Case Studies
Les Wicks
It can be very difficult watching your children struggle to find a career that makes them happy and makes the most of their skills. My son was frustrated that despite working hard and delivering on most of the objectives set he was not making the advances promised, he knew he needed to find a route to something more fulfilling. As a parent I wanted to help but found it difficult to find a way that help but was not dictated by an older person’s vision of the way things work today.
We found Mike, Mike’s experience as a modern recruitment professional proved pivotal, he provided a framework and support structure that energised our son, From focused consultations, CV preparation, career and industry guidance and job searching Mike gave our son the support he needed. I’m happy to say my son landed a new job, in a new industry and he is excited by the prospects this new opportunity provides.
Mike was calming influence who used his skills and professional experience to guide our son; his advice gave my son confidence, led to interviews that he was better prepared for and ultimately a new role!
As a parent I wanted to help but found it difficult to find a way that help but was not dictated by an older person’s vision of the way things work today.
Alex Wicks
I was a little lost and needed a kick start. After 5 years in the hospitality industry, I needed a new challenge but didn’t know where to start. Fortunately, I was introduced to Mike Smith, Mike is a professional recruitment consultant and career coach who, after a discussion gave me a new perspective on my skills and started a dialogue which expanded my vision of a potential new career.
Mike got me started on a new CV and then helped me get it focused on how to make it appropriate for a number of new roles we had identified. We worked together on finding a few relevant job sites and I posted my new CV’s – I’m happy to say that I got responses and interviews with a number of organisations.
The positive input and guidance gave me the impetus to go from a need to change career direction into concrete actions and ultimately into a new role in a new industry. I’m really excited to be moving forward and know that without Mike’s professional guidance I think the process would have been less focused, it would taken a lot more time and have been more stressful!
The positive input and guidance gave me the impetus to create concrete actions and ultimately secure a new role
David Shear
I contacted Career Smart in the middle of 2022, regarding my son (20). He finished his A levels and had dropped out of university and was drifting and at a stagnant point in his life.
As an anxious parent I had tried on numerous occasions to help him find a job, but to no avail. It turned into a bit of friction in our home life, which is when I contacted them. I had a good feeling about Mike when I spoke to him. I liked the sound of his background, and the fact he had personally been in similar shoes to my son, and really understood my sons issues. After a bit of thought we opted to purchase the 8 week coaching package.
It’s hard to say what the course itself was like as my son didn’t go into too much depth with me, but I do understand the results. He certainly seemed a lot more positive and open with his plans. He decided to try and find a position within IT world, and he even had two interviews after a few weeks. After support he found a full time entry level support job on his last week of the program and he has now been there for 2 months and seems to have found his niche.
I’m really pleased for him, and hopefully will be the start of bright future.
I had a good feeling when I first spoke to him, and Mike seemed to really understand our sons issues
Chris Shear
My dad contacted Career Smart back in the middle of 2022 about my career search. I had finished my A Levels and went to university to study Biology and only completed my first year before dropping out. I spent the year or so looking for jobs, but didn’t really find something suited to me. I was a hard time. My mum and dad did try to help but I found it frustrating as my dad came from a high up engineering background. Being honest, I wasn’t too pleased at the start of the process. It was probably due to the fact that it was my dad arranging it, rather than me. I look back on that now and find it funny, but I can understand others might feel the same.
The programme itself was really great. The psychometric testing was thorough and it uncovered some interesting results! Given those results and my passion for computer gaming, I decided to pursue a career within IT, hopefully with the view to move into computer programming after a few years. After a few different interviews I was successful and started an entry level IT support role for an IT company 25 minutes away a few months ago.
On the whole, very positive although the course itself was tough at times. My parents were happy too, and to get them off my back was a big relief.
…after a few different interviews I was successful and started an entry level IT support role for an IT company 25 minutes away!
Toby Claggett
After finishing my A levels, I started working within the automotive sector. I previously I had worked for two car garages where I was dealing with customers on a day to day basis. Following the closure of the business during the pandemic, I started working for my local council – it was absolutely not a future I wanted. Having just discovered I was a soon-to-be dad, I took it upon my self to better myself, and that’s when I got in contact with Career Smart.
I self funded the course in May 2022, which I am told was a very positive step! I have always liked working with numbers, and given my dad worked in accountancy, I figured this would be a logical step. Fortunately the testing phase of the course seemed to agree with my thoughts!
The course itself was hard. There were a few sections I felt uncomfortable with, as it took me out of my comfort zone. The part on application follow up is something I didn’t enjoy, but it was surprisingly effective. The mock video interview also felt intense, but that was very helpful. Overall it was a very good experience, and I found an entry level accounts assistant role for a company literally one town over (less than 5 miles away) after 2 months.
Needless to say, I am very happy, and hopefully I can hold this job down for a few years, learn the trade, and progress though the business and really push my career forward! Thank you again Mike!
Overall it was a very good experience, and it helped me find an entry level accounts assistant role.
Hannah East
I took the training course in October 2022 and I found it very helpful.
The course took 8 weeks, which involved weekly Zoom calls where we ran through 8 different modules. I felt all were very helpful and it allowed me to narrow down an area that would match my personal skills and I was able to land a job within customer services for a growing tech business. I even had to do home learning each week, which felt strange given I haven’t been at school in years! But he made me realise that even thought I was unemployed, my job was to find a job. I put a lot of hours into the whole process, including home learning and I can say without a doubt that it was all worth it in the end!
The video interview mock was hard, and I actually felt Mike was a very direct during that stage, but the following video interviews I had with real companies were actually a lot easier, so I guess that was the point!
I felt all were very helpful and it allowed me to narrow down an area that would match my personal skills and I was able to land a job within customer services for a growing tech business.
Michael Swietochoski
I engaged with the business in September 2022 after struggling with my son for the last year or so. I will omit his name from this review so as to keep him private.
He had finished education a year prior but was making very little effort and not taking his future career seriously. He was flitting from job to job, lasting only a few weeks at each position – mostly low-skilled, manual roles within a warehouse. And while my son starting a career working in a warehouse would not be an issue at all, he just seemed to treat each role like it was beneath him. I struggled to communicate my thoughts to my son, as I genuinely just wanted to help him succeed, but it was often met with hostility. I think the blame for this falls on both of us, as I may not of approached it the right way – something Mike actually took the time to explain to me.
Fast forward two months and I really think he’s turned a corner. While he hasn’t found a job directly within his chosen sector just yet (electrician) he has made proactive steps to start the process of formal training and has started applying for apprenticeships and entry level jobs. I have definitely noticed big improvements in his motivation and drive, which is great.
Thanks again to all involved and I have recommended this service to several friends in similar positions with their “older-kids”!
I struggled to communicate my thoughts to my son, as I genuinely just wanted to help him succeed, but it was often met with hostility.
Simon Hill
I dealt with Mike in August 2022. He was very professional, and we built a good level of rapport during our initial conversation. Prior to retirement, I worked in C-level sales management roles for blue-chip tech companies, so generally pride myself on my ability to detect time wasters. That wasn’t the case here.
After the initial call to discuss our issues we decided to move forward with the 8 week training package for our son, Matt (22).
After the details were agreed we only had occasional conversations with Mike, as most of his time was spent working with our son. Previous to this, our son seemed to struggle with the motivation and confidence to find a job that could ultimately lead to a career.
As a result I don’t know specifically what was discussed, but I did manage to have a look through his weekly PDF reports which acted as a reminder as to what topics were discussed. I hope my son keeps hold of them for any future job searches!
On the whole, a very positive experience and if we ever had the need (fingers crossed we don’t) to use Career Smart again with our other children, we would be very happy too.
Previous to this, our son seemed to struggle with the motivation and confidence to find a job that could ultimately lead to a career.
