Member Article

Claire makes a move with a new job

A North East woman has moved back into employment, thanks to a partnership between local estate agents Reeds Rains and Ingeus, which delivers the government’s Work Programme in the region.

Claire McSkimmings from Whickham has just started her new job as a sales negotiator at Reeds Rains’ Gosforth office and already she has completed sales on behalf of property owners, and helped several house purchasers find the properties of their dreams. It’s a job she loves because it calls on all her past experiences in property, accounts and administration.

“Being out of work was very demoralising and my self-esteem took a dive,” said Claire. “I applied for hundreds of jobs each month and registered with several agencies but very few employers acknowledged my efforts and even fewer gave me reasons. I found it difficult to learn from my experiences because nobody would tell me where I was going wrong.”

Claire’s fortunes changed dramatically when she was referred to Ingeus for specialist employment support. Claire’s adviser helped her revise her CV and taught her effective interview techniques, which also helped to rebuild her confidence. Soon afterwards, Ingeus suggested to Claire that she should apply for the position of sales negotiator with Reeds Rains. And, when it came to being interviewed, Claire’s new boss Phil Hardaker recognised that she was the natural choice.

“It was clear she was well prepared for the interview and had done her homework,” said Phil. “It was also refreshing for us to have the support of Ingeus in filling this vacancy. Rather than it taking us so long to sift through job applications, Ingeus presented us with a candidate who, in their opinion, was an ideal match for the job – they were right.”

“We are delighted that Claire has been so successful in her new job ,” said Hytham Hassan from Ingeus. “We work closely with employers throughout the North East so we know when they have vacancies and we can quickly help them find the right person for the job. The requirements of Reed Rains were quite specific but Claire’s experience meant she was ideal.”

“A job makes all the difference,” added Claire. “Whilst I’m pleased to earn an income again, a job gives me self-respect. I am also setting an example to my young son that his ambitions can be achieved if he’s prepared to work hard for them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ingeus .