Nawel joined the Re-Evolve Young Leaders Programme in October 2010 as a young job seeker - she was wanted to learn new skills and enhance her future career prospects.  As a recent marketing graduate she was looking for ways to get into her ideal career in marketing & communications but was having a tough time getting ahead of the competition.  Since joining the Re-Evolve Programme, Nawel increased her confidence and vocational experience and successfully secured a job as a Marketing Officer for a regeneration charity.  Here’s her account of her experiences with Vital, in her own words:

Having just graduated being fresh out of university with nowhere near enough experience to get the job or even internship I’d like, I came across the Re-Evolve Young Leaders Programme, which was perfect.  I was hoping to gain some new skills, expand my knowledge in different areas, create some value for my CV and most of all have some fun and new experiences.

My main involvement was with the ‘Recycle & Restyle’ textile recycling event.  This involved a lot of planning with Gantt charts, budgeting, marketing and promoting the event.  It also involved shopping and asking for some charitable donations which was a great experience and restored my faith in society! I enjoyed the whole aspect of having a real project to get stuck into right from the planning of the concept and ideas to the actual execution.

The project was certainly what I expected and plenty more.  There are many situations in jobs or training programmes’ where it just isn’t enough to be told what to do, then to be left to do it in that particular way.  This programme was flexible enough to allow us to make some mistakes and learn from them.  As a result, it’s unlikely we would make that mistake again.  The different people I met were really inspiring and the experience was one I am very proud to have had.

The project has helped develop my self confidence in a way I wouldn’t have imagined possible.  I am now much more able to voice my opinion in an assertive manner and without causing any tension within a group activity.  Communicating with different people can sometimes be difficult particularly when you don’t know them very well, but this project has taught me the best way is to truly be yourself whilst maintaining respect for everyone else around you.  One of the biggest things I have taken away are a group of amazing friends with whom I have had an amazing time and sure to stay in touch with in years to come.

Without a doubt, taking part in the project has definitely improved my job prospects, in many interviews I have had since, employers are very interested in the activities I took part in - they realize just how many transferable skills I’ve picked up.  Also the fact that it is voluntary is proof that I can be self-motivated.