If you have been out of work, taken a career break or fancy changing your occupation, it can seem quite daunting getting your CV up to date and preparing for interviews.

But CAP job club in Northfields offers a series of free workshops to give you a head start in getting that dream job.

The club is run by volunteers on behalf of the charity, Christians Against Poverty, at St Paul’s church in Ridley Avenue, and is open to everyone, it’s not just for church-goers, It’s a 10-week course and each session focusses on a new topic, such as interview techniques, goal setting and more.

There are drop-in sessions on Tuesday 9 and 16 January between 10.15am-1.30pm. You can pop in for a chat to find out more as well as register for the free course, which starts on Tuesday 23 January.

In April, the club will have been running for 10 years and, in that time, it has helped scores of people find employment.

Offering support

Job club manager, Julia Sarson, said: “The thing I love the most about this group is the support people give one another. I’d encourage people to come along to the drop-in sessions, meet the team and enjoy our hospitality.”

Stephen Godson completed the most recent course. He is a qualified lawyer and was awaiting an interview at the end of it. He said: “I found the course very helpful to build on things I knew and to practice interview techniques. It’s a very sociable place to learn and the volunteers go above and beyond.”

Other members of the group included a woman who was looking to return to work after taking time off to raise her family, someone else who had relocated to the UK from France, and another member was looking for a change in career.

Learn Ealing

If you don’t think the job club is the right fit for you, you could take a look at the courses offered by Ealing Council’s adult learning team, Learn Ealing. It offers anything from language courses, to managing money as well as a host of hobby related sessions too, such as drawing and singing.

Councillor Louise Brett, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “These courses offer a wide opportunity to learn new skills and polish up on your existing ones. They can help to build confidence too and it’s a great way to meet other people with similar interests.”