Helping Bradford people back to work

In his capacity as an adult guidance adviser with the Government-funded social enterprise Aspire-I, based in Bradford, Hamid has noticed a growing demand for help from the recently-redundant.

The 27-year-old, from Bradford, is used to helping the unemployed, lone parents and clients with health issues, but the scale of job losses in the economic downturn has meant guiding many more people back into work.

As well as his usual work at the Opportunity Centre in John Street, Hamid is now working in Aspire-I’s recently-launched Redundancy Skilled Service.

Hamid says the project – run from Onward House in Baptist Street, Bradford – focuses on careers and education. Clients take part in group sessions, and are informed of the services and advice available to get them back into employment.

He says they also work closely with other partners, such as job centres, and projects helping job-hunters with advice on matters such as preparing a CV and interview techniques.

Hamid says part of their work is about empowering people to help themselves.

“We help them to give them the basic skills and build up their confidence,” he says.

He says some of the mature clients he deals with have worked in the same job since leaving school and suddenly find themselves out of work.

“People who have been working for ten to 15 years have not had to look for a job. They don’t know about the benefits office so it requires a lot of initial counselling, identifying what help they need, their training and skills needs or CVs. A lot of clients have experience but no qualifications, so it is identifying how to get the skills and training for them,” says Hamid.

The nature of his work means Hamid has to be flexible to fit in with a firm’s operations. He’s been known to work into the early hours giving help and guidance, and his enthusiasm is testimony to the fact he loves his job.

His ambition was always to help people. He toyed with the idea of working in finance and worked in the accounts department of a supermarket.

Two-and-a-half years ago became a trainee adult guidance adviser with Aspire-I, the social enterprise helping communities, individuals and businesses strive forward and realise their potential. He says he hasn’t looked back since.

Hamid gained knowledge and skills on the job. He shadowed a senior guidance officer and achieved his careers guidance qualification.

He is perfectly-suited to his profession. He says he loves working with people and helping them.

“It’s knowing that you have helped somebody to move forward, to pick themselves back up and develop themselves. It is a diamond feeling,” he says.

Hamid says to do his type of job, you need to be impartial and knowledgeable. People and communication skills are also imperative to the profession.

For more information about this type of career, call (01274) 829400.