced to Andy, the Employability and Partnership Officer (pictured). He gave me advice about putting my CV together and introduced me to an Adult Work Experience opportunity within Bolton at Home’s Accounts Team.

Portrait image of Andy Strutt, who works as an Employability and Partnership Officer with our social enterprise subsidiary, Starts with you.

Andy Strutt works for our social enterprise subsidiary, Starts with you as an Employability and Partnership Officer and supported Esmat to find an ideal work experience placement within our Accounts Team. See our current work experience placements at: www.boltonathome.org.uk/work-experience.

“The work experience was just what I needed and helped me in every way. It gave me relevant work experience in the UK, helped me learn how to communicate in a professional environment, and built my confidence.

“I was nervous at first. I thought I’d forgot everything I knew about things like Microsoft Excel- but as each week passed, I learnt new things and studied at home, too. Throughout my placement I worked closely with a member of the Accounts Team, Hana, who’d helped me learn loads.

“Whilst on my placement I also tailored my CV and applied for an Accounting Assistant job. When I got the news that I’d received an interview, I was put in touch with Shaira at Working Wardrobe (www.boltonathome.org.uk/working-wardrobe) who showed me how to prepare for an interview. She was so helpful, providing plenty of tips and notes.

Portrait image of Shaira Najak, our Employment and Enterprise Project Officer who supported Esmat with interview clothing and prep (through our Working Wardrobe project).

Shaira Najak (our Employment and Enterprise Project Officer) supported Esmat with interview clothing and prep through our Working Wardrobe project. You can learn more about Working Wardrobe here: www.boltonathome.org.uk/working-wardrobe.

“I’ve now got my first job in the UK thanks to all the support I’ve received, and I’m still benefiting from six months of ‘in-work support’ which has helped me with things like my employment contract and provided me with several outfits- and even a handbag- to use in my new role.

“I really liked this experience, this journey has been so helpful, and I want more people who have come to the UK from other countries to know about it. It really builds your confidence and gives you the skills and experience you need to get a job.”

We can help you or someone you’re close to into work, too:

It could be that:

  • you're looking for your first job,
  • you’ve been out of work for a while and would like some motivation to get back into employment,
  • you’ve got relevant qualifications for the role(s) you’re interested in- but you’d like to gain some ‘real world’ work experience,
  • or some other reason.

Regardless of where you’re at - there’s a good chance our Employment and Enterprise Team can help. Speak to us using the contact details at www.boltonathome.org.uk/getting-into-work or by visiting your local UCAN centre (www.boltonathome.org.uk/ucan) and we’ll explore all the ways we can get you that job (or training opportunity).