• 01472 493000
  • [email protected]
  • Request a callback
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Teaching Assistant Courses
    • Level 2 Teaching Assistant Course
    • Level 2 Childcare Course
    • Level 2 Safeguarding Course
    • Functional Skills English Level 2
    • Functional Skills Maths Level 2
    • Level 2 Understanding Autism Course
    • Level 2 Classroom Assistant Course
    • Teaching PE In Primary Schools Course
    • Level 3 Teaching Assistant Course
  • Reignite
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
    • About
    • Refer to Us
  • Blog
  • Login
Menu
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Teaching Assistant Courses
    • Level 2 Teaching Assistant Course
    • Level 2 Childcare Course
    • Level 2 Safeguarding Course
    • Functional Skills English Level 2
    • Functional Skills Maths Level 2
    • Level 2 Understanding Autism Course
    • Level 2 Classroom Assistant Course
    • Teaching PE In Primary Schools Course
    • Level 3 Teaching Assistant Course
  • Reignite
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
    • About
    • Refer to Us
  • Blog
  • Login

“I thought I was going to hate every second” – Max Arnold

Max Arnold thought he was going to hate every second he spent at Think Employment.

After his work coach told him that his chances of finding work would be boosted if he improved his IT skills, it was recommended that he should come to us to get an Entry Level qualification in the subject. As it should only take a couple of weeks, he thought he could put up with re-entering an educational environment.

Almost three months later, Max is still at Think Employment and is about to start his third IT qualification with us.

Interested in finding out why Max is still with us? We caught up with him earlier this week about his positive experience at our learning centre.

Max, when did you first hear about Think Employment?

“It came to my attention when I was speaking to my work coach. We were looking at my CV and what I had to offer – the clear gap in my resume was IT. Not just in terms of qualifications, I’m talking about any ability whatsoever. We identified that if there was a potential barrier for me gaining employment, this is where it was.”

Why did you feel that improving your IT skills was important?

“I’d pretty much always worked in sales and I only came out of work to look after my mum who had dementia. When she passed away I found myself in a situation where I needed to get back into work. I had got through all my previous employment without having to actually use IT myself. Usually, I worked with other people who were there to provide that support. But in the time I was out of the job market, things have changed because you are expected to at least have a basic understanding of IT in order to do any job nowadays – other than stock shelves at a supermarket. For me, this wasn’t just about getting the skills needed to help me find work. It was about everyday skills as well because just existing without IT skills is difficult.”

Give us an example of the kind of skills the IT training has provided you with?

“Well for starters I’m now not terrified of computers – it was almost as bad at that before! I’m now learning things which I can now see are going to be applicable to my general life and the workplace. I think it’s essential that you have this kind of digital skills in today’s society and Think Employment are teaching me them.”

Do you think the training environment in our Stockport centre and the help of the Tutors has been a factor in your successful time with us?

“Yeah, 100% correct. My initial thoughts were, this is just an entry-level qualification I need to get and I’ll be in and out in a couple of weeks. I honestly thought I would hate every second of it. But within two or three days I realised that ‘hey, this isn’t going to be an issue’. And that’s purely down to staff and the environment they create. Personally, I hadn’t had a poor experience in education previously but I know for many people in the centre that has been an issue. If this environment had been exactly the same as school, I think it would be a nightmare for them. The facts are that you don’t: it’s friendly, relaxed and you’re ultimately in control of your own outcome, but the help is there if you want it. You couldn’t ask for any more from a training provider – it’s pitched just right.”

You’ve just started working part-time in your local gym. Is that a possible new career direction for you or do you see yourself going back into sales and using your newly acquired IT skills?

“Potentially, yes. Because I really enjoy it – I’ve been going there as a hobby for over 25 years so it’s a home-from-home for me. A shift is seven hours – a shift that involves talking to people about something I love? What’s not to like?! But whether it could be a career for me, I don’t know. All of my employment history has been in sales, be it pharmaceuticals, insurance or legal – it’s always been selling. So maybe that’s where I run my best race. But whatever I end up doing, it’s almost certainly going to end up including a degree of IT.”

You completed Entry Level 3 in IT and you’re now coming to the end of Level 1 – is your goal to get up to Level 2 in IT before you leave us?

“Yes because the realisation I had is that if you haven’t got Level 2 in IT, it doesn’t count for much. I’ve heard it mentioned before by work coaches and Tutors that Level 2 qualifications carry more weight when people are going through CVs. After I achieve that, I’ll then be turning my attention to finding a full-time job.”

Would you recommend Think Employment to others?

“Unequivocally, 100 %, yes. Not just for your increased employment prospects, but to improve your day-to-day skills as well. I would recommend it to anyone.”

If you’d like more information about the courses we offer call us on 01472 493000.

Share:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
PrevPreviousJulia is going part-time after 15 years with us
Next“I’ve found a new strength that I didn’t think I had” – Chris FoxNext

Related Posts

Pete’s Success Story

I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me. Fortunately for you though, I’m back! Have you missed me? It’s okay, I would too. But enough about me! As you can see by the title of this post, this is another success story. Buckle in whilst I tell you all about our very special, Peter “Big Pete” Tidswell.  Like always, we’re going to start at the beginning: What was Pete doing before he started at ThinkEmployment? Much like many of us, due to the COVID-19

Owen’s Success Story

Another success story? Can one company really be this successful? Yes – and wouldn’t you know, a lot of it is owed to our Saviour

Benefits of a Kickstart Role

Hold your horses! I know you want to know the benefits of a Kickstart position, but first, I should probably explain exactly what Kickstart is.

Diary of a Kickstarter

So, you want to learn about kickstart jobs. I don’t blame you, they’re pretty swell. However, before I get into the juicy stuff, I’m going

Think Employment have been delivering Training Courses for more than 20 years. We pride ourselves on having helped tens of thousands of people over the years gain their qualifications and move onto the next step in their career.

Funded by:
Part funded by:
Useful Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Praise and Complaints Policy
  • Policies and Procedures

Copyright © 2022 – Think Employment Ltd. All Right Reserved

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT