When Gilbert arrived in the UK in his 20s, he was confronted with the many challenges that newly arrived immigrants often face. Financial insecurity, housing, eligibility forms, and a climate that was a far cry from his sunny hometown of Takoradi, Ghana; some changes were more difficult to adjust to than others. Now in his 40s, Gilbert is a Jobcentre Plus Work Coach based in Nottingham and is using his unique life experiences to help others find employment.
Gilbert began his career at DWP as an Admin Officer but when the vacancy for a Work Coach came up, he knew he had to apply. “I understood the difficulties that certain communities faced when it came to finding work and knew this was my chance to make a difference,” says Gilbert. Since then, he has helped countless people in their job search, including young people, refugees, prison leavers, and other vulnerable groups. “My job is very meaningful, and I have the opportunity to create a positive impact every day,” he shares.
Gilbert is currently helping young people get into the government’s Kickstart Scheme,* which provides funding to employers to create high-quality six-month job placements for those claiming Universal Credit.* Launched last year, Kickstart supports 16 to 24-year-olds to develop new skills and move into sustained employment after they have completed funded job placements.
To help young jobseekers, Gilbert uses the JobHelp website to provide guidance on everything from CV writing and interviews to the latest vacancies and job search tools. He works closely with organisations that help young people who are not in education, employment or training and maybe socially marginalised.
With a degree in politics and a masters in human rights, Gilbert is well-versed in world affairs and very culturally aware. “Many of my customers hail from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Sudan,” he shares. “Having a good understanding of their background enables me to better connect by finding common ground.” And for those with limited English, luckily Gilbert is fluent in multiple dialects, including Fante, Twi, Nzema and Wassa, “You can say I speak their language!” he says light-heartedly.
As an immigrant himself, Gilbert appreciates people come from different circumstances: “I’ve been through the system and overcome many of the same obstacles myself. So when I engage with customers, regardless of who they are, I approach them from a place of empathy.” Gilbert says he sees himself in those he is trying to help and that it is important for him to make sure people have access to the information and tools they need to live a good life.
“My top tip would be not to limit yourself,” says Gilbert. “All too often, I meet jobseekers who underestimate themselves, despite their level of education and professional background. But due to unfortunate circumstances, they find themselves unemployed and feel the need to settle for low-level jobs.” But Gilbert advises job seekers to be confident and apply for the roles that they truly want. “You should always aim higher,” he says confidently.
“When you need help, utilise the support available to help you get your foot in the door.” One such option that Gilbert recommends is the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP*), which offers job-specific skills and work experience. SWAP placements last up to six weeks and give jobseekers the skills they need for a specific role and are often linked to specific local job vacancies.
If you’re looking for work, JobHelp is a good place to start. See which sectors are hiring, the type of jobs available and the skills you need to succeed in them. Visit the JobHelp website to get started.
*Eligibility criteria apply.
Find out more at gov.uk/jobhelp
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