What we gained from the retail employability programme

Summer 2020 sees the opening of Cannock’s McArthurGlen Designer Outlet.  Walsall College has been helping local jobseekers train for the emerging career opportunities this major new development will bring to the area.

We caught up with a group of learners coming to the end of their two-week Level 1 Introduction to Retail course.  Here they are talking about the key ways they benefitted from the programme.

Realising you are employable

David, 61 – “I’m much more positive about my chances of finding work.  The course showed me the best way to utilise my skills and how to demonstrate these to an employer when I’m applying for jobs and going to an interview.”

Laura, 35 – “We all have work experience and skills of some kind to offer – we just don’t always realise it.  I know now what I can offer an employer.  I feel I can promote myself better at interviews.”

Being positive

Laura – “Being out of work is deflating.  The course has proved there is light at the end of the tunnel.  The help I got with my CV was priceless.  The whole experience was just what I needed.  My family has noticed a change in my mood and attitude.”

Industry know how

Katie, 26 – “I’ve learned about every stage of the selling process; things I didn’t know before such as how important it is to be a positive person and to make sure my body language shows this.  Finding out more about the McArthurGlen development has been useful too.  I understand more about the high end of retail.”

Sam, 32 – “I like how we were taught to think about the customer’s needs and be more aware of these as someone in retail.  Courtesy, respect and good communication are important.  You have to be prepared to show these at all times.”

Linda, 42 – “It’s been helpful to think about why a store is set out a certain way so that everything appeals to the customer.”

Feeling supported

David – “I dreaded the thought of doing coursework as I’m dyslexic.  Yvonne, our tutor was marvellous; always understanding and able to come up with ways to make it easier for me to do everything I needed to.”

Making new friends

Linda – “I’ve worked all my life without stopping, so to suddenly be made redundant and be on a training course made me feel completely out of my comfort zone.  I was so nervous, I’m not sure I’d have stayed after the first day if it hadn’t been for Yvonne and the rest of the group.  We’ve all looked out for each other.”

Katie – “We’d love it if we all got to work in the same place in future.”

To sign up for the programme and for further information, click here.