Find the right job for you in Essex

Meet Stephanie, an adviser in Essex getting people into work and training everyday. She's been changing people's lives for over 10 years.

Stephanie worked in hairdressing for 26 years and her story is proof that with a bit of support and guidance you can change career. With training, she began teaching Employability Skills, and then progressed to become a Careers Adviser herself.

What is your proudest work moment so far?
"Having a customer telling me that she felt that I had shown her the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Knowing that I had helped her to feel so much better about her situation and helping her find a way to move forward meant a lot to me. Her words had such an impact that day."

What’s the best part of your job?
"The people that I work with and support. I work within a great team - but I enjoy helping to make a difference for a customer and love it when they contact me to say they have started a new job!"

Here's something that might surprise you about Stephanie...
"When I was 18 years old, I won a charm, personality and beauty competition whilst on holiday in the Great Yarmouth area - think the judges needed help with their eyesight that day!"

Meet Clare, an adviser from Essex, dedicated to helping people find work, training and learning opportunities everyday.

What is your proudest work moment so far?
My customers make me feel proud all the time when I hear of their progress but one customer that comes to mind is a young man who had felt very isolated during the pandemic and struggling with his mental health so wasn't really ready to start work but wanted to get out and meet people again to build his confidence. We talked about his interests and arranged for him to start at a voluntary gardening project which he is absolutely loving and emailed me a couple of months later to tell me he was attending regularly. It's great to know I have helped someone move forward when they felt really stuck.

What is the best part of your job?
Being able to put people at ease so they feel comfortable talking about their personal situation as well as their work and learning goals. This helps us to work together to plan out their next steps and it's so rewarding for me when I hear that they have moved forward with their work and learning goals.