Work experience placement opens doors to retail career

When Fin* first joined our King's Trust Team programme he felt sure that he wanted to pursue a career in construction. As his work experience weeks drew closer, IAF connected Fin with a fabricating role so he could try out a hands-on career and add valuable industry experience to his CV. After the first week of his placement, Fin called to discuss his week and instead of cementing his vision for the future, he had realised that a practical, trade based role was not for him. Wanting to make the most of his placement time though, Fin quickly connected with an opportunity in retail where he was volunteering at a local charity shop. The second week sped past and Fin returned to the classroom with greater clarity on his career ambitions. He had enjoyed his time at the shop so much that he chose to continue volunteering beyond the 12-week course and when a paid assistant manager role became available, he was first in mind for the position. Securing this first paid role was just the beginning though because when the charity store closed unexpectedly, Fin had the customer service skills and experience to carry forward. He quickly began a new retail job where he continues to thrive.