At Nomad HR and Recruitment, we’re proud to make a difference to people’s lives – and not always in the way you may think. Mentoring – and having the skills to be a great mentor - is a good example of this.
Let me introduce you to Jack. For quite awhile he was what you would call a sofa-surfer. Moving from one friend’s house to another, trying not to outstay his welcome.
Twenty years old, unemployed and without his own permanent address or National Insurance number, he was finding it impossible to get a job.
Jack (not his real name, by the way) was caught in a vicious circle: no firm roots, so no firm was interested. He needed a mentor. That’s where Nomad HR and Recruitment came into the picture.
Mentoring skills
Acting as a helping hand to guide him, I was able to give Jack the advice, support and – most importantly – the time to find his way into the world of work. As a former youth worker, I had the mentoring skills needed to help him get a first step on the employment ladder.
It was essential to understand how he viewed the world, how he could sell himself to an employer and what was realistic for him to achieve. Then, after sorting out a permanent address, a National Insurance number and other basic credentials, we worked together to achieve his goal.
The National Careers Service created his CV which could be adapted for the various job vacancies he was applying for. With the help of the local job centre, I was given the details of local agencies who were hiring.
The pandemic meant there were no services available for basic tasks such as printing and copying documents, so I was able to offer practical help with printing and scanning application forms.
For some young people, the interview process can be a daunting prospect. In order to build-up their confidence, I can spend time practising interview techniques and finding the best ways of selling their skills to an employer.
Don’t text, phone me
I’ve found that one of the key skills that some young people tend to lack is the confidence to speak on the phone. When I’ve been arranging appointments to chat with them about how things are going, it’s not a phone call I’ve received, but a text.
It got to the point where I had to say: “If you cannot phone me to talk, it’s going to be really difficult to sell yourself to a future employer.” As a result, I’ve worked with many young people to improve their communication skills in their journey to employment.
Talking of communication, being a good listener is vital when it comes to mentoring a young person. I’m of the firm opinion that building a relationship with a mentee is like searching for a job: both parties need to devote time, effort and determination into developing a positive outcome.
That’s why I’m a big supporter of the Positive Youth Foundation. It’s a charity in the West Midlands which aims to raise the aspirations and life chances of young people who are facing challenging circumstances.
Growing influence
I’m proud to be a member of the foundation’s board. Some of the young people can be referred by various agencies or organisations, including social care teams, schools, public health or housing associations. Others are identified and engaged with by the foundation’s outreach teams.
Since it began in 1997, the foundation’s influence has spread beyond the west midlands, with advisory roles for many organisations nationwide. At Nomad HR and Recruitment, I share the same principles of building strong relationships with young people, finding out their circumstances and challenges– and then guiding them to exciting opportunities.
Re-think priorities
The Coronavirus pandemic has meant young people need more careers support and guidance than ever before. A recent survey suggested that a large proportion of 16 to 24year olds had put their career or education plans on hold due to the overall effects of Covid-19.
According to Lizzie Crowley, a senior skills adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, urgent government action is needed to prevent a ‘lost generation’ of young people. She said many sectors in which young adults may have secured their first foot in the job market, such as hospitality and retail, had been hugely affected.
However, my advice to young people is that it’s better to get a job, even if it’s only a temporary measure, than to sit around and wait for a vacancy in your chosen sector. Skills can be transferrable and it will impress a future employer than you’ve taken the initiative to adapt and re-think your priorities in these difficult times.
For example, one young man wanted to work in the customer service sector of an airport. But opportunities for doing that have been pretty slim due to Covid-19. Instead, he has used those same ‘people skills’ to work in a vaccination centre.
Circle of Life
Just recently, I’ve been proud as punch to see a number of young people secure jobs through a local Mentoring Circle. That’s where an organisation or company offers time mentoring a small group of young job seekers.
Mentoring Circles is a Department for Work and Pensions initiative. It aims to give young people an awareness of how employers recruit.
For example, the sessions include an explanation of an organisation’s selection criteria, along with practical help with application forms and CVs. There are tips on interviewing skills too, with constructive feedback.
At a time when young people are facing such an uncertain future for their job prospects, the role of a mentor has never been more important. I’m able to provide that helping hand as part of the process, just as I did for Jack.
The potential is out there. It just needs guiding in the right direction. I’m sure there are many more Jacks – or Jackies – for all trades, businesses and organisations.
