Work'n it Out for youWork’n it Out can assist you to reach your goals once you’ve left school – whether it’s getting a job, selecting the right training programme or looking at further study. Check out the stories about some of the school leavers we’ve already helped. |
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“Hi my name is Matthew Gray. I would like to express my thanks to a great programme called Work’n it Out where I met an awesome lady, Erin, who without her help and understanding god knows where I would be today. Thanks Erin you have been a great mentor to me. My mum Lyn is sitting next to me and helping me with this letter as my spelling is not the best, but is getting better as Erin got me into a really good course where I am learning computing skills and horticulture. Since being here I have already gained credits, starting from scratch but so much better than school. It’s been a long road to get here. I would like to tell my story as it might help others that have or been in my situation. I had been getting into a fair bit of trouble, getting picked up by the cops, drinking and this all ended me up in court, a scary place as I had never been in court before. Just before my court case my mother got in touch with Work’n it Out, they had sent out a letter when I left school saying that they were there to help with jobs, courses or just to talk. Mum spoke to a support worker and made an appointment for us to in and talk to someone. That someone turned out to be Erin. She was so cool explaining to me that everything was good and that she was there to listen and help. We talked about courses and jobs and different things that were out there. I think the best thing about Erin was she was at my level and understood how I was feeling and gave me heaps of encouragement without pushing anything on me. I think we got on really well and I finally felt I was starting to get back on track. Life can be really hard when you are a teenager. There’s heaps of pressure out there and sometimes without you even knowing you end up mixing with the wrong crowd and doing really dumb things. Erin also got me into Council line, something I wasn’t really keen on but had to do through the court. Oh yeah, court well I got 35 hours community work, have to do a project which I chose to write a song and record it, but hey do the crime do the time. So yeah charged with drinking and having a weapon on me has now put me through the system, fingerprints, photo and all the stuff you have to do at the cop shop. I have been at course now for 4 weeks and loving it, it’s so cool doing something during the day, being around a bunch of different kids. And my tutors are awesome, so once again I would like to thank Erin for all her hard work she put into me and I hope I don’t disappoint her. People have helped me along the way, it’s just the beginning and I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the future but now I reckon the future is looking pretty good. |
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When Benn Warren (19) joined his family in Invercargill from Australia, he had one goal – to find work. His step-sister had been assisted by Work’n it Out and recommended the service. Youth Co-ordinator Tony helped him to land, not just one, but two part time jobs. Tony says he started working with Benn last June. “Benn was prepared to follow up on every strategy that I suggested and he was extremely motivated to work. He was prepared to do the door knocking and the hard yards and that’s what reaped him the rewards. He was very successful, very quickly.” After working in a bottle store in Australia, Benn wanted to find a hospitality position. “Tony set me in the right direction. He showed me how to fill out a CV that I took to almost every business in the CBD in Invercargill. It wasn’t until I was on the last half a block that I dropped my resume at Starbucks and Molly’s Bar, and I ended up getting a part time job at both. I went from thinking I wasn’t going to get one job to getting two pretty decent jobs just like that.” Benn has since moved in with his girlfriend, bought himself a decent car and a “few other” assets. “I give Tony a lot of credit for helping me achieve what I have. I never imagined six months ago that I would own a nice car. That means a lot to me. I’m very grateful for the effort Tony put into me and the way he pushed me along. I always pop in to see him when I have a spare moment.” Benn says he recommends Work’n it Out all the time. “I tell everyone about it. They are a good team of people whose purpose is to get you a job. They genuinely want you to do well.” |
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Overcoming Obstacles Lands Nicole A Job Nicole Minchington (18) had to overcome more than the usual obstacles to land her first job. With the help of Timaru-based Youth Co-ordinators Joy and Chris she secured a full time job at the local Mitre 10, where she’s worked for more than a year. A couple of members of Nicole’s family had been in serious trouble with the police and were well known in the Timaru community. “When Nicole came to us she was an outgoing, friendly girl who was always punctual for appointments. We tried a number of avenues to help her into work, but when her surname was mentioned the doors would slam shut,” says Chris. Nicole says the continual rejection was frustrating, because all she wanted to do was work. “I pretty much gave up at one point. I would go for jobs and be turned down straight away when they knew who I was related to.” Chris encouraged Nicole to keep trying. “I said to her to keep being honest and upfront about her family and that she deserved to be given a chance on her own merits. It was 18 months before this persistence finally paid off”. The manager of the local Mitre 10 agreed with Chris that Nicole should be given a chance. She started on eight hours a week in the store, and soon moved into 32-40 hours a week. Her role includes operating the checkout, handling customer service and enquiries, cash handling, and ticketing. “I’m thrilled with Nicole’s outcome. She did everything I asked of her and didn’t give up,” says Chris. Nicole believes that without the help of Work’n it Out she would never have got the job. “I enjoyed dealing with Joy and Chris and am very happy with how everything worked out. It should be easier to get another job now.” Nicole is thinking of transferring with to a Mitre 10 store in Christchurch. “It would be good to move to Christchurch where there are more opportunities. I’m keen to get into hospitality eventually as I like to be busy and moving around.” |
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If you want get in touch with Work’n it Out call us on 0800 500 029 or txt 0294 500 029 Helpful Links |
