English for Job Seekers is an invaluable course for people trying to find employment during this challenging time.

Our Wellington centre includes a range of guest speakers to help learners connect to different job search possibilities – after they complete English for Job Seekers.

This English for Job Seekers class benefitted from a fantastically interesting and entertaining presentation by Juli Paurini and Melisa Vazquez Perez from Work Connect (a Tertiary Education Commission-run programme).

Juli and Mel started with some activities to introduce the Work Connect programme, which is offered free of charge to migrants who have been in New Zealand for fewer than five years and have residency status. The programme consists of a six-hour workshop, followed by three hours’ one-to-one mentoring. The main focus is to prepare for work readiness by creating Kiwi style CVs and cover letters and practising for job interviews.

Latdavone Saengon and Rena Day from Skilled Newcomers (Wellington Chamber of Commerce) followed up with information about the Skilled Newcomers Service, which links from the Work Connect programme, offering further workshops in CV and cover letter writing, interview preparation, and also helps to connect job seekers with employers looking for staff.

Both services complement our Work Talk programme well and are great options for learners who’ve completed Work Talk, whether they need more help with job readiness, or feel ready to start applying for jobs.

Final guest speaker Vino Dahya, from MBIE,  introduced the class to a new learning module developed by Employment New Zealand specifically targeted at informing newcomers about their rights as employees. The module, ‘An Introduction to Your Employment Rights’,  can be completed online in about half an hour and is a very useful tool for introducing newcomers to New Zealand to their employment rights, how to help safeguard themselves and what to do if they have any problems once they find a job. Employment New Zealand is keen for this module to be promoted as widely as possible.

The class also visited Volunteer Wellington and met Electoral Commission representatives to discover more options for their job search.