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IT Helpdesk, Customer Support and Networking Course for Women - FREE + childcare

What is the course about?

This course aims to train women to make their first steps towards a career in IT Customer Support and Helpdesk type jobs. As well as gaining the qualification, candidates have the chance to meet employers who recruit this type of staff and to ask them about the role and their recruitment processes. Candidates are also assisted with job searching during the course so that they can gain work as soon as they have achieved the qualification. The course covers maintaining equipment and systems; customer support; systems monitoring and operations networks.

What are the outcomes?

• Successful course completers will gain a qualification (City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma for IT Practitioners). We will also assist candidates to get a relevant job.

Who is it for?

• This course is free to unemployed women living in any London Borough.
• We are particularly interested in reaching women living in Camden, Brent, Islington, Westminster and Southwark

What are the eligibility requirements?

• The course is targeting women only
• Age range from 16 to 65 (working age) TBC
• Level 1 literacy/numeracy (interested candidates will be assessed)
• Level 1 equivalent IT skills (preferably a level 1 qualification such as CLAIT or ECDL)
• Interested in and available to work

How long is the course?

• The course runs for 15 hours a week for 17 weeks.
• Different courses run at different times, but the course is usually delivered over 2 and a half days per week.

What is covered in the Course?

• Maintaining equipment and systems
• Customer support
• Systems monitoring and operations
• Networks
• Jobsearch skills
• Application workshops

Where does the course run?

• Wembley (HA9) – delivered by College of NW London with jobsearch support provided by New Challenge
• Kentish Town (NW5) – delivered by Camden ITEC with jobsearch support provided by CITE

When does the course start?

We are currently recruiting for courses starting as follows:

• Starting on 11th September 2006 (3 full days) in Wembley
• Starting on 9th October 2006 (3 full days) in Kentish Town

How will the project help people to get work?

• Employers will participate in the course by coming to talk to the group about the types of vacancies that they have, the entry criteria, what it is like to work for their company and the application process.
• Candidates will enhance their jobsearch skills through training modules during the course (CVs, application forms, interview technique) and will actively make job applications towards the end of the course in supported jobsearch workshops. Individuals will receive one-to-one support as well as working in the group.

What other support is available?

• We can offer some financial support towards childcare and fares.

To find out more

• Contact Constanza on 020 7624 2325 or constanza@cite4jobs.org who works for CITE (one of the partners delivering the project)
• She can book you into a recruitment session for assessment and interview to see if you are suitable for the course.
• If you want to find out more about the project generally, you can call Constanza in the first instance.