Audience: Voices

An unexpected opportunity

Luciana, was working as an air stewardess when Covid hit. “I was made redundant and wasn’t sure what to do next” her friend told her about Generation’s free training opportunities for young, unemployed people and so she headed over to the Generation website to find out more.

Transferrable skills

When researching online Luciana came across the Salesforce programme, “a bell rang in my head when I read about Salesforce, because I saw similarities with my previous job. The parallels might not sound immediately obvious, but CRM is all about building relationships, which is what I loved about being a flight attendant.” Luciana completed her application and got onto the programme and soon realised this was the right path for her. Generation team members were there to support her every step of the way and she got to work in class with lots of different people from all kinds of backgrounds. “It was so fun working as part of a team.”

A new beginning

After utilising Trailhead to learn how Salesforce works, Luciana showed her dedication to pursuing this as a career gaining 95 badges and 4 super badges and is now close to achieving the highest rank you can achieve on the platform. She is now on a six month traineeship with Italgas, one of the top employers in Italy and is hoping to secure a permanent position with them afterwards. “I never imagined this route, but I’m excited to keep challenging myself. There’s a whole new digital world out there to discover!”

Waiting to get back to work

Lindsey had been out of work for quite some time due to mental health issues, she had done some caring roles in the past and was looking to get back into that, this time keen to work in the NHS. Ready to get back into work Lindsey said, “I needed a bit of help to get me back to where I needed to be.”

A long-awaited opportunity

Lindsey was searching online for ways to get back into caring and particularly for ways to help her land a job with the NHS, something she has wanted to do for a very long time. She came across an ad on Google for the Generation UK Healthcare programme based in Leeds, where she is from and went on to complete her application form.

The course and the support on offer seemed too good to be true, but Lindsey soon realised that there is a Generation team member there to support you every step of the way, to overcome challenges big and small.

It is never to late

The programme gave Lindsey a great look into what life is like on an NHS ward, help to complete her CV and personal statement, but most of all, gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams “Something that came out of the course for me was a massive amount of self-worth, don’t give up on your dreams no matter how old you are.”

Career break

Anna had not worked for over seven years as she has a young family and was spending her time looking after them. She loved looking after her children and wanted to transfer those caring skills into a career where she could make a difference caring for other people.

Help for mothers

Childcare had been a barrier for Anna, she couldn’t find a training course to help her get the career she needed that would work around the needs of her young children. Generation UK provides financial support for parents in London and Leeds to help them complete their training and not have to worry about their childcare needs. Anna was able to utilise this and it enabled her to focus on the programme and not worry about her children. “Them going to nursery for full time during the course really helped me.”

Confidence to start again

Anna has completed the course and is now feeling confident about going into a new role with the NHS. She received help every step of the way. She was able to create a professional CV and personal statement which she had never had support with before and this has enabled her to apply and go for the job she wants.

The first cohort graduated from the .net and Azure program sponsored by Microsoft, the IAMCP, and Generation Spain in December 2017. Beatriz, one of those graduates, had come to the three month program with almost no knowledge of cloud, fresh out of university and with minimal job prospects in technology where she wanted to work. The program taught her the technical, behavioral, and mindset skills to enter a cloud role, and she gained a community of friends that she remains in touch with.

Within a few weeks of completing the .net and Azure program, she began her cloud career as Associate Business Consultant at DXC, a leading independent provider of IT services worldwide. Since then she has moved on, and is currently a Cloud Engineering Analyst at Avanade. Her professional and personal growth has been steady, and we sat down with her recently to hear more about her journey.

Since graduation, how would you describe your professional growth? What positions have you held?

My professional growth since 2018 has been enormous.

After finishing the course I started working for DXC. There, I was able to take my first steps in the cloud and work on real projects with Azure. I was at DXC for a year before moving to Avanade, where I am currently. At Avanade I am continuing to develop my Azure skills through a variety of projects. Both at DXC and at Avanade I have had the opportunity to learn a lot and to focus my skills on cloud infrastructure, a high-demand area.

Have you continued to certify yourself in Azure or Microsoft technologies? What certifications do you currently have?

One never stops learning, and I have continued to gain certifications on my own or because the companies I have worked for have asked me to obtain specific certifications.

I personally see certifications as very important since they open many doors in the world of work and in getting new projects. I have specialized in Azure, and I currently have certifications for Azure Fundamentals, Azure Developer Associate, Azure Administrator Associate, and Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

Are you happy and do you feel that these technologies help companies in their growth and maintenance?

Yes, the cloud greatly helps companies in their growth. It allows them to have the scalability and efficiency to really focus on what matters to them – the product or service they want to offer. They only pay for the services they use, so they can save costs and don’t have to worry about having their own infrastructure.

I see my work as important. I am teaching companies to work in the cloud and helping them create and maintain the environments they need.

How have you experienced the COVID-19 pandemic in your work environment? Have you felt supported?

2020 was a very difficult year for everyone. The pandemic forced us to change and adapt to work in a different way. Suddenly, we had to work at home without being able to see our colleagues in person.

The first days were very overwhelming and hard. It was difficult for me to differentiate between work and home environments (they had become one and the same), and it was difficult for me to disconnect from work. But over time I adapted, and now that we have been telecommuting for more than a year, I have realized that, although I prefer not to telework the whole week, it is good to do it two or three days a week.

I felt cared for and supported by Avanade. We had several initiatives and tips to help us use time at home well and clear our minds. They cared about our state of mind. But above all, I felt very supported by my colleagues and team.

Do you think technology companies have seen growth driven by the pandemic circumstances?

Although 2020 was a difficult year due to COVID-19, I think it did drive growth too. Without a doubt, the pandemic presented an opportunity for technology companies since it forced businesses to greatly increase investment in technology. The pandemic led new investors to enter this sector, thereby accelerating the development of many technology companies. They have managed to come out stronger by knowing how to adapt.

What position do you have now and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

My current role at Avanade is Cloud Engineering Analyst. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do know that I am passionate about the cloud and my goal is to continue working and improving on it.

In 5 years I would like to continue as a cloud architect and specialize in security. I have realized that the cloud world offers many opportunities and will continue to grow tremendously in the coming years (you just have to look at the growth that Azure has had in recent years, for example). Cloud technology is already very important today, and its importance will be even greater in the future. That is why I am passionate about this world.

Seeking growth in a new career

Sometimes challenges can have a bright side by driving you to your next breakthrough. Gary had worked as a graphic and 3D designer for more than 3 years. But he felt stagnant in his role and the work no longer seemed challenging. Then the pandemic hit and his workload was drastically reduced. After six months of unemployment, Gary felt he needed a fresh start. He saw an opportunity in the data engineering industry and enrolled in the Junior Data Engineer Program co-organized by CLAP@JC and Generation Hong Kong.

New skills and a new approach to work

The program offered Gary opportunities to learn software related to data engineering analysis, including Python, SQL Server and PowerBI. In addition to technical skills, the program also guides learners to adjust their attitudes to be well prepared for the work environment. “Apart from learning what should and should not be done in the workplace in the program, the most important thing is your initiative. We always need improvement when working. Instead of muddling through everything, we need to do our best in everything!” said Gary.

After completing the program, Gary was hired by KBQuest, one of the program’s employer partners, as a data engineer. He is now responsible for big data analysis for different companies, providing them with recommendations and solutions to improve customer business growth. “We make use of PowerBI to carry out big data analysis for companies in different industries, turning complex data into simple and easy-to-understand charts, providing them with different proposals and actionable recommendations, which is very interesting!”

Looking back, Gary had never thought about making such a substantial change to his career path. Having made the leap, he now believes that with a readiness to try new things and accept new challenges, nothing is impossible. “I keep aiming high!”

Failure to Launch

By the time Ester had graduated with a degree in Audiovisual Communication in 2015, the peak of Spain’s youth unemployment crisis had passed, and she was feeling excited and hopeful about her career prospects.

She began that journey as most young people in Spain do: with unpaid internships and apprenticeships. But as the years wore on, she continued to receive the message from employers that she still lacked the relevant experience and was not offered paid full-time contracts that could meet her financial needs. Undeterred, Ester tried to upskill by taking various courses, studied English abroad, and continued to take on unpaid internships, and took on small (and poorly paid) side-gigs here and there to cover basic expenses while living with her parents.

As the years went by and she settled into her late twenties, this status quo began to feel increasingly untenable.

With Generation Came a New Perspective

Serendipitously, a friend told Ester about Generation and encouraged her to apply. So, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, Ester threw herself into the application process and was accepted into the program.

“You were hooked from day one because it was fun and engaging, and your classmates come from such diverse backgrounds and also had so much to offer. The teachers were always available after classes. They offered lots of feedback. I really enjoyed the experience from the beginning to the end,” she says of the program.

She now looks back on Generation as a significant turning point in her life. She made a giant leap forward in marketing and communications by developing specific and nuanced digital and social media expertise. She also learned essential behavioral and mindset skills that leveled up her game in the workplace: how to operate effectively within a cross-functional team, craft a strong cover letter, and more. Crucially, her public speaking and presentation skills were transformed from a major weakness to a core strength.

The community of peers she became a part of at Generation was also a considerable boost. For the first time since embarking on her professional journey, she knew she was not alone.

Forward Progression

Not long after graduating, Ester received a call from a graduate program in marketing offering her a work-study opportunity and a chance to obtain a masters degree in digital marketing. The program required a strong background in digital marketing, and they were confident that with the Generation program under her belt, Ester had what it took. Ester had always wanted to complete a masters program but had never had the financial resources to do it. So she jumped at this opportunity. Upon graduating, she quickly obtained a full-time job in digital marketing at an agency in Barcelona, and her career took off.

She later made a bold decision to move to the United Emirates with her partner, who had obtained a job there and began a new job search in an exciting, yet unfamiliar country. Even so, it did not take long for her to get hired.

“Generation was like the seed that made everything else I wanted to grow possible. After Generation, everything took off.”

Generation is occasionally privileged to be able to hire program graduates onto our team. Here’s the story of a Digital Marketing alumnus who has become an indispensable part of our team in Spain.

A Generational, Collective Struggle

When Generation first launched in a handful of countries as a youth unemployment nonprofit, Spain was a relatively obvious choice to pilot our programs. With a youth unemployment rate of 48%, it was clear that Spain needed more programs to bridge the skills gap and support young people.

From Irene’s perspective, an alumnus of our Digital Marketing program in Madrid in 2017, the high youth unemployment rate was far more than a statistic: it was a lived reality.

“In our Generation class, all of us were in our mid to late twenties. We had all studied diverse fields, from architecture to hospitality to law. We were all trying to find our way professionally but were just stringing together a meager income from odd jobs in restaurants or in retail. Not one of us had been able to secure a job in our respective chosen field. Most of us were living with our parents. It was incredibly disheartening. It felt to us that we had done everything that we had been asked to do, but no matter what we tried, we couldn’t secure our own financial independence.”

Moving Forward, Together

Finding community in the Generation program was the first ray of hope Irene saw. She realized that she wasn’t alone. The spirit of mutual support and help inspired Irene, with each classmate bringing a different background and perspective to the table. The energy level was high, with everyone trying their best and helping one another.

“We all had the mindset of: If we do what the instructors and coaches are telling us to do, if we have the right attitude, if we work really hard, things can change for the better.”

In addition to the rigorous technical training she received, Irene sharpened her project management skills, public speaking, and ability to work in a team.

Carrying the Work Forward

At the end of the class, Generation held career days and introduced the learners to various employers. And Irene got a call from the Generation Spain team, inquiring if she would be interested in a position with Generation. One of the people who interviewed her was herself, a Generation alumnus.

Today, Irene leads our recruitment and outreach efforts to learners for Generation Spain. She draws on a varied set of skills and abilities that she’s honed over the years. So while she continues to grow as a professional, she does so in service of those experiencing the challenges she once faced.

“In Spain, the talent is spectacular. The young people know how to work hard, and it’s our shared responsibility to ensure that they have opportunities to pursue decent careers that allow them, like their parents and grandparents, to have an independent life and to be able to grow and thrive personally and professionally.”

NO TIME TO WASTE

Francis was the youngest born in a large family. By the time he began his university studies, his parents’ funds had run dry. His brothers and sisters supported him, but they had their own young families to care for and could not continue to sustain him for much longer. “The unemployment rate in Kenya is very high,” he says, especially among young people. He began to see that it often takes five to ten years for many university graduates to find employment, especially in the education field, which Francis was pursuing. “I didn’t have the luxury of waiting. I needed to be employed.”

It was then, in 2017, that he saw an ad on Facebook for Generation. It promised a connection to real-world employers following a short training. “This was exactly the sort of opportunity I was looking for.”

WORKING HIS WAY UP

After completing the Financial Services Sales course, Generation connected Francis with various employers, and he chose Jubilee Insurance Company. Leaning heavily on the behavioral and mindset skills drilled into him during the bootcamp, he saw himself achieving wins early in his tenure at Jubilee and began quickly advancing through the ranks. “I went from being a regular sales agent to a unit sales manager overseeing a cluster of other salespeople, and now an agency sales manager overseeing other managers.”

FRANCIS RETURNS TO GENERATION

As Francis became a team leader, it fell on him to recruit new agents to the company. So he reached back to Generation and began to hire other alumni like himself. “I recruited from Generation because it helps us save time on training and retention. The retention rate of Generation alumni is higher than people from other recruitment channels. And they know how to come in and hit the ground running in sales because they are prepared for the real-world market.” Since then, he has recruited 48 sales managers from Generation. He says many of them are promoted “because of the training they received.”

WEATHERING THE STORM

When COVID-19 hit, the financial services industry took a nosedive. Many people could no longer afford financial planning in a time of great need. But Francis dug in his heels and leaned heavily on his training. “We were taught consistency and perseverance, and how to work together. All of us were pulling in the same direction. I helped my team to achieve their goals, and they helped me achieve my goals at the same time.”

While many others were laid off or couldn’t make a living in a commission-based work environment, Francis and the team under him continued to survive and even thrive.

“Because I’ve been amassing wealth, I’ve been able to buy my own car and house. I was financially in a position to start a family. I’m now blessed with a beautiful daughter. I am very thankful for the opportunity that was given to me by Generation.”

A DIFFICULT TRANSITION GETS MUCH HARDER

Nasira immigrated to Australia from Pakistan in 2019. A year later, her youngest son was born and was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. Amid the chaos of doctor and therapy appointments, working was out of the question for Nasira. Her husband’s income allowed them to survive, but their savings were drained, and their sense of stability was gone.

“Without family, without relatives, and with this kind of news that my son has a medical condition, it was very difficult for me,” Nasira recounts.

Then the pandemic hit, and her mental health plummeted. “I was thinking: I’m useless and I’m stuck here and I cannot do anything,” she describes.

FROM CRISIS TO PURPOSE

In the depths of pandemic isolation, Nasira happened to receive an email about Generation’s disability support worker program. The course would be fully online, and she could complete it from home.

“I am very glad that in between all this chaos, I came to know about Generation’s program. When I started learning, I started to feel knowledgeable and skilled and seriously, it changed my mind. And it changed my thinking, especially towards people with disabilities.”

Nasira had always been exceptionally empathetic, thoughtful, and nurturing. She describes how the Generation course not only helped her get up to speed in understanding the disability sector but helped her understand her strengths and how she can apply them. This had profound ramifications for how she thought about supporting her son, all while a newfound sense of purpose began to bubble up. With that new mindset came new hope.

With the training program under her belt, Generation connected Nasira to various employers. She was able to very quickly land two well-paid gigs that led her to get to know multiple clients. As a disability support worker, she can choose her schedule and which jobs to accept based on her availability.

“As a disability support worker, it’s very much flexible for people like me, who have so many things to do with their kids and the household.” But, she added with a smile, “the support service is supporting me.”

AN EXCEPTIONAL MOM SUPPORTS OTHER FAMILIES TOO

Nasira’s talent in supporting children with disabilities is obvious from her stories and her highly coveted services (she is always busy and accepts as much work as she can while caring for her family). She recalls one child she worked with recently, who was non-verbal and easily frustrated. “After spending only a few hours with me, he started singing… singing poems. The satisfaction I got, I cannot explain that satisfaction.” The child’s mom told her this had never happened before.

Nasira and her husband are now much more stable financially. She can afford swimming and soccer lessons for her older son, and they can slowly begin to replenish their savings.

“Generation seriously changed my life,” she tells us.

LAID OFF DURING COVID-19

Jerome worked in restaurants and cafés in Australia for many years, but he lost his job when the pandemic started. With the future being uncertain and no end in sight to the lockdown, he says, “I was looking into every possibility.”

AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

Luckily, he happened to receive an email about Generation Australia’s Disability Support Worker program, which changed everything. As it happened, Jerome had spent time volunteering in Vietnam with children who had disabilities. He found that he had a unique ability to work with kids that others struggled to connect with and wondered if this could become his new career.

Jerome completed the Disability Support Worker program entirely online in Sydney and landed a job with a Generation employer partner. But, soon after, circumstances led him to relocate to Melbourne, where he began a new job search.

With the new resume he honed at Generation and all the job acquisition skills he had learned, it took him only a month to find a job in Melbourne, even though this was a new field for him.

FINDING A PURPOSE

Now that he is employed, he feels that he has found his calling. “This seven-week intensive course, and the job I’m now in, is very fulfilling. And that is what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life, I believe.”

He felt that Generation taught him the technical skills needed to do his job, and the mindset and behavioral skills that helped him relate to his clients. “As a disability support worker, we were taught to be very patient. Act as though I’m in their position. And once I’m able to understand them in a sense, it makes my work a lot better.”

Jerome says the Generation experience has given him a lot of confidence in his work, even though he’s never done it before. And he appreciates the sense of a safety net he continues to have with Generation: “If we have any stumbling blocks, we are always able to go back to Generation Australia and ask them for guidance and support. And that’s how we grow.”

Being a disability support worker is not about the money for Jerome, though he says it’s more than sufficient. He can grow savings from his earnings to use for future volunteer trips overseas.