WITH nearly three quarters of a million losing their jobs during the pandemic, 2020 has been a horribly tough year for workers.
If you’re finding your job search difficult, help is at hand.
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Today we focus on five free initiatives which are making a positive difference to jobseekers, so sign up.
The Purposeful Project
IN the last decade 700 libraries have closed. Entrepreneur Simon Squibb launched The Purposeful Project to turn some into hubs to help budding start-up businesses.
The first has already launched in North London’s Belsize Community Library.
Hugs UK
THE hospitality, travel and events sector has been hardest hit by Covid, so now the new Hospitality United Group Support is offering free coaching to get unemployed staff into work.
To find out more Email [email protected].
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Meeow.co
WITH many young people fearing they’ll never land work, 20-year-old entrepreneur and influencer Alexa Wilkinson has launched this weekly jobs networking session for under-25s every Thursday at 7pm.
To register interest in sessions, connect with Meeow on their Instagram at @officialmeeow.
Alison.com
UPSKILL and train for free on this platform, with more than 2,000 courses from workplace skills to CV writing.
See alison.com.
Mobolise
MOBO Awards founder Kanya King has launched an innovative new platform to combat what she describes as a “scary under-representation of black talent” in business.
Currently just one and a half per cent of managers, directors and senior officials in the private sector are black, so the Mobolise initiative will link up black talent with forward-thinking employers.
See mobo.com/mobolise.
Refocus in work search
WITH big names including Debenhams and Topshop plunging into administration, thousands of workers face a bleak Christmas.
But life coach Michael Cloonan believes the festive season can be used to refocus.
He says: “Losing your job doesn’t mean you’re going to be unemployed for the rest of your life. It’s important to focus on what’s next instead.”
Here are his tips on how to do that.
- Accept and allow. It’s normal to feel angry and frustrated. Allow these feelings for a few days, but then set them aside. Don’t let them fester for months.
- Consider. Think about what you didn’t like in your role. Losing your job could be a blessing in disguise. Now you can look out for exactly what you want.
- The perfect job. Draw up a list of your ideal working day – is it working freelance from a coffee shop? Or do you enjoy a large office with a big team? Aim for what you want.
- Network. Contact as many acquaintances and ex-colleagues as you can. You never know who they might know. Update your LinkedIn profile or join networking events.
- Routine. You don’t know how long you will be unemployed so get into a routine. Get up in the morning, have breakfast, exercise and job hunt. Then have lunch and do some more job hunting before switching off at 5pm.
Donate your do
INSTEAD of the traditional festive bash, businesses are calling a “silent night” and donating the savings to charity.
Research by Beam, an initiative to find work for homeless people, revealed that fewer than one in four (22 per cent) intend to go ahead with a Christmas party as the virus crisis drags on.
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Seventeen per cent are donating cash to a social cause, while a further seven per cent have staff who plan to do volunteer work instead of partying.
Beam founder Alex Stephany said: “It seems like Christmas is now the most altruistic time of the year.”
Head to beam.org to support the group’s Donate Your Christmas Party campaign.
Jobspot
HOMELESSNESS charity St Mungo’s has roles for night security concierges, payments assistants and more.
Get your kicks
HUNDREDS of small firms have been given the go-ahead to provide Kickstart placements to unemployed youngsters.
Many of the largest companies in the country already offer work experience through the scheme, which was launched to create new job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit at risk of languishing on the dole.
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CHOCO JOY
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MADE UP
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CHOC HEAVEN
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DINNER WINNER
How to get £10 off your Lidl shop when you spend £40
BIG DEAL
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CASH BACK
Martin Lewis reveals 5 ways to claim back £1,000s ‘in five minutes’
But after backing from the Department for Work and Pensions, SMEs and even sole traders can now offer the placements too.
Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Small businesses can be the ideal environment to nurture talent.”
See fsb.org.uk/campaign/kickstart-scheme.html.
Jobspot
CAREFOUND has 100 vacancies for live-in carers.
Debenhams to close all 124 shops putting 12,000 jobs at risk as rescue talks fail
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
