Centrepoint teams up with learndirect to boost job seekers' skills
20 Feb 2012
Research released by learndirect this week reveals
jobseekers need to brush up on how they come across to interviewers
and make sure they can work with others to give themselves the best
chance of getting a job.
Centrepoint is working in partnership with
learndirect as part of its Make It Count campaign, which launched
in September 2011 and aims to help job seekers improve their skills
and job prospects.
Just one-in-ten job seekers think workplace skills
such as good communication and teamwork are important to have when
starting work, even though 88 per cent of employers say they
are a top priority.
Meanwhile a quarter of unemployed job seekers say
they don't know how to create a good impression in interviews and
42 per cent of employers say the majority of interviewees fail
to impress.
learndirect is urging people to make sure they are
confident, they come across well at the interview stage and their
maths and IT skills are also up to scratch.
The research findings lend support to recent
calls from the industry to introduce workplace skills training to
the school curriculum.
Peter Shufflebotham, Head of Learning at
learndirect, said: 'Employers are looking for people who can fit in
and get on with the job from the very start. They want people
who can handle customers and give good service. They want people
who can get on with colleagues, look presentable and turn up on
time.
'Job seekers should be
doing everything they can to make sure they have the skills and
knowledge to do all those things. Without them they are going
to really struggle to make an impression.
'At learndirect, we can help them to
do just that and, alongside our partners, such as Centrepoint, we
can address these skills shortages and get the country back into
work.'
learndirectis encouraging people to sign up to learning today at
www.learndirect.co.uk or by
heading down to their nearest learndirect centre.
Read more at www.facebook.com/learndirect or share your
thoughts using #MakeItCount on Twitter.