OLC hosts job readiness workshop

Staff from EST10, one of Sydney’s leading recruitment agencies, recently hosted a free job readiness workshop at the Ozanam Learning Centre.

The aim was to give participants an opportunity to gain the skills and confidence to stand out in the job market.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of attendees with varying job histories and life experiences.

Following an opening presentation from Roxanne Calder, EST10 Managing Director and author of Employable – attributes to assure your working future, participants were walked through where to find jobs online and in-person, how to put together a professional resume and tips to help take on interviews with confidence.

The EST10 team finished the day by spending time with each of the participants to better understand their individual circumstances and offer sound advice on how to get a foot in door.

One of the attendees on the day, Martin, is hopeful about his chances of finding part-time work after being forced to defer his studies due to the impacts of COVID.

“It’s been a reset period for me - I want to do something relevant to my skillset and experience,” he explains.

Coming to Australia from Myanmar on a student visa six years ago, Martin has grown to feel at home in Sydney, initially studying engineering before transferring to pursue his creative passions in music.

“Sydney has become like a home to me; I don’t feel like an international student, I feel like a local.”

“I’m hoping that I’ll find a job in a few weeks’ time.”

EST10’s involvement with Vinnies began after Roxanne participated in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout last year. Making a commitment to go beyond one night to make a difference to the lives of people experiencing disadvantage, the first job readiness workshop belatedly took place in the first quarter of 2022, following a delay brought on by the Omicron lockdown across NSW.

Job readiness workshops are just one of the many programs offered at the Ozanam Learning Centre, a service run by Vinnies providing a safe and welcoming space for people to gain skills and express themselves in an inclusive community.

Plans are underway to hold further job readiness workshops hosted by EST10 in June.

Find out more about the programs offered through the Ozanam Learning Centre