Halina, Partnerships x Place.

Key Takeaways

Hello Alina. Thank you very much for making the time to do this video testimonial today. Uh we really appreciate it. >> Thanks so much for having me. Kieran, >> let's start with the easy stuff. Tell us who you are and what you're doing now in your new position. >> So I'm Helina and I'm the workforce partnerships manager at Catapult. Um, for some context, Catapult is an education provider that sort of specializes in IT and digital tech apprenticeships and training courses. Um, my role is all about building relationships. I'm usually that first point of contact for clients to understand their needs, figure out what's possible, look at those pain points, and then matching them, bit of matchmaking, to that right apprenticeship or training program. And then once they on board, I'm sort of there throughout the whole journey. I'm their point of contact throughout. >> A very very important role for the next generation to come through and make sure they get the right education. >> Definitely. And it's I mean a huge thing at the moment especially in Wales, big campaigns going on for sort of green cyber and IT and things like that. >> It's a bit different from the industry that you were in before, right? So more curious than anything, how's it been transitioned into something different? It's been really interesting for I was used to being in nuclear I was there for four years as a business development manager. I knew I liked the business development management role but was happy to change into any industry. It's been good. It's been a big learning curve but I really enjoy what I do. >> Good. And the good thing is you got good people around you like Demi and [clears throat] the team. >> Yeah. The team at Casapel are brilliant. What was your job search like before working with me and the team at place? >> Honestly, pretty tough. I kind of was in this unique position as I'd been with my previous company, as I said, for four years. Loved it. Had grown a lot. Um but about a year ago I relocated from the aisle of white where my the company was based to Wales and I stayed with that employer went fully remote and I was working from home 5 days a week and to be honest I was just unhappy. It's quite lonely moving to a new place suddenly being working from home. I don't know anyone and I felt like I'd hit a ceiling in terms of growth. Um, and I was just looking for something new, but I'd spoken to a few recruiters before you, and I just didn't feel like anyone was listening to me. Like, I'd had calls with people and they were trying to put me on, oh, there's this brilliant job in Bath. You could just go there once a month. And I'm like, hang on, did you not just hear what I've just said? Like, I don't want to work from home 5 days a week. Or a couple of them were like, oh, there's this brilliant role up north. and I'm like, "No, I've just moved to Wales. I don't want to move." And I felt like you were the first person that listened. >> That's really good to hear. We appreciate that. That means a lot. What was your I think three months since you started the position, right? And I know you've had a holiday. It's so time inensive getting on boarded into a new company. But thinking back to your experience with me in the business, uh like how do you think how do you look back on that experience? It was really good because I needed help like I said to find a job role that would be good for me. Like I think when I was just scrolling on LinkedIn or Indeed, I just was getting a bit lost. And actually you came to me and you were like, "What about this role?" And I remember saying to you, well, how do I fit into that? Like it wasn't for me like a clear move. And you were like, "Well, you could you've got this skill and you've got this." and you really helped me and you were there like every step of the way like coaching me through so it was brilliant. >> That's good feedback. Thanks. What was the one thing that stands out if there was anything you know from your whole time speaking to me the business one thing which you are the most grateful for? >> The communication 100%. And like I remember we were sort of calling and emails and you were like what's the best way to reach you and I was like you like brilliant we could just WhatsApp before my interview one of the my second stage was I had a task and you reviewed my task for me and was like tweet this tweet this things I would have never have even thought about and you gave me like tips and sort of guided me through which is something I've never ever had before. So it was just really brilliant. >> That's credit to you as well because you were open to it. you know, some people uh maybe put their presentation across and like really happy with it, but you were open to feedback and you know, it was great to to hear that and hopefully those changes made a difference. >> Yeah, they did. They were important and they've stuck with me like some of the things you said like they stay in my mind. I'm like, "Oh, yeah. >> Good." All right. I wanted to be honest on this question and I think there might I know there was at one point throughout the process where we uh we both wanted to um try and make some improvements but is there any way that we as a business or me directly can improve if we were to work together again? I think the one you're referring to is there was a break in my there was a really big gap between my first interview and my second interview and I was I just which wasn't out of everyone's control but I said to you at the time I was like oh maybe recruitment for that role shouldn't have started until after but you know in hindsight now I'm in the role I love it that's completely forgotten I think I don't know like I said your communication was brilliant you helped me pre-in things like that. So yeah, it's a tricky one. >> That was the point I was referring to and uh yeah, similarly that that has stuck with me ever since. And you know, we're always sometimes quick to start the process, but you know, it's now in my mind to be more aware that if there's planned holidays or if we're expecting a bank holiday, something that, you know, that that does affect people's momentum in the process and that's actually quite lots of things. >> Oh, good. I'm glad that it could help. >> Yeah, definitely. My final question then, would you recommend us to anyone to help them on their job search? >> A million% definitely like without a doubt I'd recommend you. >> Thank you very much. That's really, really good to hear. Thanks for making the time today on the video testimonial, Helena. It's really, really good to see that you're doing well in your new position and thanks for working with us all those months to come. >> Oh, brilliant. Thank you so much as well. I'm really grateful because I don't think without you I would have even found the opportunity at Catapult. Thank