Giving People the Tools for the Job
Libraries in East Riding of Yorkshire are helping people out of the recession with free jobs advice.
Librarians in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, noticed that more people were coming into the library to find employment information and use the internet to look for jobs. A port town reliant on the shipping industry, residents in Goole have felt the bite of recession.
“People in Goole were determined to apply for jobs, but have been overwhelmed by the enormity of learning to use the inter-net, setting up an email address and filling in a CV online,” ex-plained Senior Librarian Sarah Stocks.
Keen to respond to the needs of the community, Goole Library asked the local council recruitment team to help them organise two days of jobs help for customers at the end of February. Working with the council recruiters, the library organised a se-ries of informal talks on how to find a job on the internet and applying for council jobs online. Recruitment teams were avail-able for one-to-one consultations. All events were open to all and free of charge, with refreshments provided.
Attendees received a jobs pack with helpful advice, and the re-cruitment team walked people through online job applications, many of which were submitted. In fact, one member of the council recruitment team enjoyed helping the community that she suggested the library hold monthly job helpdesks—and she volunteered to come along.
The two days of jobs advice proved a success, and the Goole Library plans to repeat and expand the session.
“I cannot think of a better-suited venue than a library for hosting such events,” said Senior Librarians Sarah Stocks. “We provide a quiet, relaxed and informal setting. Everyone who attended left more optimistic than they arrived.”
Quick Quote
Senior Librarian, Sarah Stocks, said:
Everyone who attended left more optimistic than they arrived.