The Programme
An integrated approach to Learning, Training and Mentoring
work readiness
concerns the extent to which people possess the attitudes, skills and knowledge that enable them to be effective and successful employees.
What skills does Career LEAP cover?
Career LEAP covers two major sets of skills, or competencies, necessary for young adults looking to establish their independence in modern society: career competencies and workplace competencies.
Programme Structure
Career LEAP is comprised of three integrated components.
part one
Work Readiness Training
part two
Unpaid
Work Placement
part three
Follow Up Support
Work Readiness Training
Work readiness training (10 x 3 hour modules) is delivered over 3 weeks (afternoons only). The intensive training programme for the young people is presented in two sections.
- Modules 1-5 focus on career competencies, which are a person’s ability to develop and manage their career (i.e. reflecting on one’s passions and strengths; presenting oneself [e.g., in job interviews] and actively networking; and being able to explore opportunities and setting goals, e.g., through a career plan).
- Modules 6-10 focus on key generic skills that are valued in the workplace (i.e. acting in accordance with workplace norms; valuing diversit; negotiation; conflict management; leadership; critical and creative thinking; behaving professionally and developing a professional identity; and engaging in work).
The related training outcomes should be that participants will be better able to position themselves in the workforce and become effective and engaged employees.
Work Placements
Training is followed by a 3 week unpaid work placement aligned to the participant’s interests and skills. Each participant is assigned a mentor in the workplace who has participated in the certified Career LEAP Mentor Training course.
Follow up support
Finally, follow up support is provided to the young person as they transition to the workplace and/or to further educational opportunities. Support is ongoing, as and when the Career LEAP graduate needs it. We continue to engage with graduates from previous cohorts who contact us when they are ready to look for their next career or educational opportunity.
Training methods
Career LEAP employs a unique pedagogical approach which has been shown to elicit positive outcomes from at-risk young adults for whom teaching and learning in schools and education/training centres hasn’t always worked for them.
Career LEAP pedagogy is built around a fusion of experiential learning, social pedagogy, active and creative arts-infused teaching and learning approaches, critical thinking and critical pedagogy, and occupational and educational psychology, which locate the young person at the centre of the experience.
Participants engaged in an active learning exercise about conflict resolution (venue: The Spencer Hotel, 2020)
The recruitment process is very important to identify the participants suited to the programme and start to build a relationship and identify needs of support. This rapport with myself, the participant and their referral agency is crucial in the sustainability of the young person on the programme.
Aimee, Career LEAP Coordinator
There was a lot of things that I learnt before in courses and that, like interview skills but it was like I didn’t actually know them before now. The way they was taught here was different and meant something to you. Like networking and communication skills, really good teaching. It kind of sticks with you the way it’s done, and it was fun.
Grainne, 22 years old
I have done career planning but it was nothing like the way we done it. A whole different layout. ... like a totally different layout to when I was in school. You’re not just sitting there behind a desk with your finger in your mouth not saying anything. When you are there you can let everything out and it’s like you can walk out and be like, what a day – I’m working on my career plan. I can’t wait for tomorrow.
Rachel, 19 years old
Meeting and working with business people
During weeks 2 and 3 of the training programme, business partners come in to meet and work with the group on the module being explored that day. In addition, immediately following the mentor training course, business participants join the group for lunch in a round robin format.
Sharing their life stories and career journeys provides real life examples of how successful business people build their careers from the ground up. It’s identified by participants as motivating them to develop their own careers and gives them an opportunity to meet business people ‘in the flesh’ whom they previously perceived as unapproachable.
Yes, very helpful. ... Suits equals status to me. Meeting them made them more human and less frightening. The interview with the Minister made me feel more on an even level with them as ordinary people like.
Matthew, 20 years old
- Their experience – the different sides to it. It made the experience more understandable to me.
Grainne, 22 years old
Round robin lunch with Career LEAP participants after the mentor training course.
I was shocked when actually all the business people were there when we turned up at the lunch. … Literally we were just going around talking to different business people, introducing ourselves and talking about jobs and all so. Like I wouldn’t have done that any time in my life, I wouldn’t have. Would never have thought of it. Never thought I’d be able to do it either. Yeah. I could go onto that street there and go out and introduce myself to anyone now.
Paul, 25 years old
A highlight of the programme for me is seeing the young people and business mentors come together for lunch. Both groups coming out of their comfort zone and challenging all existing stereotypes of one another. It’s honestly powerful! A high for everyone!
Aimee, Career LEAP Coordinator
Business partners working with the young people
Business partner doing a role play ‘mock’ interview with a participant. It was the first job interview the participant ever did, and he attributed taking this ‘giant leap of confidence’ during the training to helping get a job in M&S immediately after the programme.
Minister of State Damian English conducting an impromptu role play scene with a participant.
There were one or two people, business people we met every day. Some of them had nothing as well and built their way up. It’s like they put the ladder up against the wall and it was like a never ending wall for them. I mean, does that not really just make you think how far you can actually drag yourself without giving up. That’s how I see it.
Carlos, 23 years old
Integrated Work Placement
Career LEAP provides a 3 week structured work-placement opportunity which has proven instrumental in helping participants prepare for future employment. They report gains in confidence, allowing them to see what a real job is like, and in their personal and professional skill development.
I thought it was very important to have work experience as part of the course. I feel like it is very hard to get even work experience, to even get a second look in a workplace, everyone is looking for experience and when no one is handing out jobs it’s very hard to gain experience.
Ben, 23 years old
But what I found helpful was the … what’s the word for that? Sorry I keep forgetting the word, the belief that I had lost, the belief that I was lost in myself… I gained that back. The confidence that I lost yeah, so I gained that back and the way that all the time they were encouraging you really helped. So that confidence I gained it back, which was priceless.
Jake, 22 years old
Building a professional relationship with a mentor, having a structured experience, and adequate work to do maximises the placement opportunity for participants.
Well if I give it from 1 to 10, I will give 11. Yeah, it was amazing and the people were very helpful and very nice. Yeah, I loved it. … First of all I enjoyed the people around me, they were very nice, very kind and second thing that I enjoyed, was the amount of work experience that they gave to us in that short period of time. And the amount of effort that they did with me and the guy that I was with so… it was amazing.
Bibi, 24 years old
It was very useful, there’s a good connection between training and work experience. It got us ready for going in like ‘cause we learned about the different cultures that we were going to be using, like talking to different people with different languages, like how to use your good manners.
Carlos, 23 years old
The group visiting the canteen at FaceBook as guests of Urban Picnic who have partnered with the programme and provided placement and employment opportunities for several Career LEAP graduates. One of the young people from the previous cohort was employed to train as a chef, and is featured in his chef uniform with his Urban Picnic mentor at the far end of the table.
