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Employability Skills Over the past 12 months, a record number of people have been furloughed or made redundant. This isn’t easy but help is on hand; Bolton College’s Community Learning team deliver courses supporting people back into employment. Popular short courses include ‘Nail That Application’ and ‘Nail That Interview,’ making a real difference to people getting straight back into the jobs market.

Others have used the pandemic to gain new skills and qualifications and changed career - whatever you’re looking for, the College is here to support you.

The College also employs a specialist Job Coach, giving personal support to learners by checking CVs and job applications; sharing job opportunities; giving motivational support; and so much more. These services are FREE for anyone enrolled on a course and actively seeking work.

Improve your Digital Skills

with Bolton College Community Learning

If you want to get ahead at work or find employment, or even just increase your IT confidence for personal reasons, these courses are a must! Aimed at a range of competencies, from beginners to those with more experience, you’ll soon be using technology confidently and competently, aided by our friendly and knowledgeable tutors.

Basic digital courses are FREE for everyone !

All of our courses are delivered in our Covid secure and safe Community Learning Centres, in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Many of our courses are FREE or eligible for reduced fees, depending on your circumstances. In our Community Learning Centres we run a range of basic Digital Skills courses which can support anyone, even if you don’t know how to switch on a computer or use a mouse! We also run courses for people who do not speak English as a first language. For people with higher level skills we have a wide range of courses available with progression routes all the way to HE. Our basic digital courses can support you with things like how to use: • Personal computers • Tablets • ipads and iphones • Android devices • Social media (Facebook,

Instagram, Twitter) • Software • Internet shopping • Google apps

CVs and Interviews

Sell Yourself into That Dream Job

I’m Suzanne, and one of my roles at Bolton College is that of a Job Coach. When looking for work, the first chance you get to wow an employer is usually through your CV. A CV is your chance to show an employer you are the best candidate for the job. It’s an advertisement of YOU and how wonderful you are.

Many people are shy when it comes to writing a CV, and they miss mentioning important skills. For example, I see many CVs where the writer speaks more than one language, and yet this amazing skill is nowhere to be seen on their CV! Some of the common errors I have seen include:

• Spelling, punctuation and grammar errors • Formatting errors - type of font, for example • Unprofessional email addresses, for example ilovejohntravolta@gmail.com • Too many pages • Not enough details given • Too much unnecessary information given

Having an updated CV means that when you see your dream job, you are immediately ready to apply. If you don’t have a CV, we can help. We deliver ‘Nail That Application’ courses, two three-hour sessions, where you will produce an employer-ready CV.

We also look at application forms on this course, and we explain what employers are looking for when you send in your application form - it’s not just a case of writing how good you would be for the job – you have to give evidence, and we show you how to do this.

So you’ve secured an interview…what next?

This is now your chance to back up what you’ve said in your CV and really sell yourself. Interviews can be frightening for many people, and this is usually because they have no idea what they are going to be asked. However, with a little preparation and an idea as to what employers might ask, you can give yourself the best possible chance of getting that job. We deliver ‘Nail That Interview’ courses, two three-hour sessions, where you will learn all about questions you might be asked and the best ways to answer them. We also give you a mock interview so we can give you feedback as to what you did really well and any areas you can develop. But our support doesn’t end there! We have lots of courses to help you find employment, and I have a mailing list where I send out details of jobs in the Bolton area on a regular basis, as well as any courses that may be coming up. I can also check over your CV before you send it to any prospective employers.

VOLUNTEERING

as an NHS Community First Aid Responder

Rob Anacreonte, Curriculum Leader for Community Learning at Bolton College, talks about how he became a Community First Aid Responder and his life in the role:

‘Community First Responders are volunteers who are trained to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work.

‘Their aim is to reach a potential life-threatening emergency in the first vital minutes, before the ambulance crew arrives. They’ll help stabilise the patient and provide the appropriate care until the more highly-skilled ambulance crew arrives to take over treatment.

‘There are many reasons to undertake a volunteer position: make friends; give something back to the community; gain essential employment skills; or use spare time to make a real difference.

‘For me, I wanted to undertake a role which is both challenging and rewarding and the satisfaction of becoming a North West Ambulance Service Responder really appealed to me - at home, I had a few spare hours and was looking to expand my skills.

‘The role’s tough and I’ve encountered many different situations, not always based on saving

someone’s life – although when this does happen, it’s a unique moment; I’ve received training to deal with crucial pressurised situations and I’ve immediately reverted to these processes and procedures.

‘When a person calls for an ambulance they are unwell, frightened and generally unsure of what is happening to them. Being able to reassure a patient, even when they are not seriously ill, is all part of the job. At times just talking to a person is all it takes; being able to listen is key in this role!

‘When attending situations, family members can be upset and panicked, so calming and reassuring them really helps the situation and the patient - they immediately look to you for support, so it’s not just about the person you’re treating.

‘Supporting a person in a calm manner whilst treating serious conditions is a great feeling, and stepping into someone’s life for a very short time can have the biggest impact. You need to be caring and calm under pressure – it could make the difference between life and death!

‘The application process is very rigorous and there are various stages before being accepted. It’s key that you complete your application in as much detail as possible; the NHS receives thousands of applications every year for this role, so standing out from the crowd is essential!

‘I spent two weeks completing my application to ensure it was perfect, returning to it frequently to re-read and edit, which is the most important part of the process because at this point, it’s either a yes from the service and you can move on to the next step, or a no!

‘The interview process is very comprehensive and focuses on competency-based questions. You’ll be tested on your capability to undertake the role and they’ll use the information from your personal statement to inform their decision. I was thrilled to pass! Then the more formal checks begin - DBS, references and health checks.

‘Once on board, you’re trained to deal with all types of scenarios and you’ll be taught to use a defibrillator. Working alongside other professionals is great and you’ll get a real sense of teamwork and come across people from all walks of life - no shift is ever the same! ‘This role would suit anyone who’s really keen to work within the uniformed public services because it will give you a great insight into how things work.’

‘Prior to applying, I felt a little rusty in my application and interview skills so I decided to enrol on the College’s ‘Nail that Application’ and ‘Nail that Interview’ courses with Suzanne Delaney, the Job Coach for Community Learning. It was great and really helped me to polish up my skills in preparation! You can read more about Suzanne, and how she can help you, on page 31.

‘To get a real feel for the role, I recommended watching ‘A Day in the Life of a CFR Responder’ Click here. Best of luck in your application!

Learn more about our employment-ready courses by clicking here.