Testimonials
Talent Challenge has been a life saver. I cannot praise them and the service they deliver highly enough. They have helped me to realise that redundancy can be turned into a positive experience. At 34 I was given notice to terminate my contract for the first time in my working life. I have spent my career between the Merchant Navy and the Fire Service at manager level. In the Merchant Navy, interviews are merely a formality, and the Fire Service was the only other job I had ever applied for, being successful at my first attempt. Needless to say, the prospect of redundancy terrified me, especially in a recession. Where can I find relevant jobs? How do I go about applying for jobs? What transferable skills do I have? What kind of jobs would I be suited to? What kind of jobs would I enjoy doing? How do I put together a good CV? What are employers looking for? What is the interview etiquette? These were just some of the questions going through my head.
I had a meeting with Larraine, and she was so helpful. We went through a personal development plan to help me find the answers to all of the above and more. I was given invaluable advice on how to improve my CV, will be attending a workshop to help me with interview techniques and given guidance on how I could put my skills to best use. I had managed and trained people in both of my previous careers, but had not undertaken any formal qualifications in training. Larraine helped me to apply for and secure funding in a teaching course which will enable me to teach or train in the lifelong learning sector. This together with my experience and current qualifications will broaden my job search in a sector where there is current demand. I now feel more confident in applying for jobs and will be putting my previous qualifications to better use whilst moving forward with my career.
Thank you Talent Challenge!
Maria Stanley
Thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction here; I realise I did it instinctively rather than as part of a plan - but the main thing is, I did it.
Your guidance, support, motivation and kindness was appreciated very much.
I will keep in touch via Linked In.
Kind regards and thanks again
Wendy Haswell
Caroline is first rate at what she does and achieves great results. She is also a pleasure to work with and I would have no hesitation in contracting with her again or recommending her work to others.
Dorothy Kelly ONE
Having completed my Diploma and furthered my knowledge of design through the Vectorworks training supported by Talent Challenge and ONE North East I wanted to let you know I have been offered a job as Trainee Interior Designer with a company based on Morpeth. I presented my work and CV and spoke with the Interior Design Director who then when on to offer me the position. I am going to learn the business, getting to know the different wallpaper and fabric companies and use my design skills to advise clients. So a big thank you to you and One North East as with out the training I would not have been offered the job.
Karen Randles
The assessment centre gave me the opportunity to step back from the more immediate actions and activities of job hunting and take time to reflect on my abilities and strengths. I enjoyed being able to talk in detail about what I had achieved, which renewed my confidence in what I had done and that I can find a suitable new position. Just as important was the opportunity to air concerns and doubts about myself and situation to an understanding individual not immediately connected with me. For someone to appreciate the difficulties of my situation was a relief and gave me renewed strength to tackle job hunting activites. The process of having a personal development plan helped to capture relevant points from the discussion and keep momentum from the event. It also gives structure to actions to be completed going forward which I can tackle in bite-sized amounts.
Heather Allinson
I have found the programme to be illuminating, in terms of the skills I have that have been elicited. I am now considering a career change, on which my different skill sets will be based. Without the Talent Challenge programme, that may not have occurred. I found NRG Recruitment to be quick and effective about organising my participation in the programme. I attended a useful one-to-one seesion at NRG recruitment, which addressed my skills and values. Caroline Graham efficiently appraised my various skills and linked them together, so as to enable me to consider new areas of work. The session was preceded by a useful online skills evaluation, which led into a discussion about my work experience and skills to date. Combined with a Personal Development Plan and new CV, I am starting to try to achieve new objectives.
Jonathan Quentin Warburton Thompson
Facing the possibility of redundancy can often be daunting and a very stressful time. I have been extremely unsure as to what I want to do, and have been at times, probably very erratic within applications for new roles. When I contact NRG for advice in the current job market, I was delighted to have been put forward to join in their programme ONE, to assist me with my search. Through completing a personality profile on myself – the report dictated my exact personality and what I enjoy within my work as well as identifying my strengths and weaknesses. This has been a great asset to me to structure my job search, and has enabled me to explore ideas from the programme that I would never have thought of before. The programme gave me the confidence and focus I need, when you find yourself in this situation.
Debi Farmer – British Airways
I have found all the interactions with Caroline from NRG relating to the program have been extremely proactive and supportive she and her colleague demonstrated a professional and supportive manner on the day that we met. As a manager facing redundancy the program has allowed me the opportunity to meet with professionals in the field of recruitment and assess my current skills and attribute areas. I personally found the opportunity to complete the personality assessment very useful and the action plan that was developed as a result has been a worthwhile opportunity and directional plan that has provided me with practical objectives and advice that will support my skill development areas.
Caroline herself has been very encouraging and motivational in the advice and support she has been able to offer to me. She has ensured I have been kept up to date with information and her brief around the programs goals and aims was very comprehensive. The information package what was provided is well presented and very formative and clearly offers practical links to the steps that I can undertake to support my career at this time.
I personally feel a lot more encouraged that my skills and expertise are very marketable and this alone has provided me with a well-needed boost of confidence. I feel the program has started me on a very positive track in securing a new job.
