The ministry of social development – pilot scheme

Around 90,000 young people aged between 18 and 24 years are not in employment, education or training, and the Ministry of Social Development is working with 18,000 of them.

Life Care Consultants was awarded a pilot scheme from the Ministry to take a person 18 to 24 years old and get them ready for work. The pilot consisted of the participant working with our team for a week, and during that time we taught them skills in readiness for interviews, all with the view to securing a job at the end of it.

The participant on the course learned CV writing skills and interview techniques and completed the following:

• First Aid Course
• Health & Safety Course
• Pre-Employment Medical with Drug Test.

This first pilot scheme was in the Tauranga and Hamilton area. As part of the pilot we looked for commitment from the young people with daily attendance and punctuality, as well as a willingness to learn. Once the participants have completed the week-long training, we don’t just leave it at that. They are contacted weekly to find out how their job search is going, and if there anything else that we can do for them to help them gain employment. We are their support.

Many of our clients have told us they are looking for ‘job ready’ young people, and would be willing to look at graduates of/participants in this pilot scheme with the view to offering them a job.

So far it has turned out great for both sides, and after our first course we have managed to secure employment for at least one of the candidates, with another awaiting his contract and the remaining CVs out in our wider network of Waikato business contacts. We feel sure these people will secure interviews, giving them a much-needed confidence boost.

We wish them well!