Perseverance – Lorraine’s story

Lorraine was studying a course in Patisserie with a local college, when she self-referred to Work Routes for further support in finding work. Lorraine wasn’t sure on where to begin with applying for work or what career path she wanted to follow with her existing skills and experience.

During her initial appointment, she met with Employment Advisor, Emily, who got to know Lorraine and her job goals. Emily identified Lorraine’s passion for baking and cake decorating and kept this in mind when looking for upcoming opportunities. Together they explored the self-employment path, and what setting up a business in this industry would entail. Lorraine wasn’t so keen on the idea, and so they began preparing her CV and addressing any grey areas around employability skills.

“Having been out of work for several years due to physical and mental health, Lorraine was initially nervous to begin the application process, and so we worked together to rebuild her confidence with practice interviews and developing her skills through our in-house workshops”, said Emily.

We help participants to develop their skills and gain the qualifications required to meet local employer needs, with a range of free courses including ‘Identifying Transferrable Skills’, Accredited Training Courses, Sector Taster and Sector Specific courses.

“As we applied for job roles, it was only natural to receive a few rejections in the process, but Lorraine took all feedback on board, and this helped us to work on those areas for the next application. As Lorraine continued to apply for job roles, she developed more confidence in completing forms independently, which resulted in her being invited to her first interview.

“Although she was unsuccessful, she found this to be a great experience that prepared her for the interview that ultimately secured her a job!”

Lorraine has found her ideal job at a wholesaler’s store, as a Service Assistant in the bakery, with part-time hours that suit her and her family. She told us: “The team at Work Routes have developed my confidence, provided the necessary support, and relieved the pressures of job hunting.”