Get to know our latest employee’s under the Kickstart scheme.
Citizens Advice Greater Manchester have been working to support our young people across our region on the Kickstart scheme.
Meet Kara
I thought that graduating in Philosophy with a year spent studying in Shanghai would aid me in knowing what I want to do with my career — but I had no idea.
I have a background in customer services, retail and hospitality. After graduating, I found myself studying a Law masters. It only took me a year into the course to realise that it didn’t suit my way of thinking. I knew I needed to be on the side of what is moral and what is not. Not what is legal and what isn’t. After both studying and experiencing different cultures, people’s lives and their needs, I became very passionate about morality. This is where my drive to work in the third sector came from.
The pandemic hit when I was just finishing my fourth year at University. After I graduated, I found myself working a call centre job. Due to the nature of the contract I was under, my job didn’t last long and I ended up on Universal Credit. I applied to many jobs in different sectors but I couldn’t find work. My main barrier became my lack of experience. I knew I wanted to work within the third sector, and I enjoyed social media but the thought of a job role that combined the two didn’t cross my mind.
Over the course of my job centre appointments with my work coach, I found out about the Kickstart scheme. Once I told my work coach I wanted a job that motivated me, that fulfilled me, it wasn’t long till I found Citizens Advice.
I thought I was going to end up in Law, or as an academic studying existentialism. If I hadn’t come across the Kickstart scheme, I wouldn’t have found my career path. It wasn’t long till I ended up working for Citizens Advice Greater Manchester as their communication and engagement trainee.
My role includes managing social media platforms, writing newsletters and blog pages like the one you’re reading now. I also plan campaigns and execute them, write press releases and liaise with local authority and organisations.
I enjoy the employability sessions as it gives me a chance to reflect on the skills I have started to develop. I learn CV building and personal development. These sessions help me with my personal development and helps to set me up for my next job search.
For me, working for Citizens Advice has sparked my passion for change. When people don’t have access to support, we are here to help.
If I didn’t apply for this role, I wouldn’t have found my career path. I wouldn’t be working in a job that continues to spark my interest and that I thoroughly enjoy.
Meet Danny
Prior to Danny’s current role, he received a high school education, but due to illness, Danny couldn’t continue his studies.
When the pandemic hit, he found himself classed as clinically vulnerable. He also found himself on Universal Credit. The Kickstart scheme provided Danny the option of working from home. This was the career change he needed in order to navigate the pandemic as CV.
Danny relied on skills he had taught and developed himself. Skills such as designing work and creating animations for his Twitch platform. He spread this across his social media platforms.
Due to his experience in animation and advertising, he applied for the Communication’s role within Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford (SORT). Danny thoroughly enjoys his role as it gives him the opportunity to pursue social media marketing and the art and animation.
His role includes managing SORT social media pages, campaign work, writing blogs and writing the newsletter.
Danny receives support from his team, and Yvonne Miller. He enjoys the employability sessions and the helpful videos on personal development.
I had the chance to speak with Danny, where he explained to me that he understands his current role, and wishes to adapt it around data. He feels as though he is developing the skills over the 6 month placement he wished to. After his placement, Danny wishes to go into communications long term, with a focus on understanding trends and pre- empting problems in data analysis.
Meet Karla
Karla studied at The University of Huddersfield and completed her BA in English Literature with Creative Writing. Then, she studied at Leeds Beckett University and completed a MSc in Journalism in March 2019. However, that was when the first lockdown began, and she lost both her part-time administrative positions. She found herself searching for a journalism position, but due to her lack of experience and the job climate at the time, she was unsuccessful.
Due to the job climate, Karla ended up on Universal Credit. It wasn’t long till she received an offer to work as the Business Support Team Administrator for SORT. Around the same time, she completed a digital marketing apprenticeship for an EPoS software company.
Karla’s role covers both administration and social media tasks. She creates social media posts for Workplace, puts together Excel spreadsheets, manages client cancellations for our advisors to reschedule. In addition, Karla writes letters for clients and writes blog posts.
From speaking with Karla, it was evident how useful she finds the employability sessions- “Yvonne is great at talking through any worries you may have, and is great for recommending ways of improving your efficiency e.g. using Google Chrome apps. I also love how she helps me to build on areas I feel weaker in such as recommending courses that can build my confidence and help me to be more time efficient.” — Karla, Business Support Team Administrator, SORT.
The Kickstart scheme provides the space to pursue a job in your desired sector, as well as gain experience and employability skills.
Karla noted that her “confidence has already grown hugely within the past two months. I feel more confident in the workplace and I am able to speak up and ask questions in meetings. I feel that I would be able to take these skills forward into a new role after 6 months and continue to grow.” Karla, Business Support Team Administrator, SORT.
Citizens Advice created various Kickstart vacancies across several locations in the country. We connect with Jobcentre Plus and work coaches help match potential individuals for the vacancies we have.
If you are interested in the vacancies available at Citizens Advice, contact your work coach at your local jobcentre plus and apply.