Hilary – Job Hunting After Decades in the Caring Sector

Hilary, aged 60 from York, had spent almost her entire working life in the care sector. She was job hunting again for the first time in decades, looking for a career change. She was referred to Making a Difference by the National Careers Service and wanted to become more confident in her job searching abilities.

When Hilary joined the programme initially, she was unfamiliar with the different types of job hunting tools and platforms. To fit her life and needs, she was interested in starting work in retail or cleaning.

Also, Hilary felt she lacked vital IT skills needed for the job search, especially while exploring opportunities on the internet. Her goal was to build confidence, build her IT skills, and get back into work!

How Did We Help?

Hilary met with Jo, a Making a Difference Employment Coach. Jo introduced her to the main job hunting platforms, including the different ways of filtering search results. This meant that Hilary could focus on suitable vacancies and on the sectors she was most interested in. Together with Jo, Hilary also explored different Facebook groups used to advertise jobs through her phone where she could keep an eye on the latest vacancies.

Hilary had initially created a new CV with the National Careers Service, which she adapted with Jo to fit the different roles she applied for. We always recommend making small adjustments to your CV depending on the role, business and sectors you apply to.

Hilary ultimately decided she would like to apply for a seasonal retail position in her local town. However, she still lacked confidence to complete an online application independently. Jo supported her through each stage of the application process and with her help, Hilary applied for several roles which steadily grew her confidence.

Job Hunting Online and in a New Sector

Following her application for a retail position at Marks & Spencer, Hilary was delighted to learn she had been accepted. She is excited to start her new job and says she is pleased with the support from the Making a Difference programme as well from her Coach, Jo:

“Jo was very supportive to me. She advised me and encouraged me to persevere with the long road ahead. She encouraged me to use IT skills and gave me some hope and advice to carry on.”

Her Employment Coach Jo also celebrates her progress and achievements:

“Hilary initially found applying for work a little bewildering as she had never had to apply for roles online before. However, she remained determined and came to each session knowing exactly what she would like to do and how I could help her. I am so pleased that Hilary has gained a role in the retail sector.”

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