When Kate Ross and Sarah Paykel from return2work researched the market to find out what kind of workshops, were available to help people prepare themselves to go back to work, it became quickly apparent that there was very little on offer.

Having met through their children's daycare centre Kate and Sarah decided there was an opportunity to combine their skill sets and create a workshop for people that provided a holistic approach to preparing them for re entering the work force.

With Kate's recruitment and HR experience as owner of Kinetic Recruitment with offices in both Auckland and Wellington and Sarah's marketing and owner/operation business experience with her communication company Sarah Paykel Ltd and having run Lush Cosmetics; retailing and manufacturing in Australia for a number of years, they established the return2work team and embarked on developing the ultimate workshop.

Return2work is a national workshop which is run in community centres around New Zealand which are familiar to people in their own area. The workshops are very welcoming and totally inclusive and are very focused on building peoples self esteem and confidence.

 

They were very aware from their own experiences of how difficult it is for people to pull together the tools they need to market themselves to a potential employer or recruiting consultant and wanted to provide these to people in the form of an affordable 2 day workshop. The biggest point of difference from other courses that are on offer is that the return2work workshop ensures candidates have adequate follow up after the workshop so they feel totally supportive in taking the next steps when applying for jobs.

 

The workshops also offer a network opportunity where candidates are encouraged to buddy up with each other to provide support much like a new mothers coffee group. In this way they can share their highs and lows and provide support and advice to each other, in addition to having the return2work consultants to talk to.

 

As the return2work team was developing the workshop the recession arrived and suddenly employment was on the increase at a rapid rate and the workshop was even more timely.

 

So what does the return2work workshop cover?

The workshop includes 6 modules which are:

 

1. Life planning

 

Candidates are made to understand how each area of their life affects the other including health, career, money, relationships, family, fun & leisure, personal growth, environment and friends. They then work on creating a visual snapshot of their life so that they can determine which areas require goals in order to change.

 

2. Goal Setting

 

Candidates focus on where they see themselves in the future, what their ideal career would be and whether it is aligned with other aspects of their life such as home life and their skills.

 

3. Action Planning

 

Candidates create clear goals and strategies and identify areas where there may be barriers or obstacles in their job search, and where support will be needed. They then build action tasks specific to the goals they have set.

 

4. Creating A Great Resume

 

Candidates learn the difference between good and bad resumes through group participation and then work through a resume template to develop their own.

 

5. Style Session

 

Candidates learn how to look the part in the workplace and the do's and don'ts of appropriate and non appropriate attire. Examples are shown and resources are discussed for a work wardrobe that is free or inexpensive e.g. Dress for Success

 

6. Interview Preparation & Office Etiquette

 

Candidates participate in a practical interview session and are coached on interview practice. This covers what to do before the interview, what questions they may be asked, flow of the interview – introduction, main questions and close of the interview and what to do after the interview.

 

Who is suitable to attend the return2work workshop?

 

• Anyone who has been unable to find work for a period of time
• Anyone who is a DPB beneficiary who needs to find work
• Anyone who is wanting to change careers and need help to do so
• Anyone who has been at home for a period of time raising a family and are ready to re-enter the workforce
• Anyone who is a recent immigrant to New Zealand looking for work
• Anyone who is an ACC recipient looking to get back into work

 

If some one wants to make an impression on a potential employer and demonstrate they are really serious about getting back into work, return2work is a great starting point to ensure they are marketing themselves as best they can.

 

The workshops offer fantastic outcomes for the candidates who participate including learning how to reach their full potential, discovering more about the skills they have to offer and understanding how to market themselves to potential employers, employment agencies and recruiting companies.