Meetings Programme

Details of our Summer 2022 programme are shown below. You can also download a PDF copy (A4, then fold into A5). Our meetings last term were on Zoom. For this term we are having a hybrid programme, with some meetings on Zoom, and some face-to-face at our Broadway House venue. Zoom login details will be emailed to those who are registered with us (see below).

All meetings are on wednesdays at 2pm. They last about an hour and a half to two hours. Scroll down to read more about the meeting format. We roughly follow this curriculum. Not all modules are run each term and some new ones have been added since the map was created.

The series of meetings covers the whole lifecycle of the job seeking process, from getting started to improving your performance on the phone and at interviews. However, the timing of redundancies hardly ever coincides with the start of a cycle! Never mind, join us, and we will brief you on what you have missed. See our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for newcomers.

Meetings are free for job seekers who have registered with Careers Springboard West Berkshire.

To register with us, go to 'How To Join' on the job seekers' page.

Meetings Programme: April - July 2022

Please check carefully the meeting venue shown below the date (BH=Broadway House)

27 Apr (BH)	Getting (Re)started Latest updates on the job market. We share experiences using the A-E framework of getting a job, creating your job search strategy, organising your job search approach and marketing yourself. Presenter: Adrian Foster-Fletcher :: Host: John Newell
4 May (Zoom)	Tell Me About Yourself Hone your response to this most frequently asked question by agencies and prospective employers Presenter: Adrian Foster-Fletcher
11 May (BH)	What Employers Look For Learn what it's like from the other side and get some tips on how you can make yourself seem the ideal candidate Presenter: John Newell :: Host: Charles Fowler
18 May (Zoom)	The Hidden Job Market (1) - Networking Over 70% of jobs are not advertised. How to use personal networking and LinkedIn to unearth those hidden opportunities and get connected to those who can give you a job Presenter: David Skyrme :: Back-up: Peter Adams
25 May (BH)	Preparing Your CV We review different formats of CV and discuss how to develop one that is right for you. We critique each other's CVs, so have a copy of your own to 'screen share'. Presenter: Adrian Foster-Fletcher :: Host: John Newell
1 Jun	Mentoring Day No formal meeting during the half-term break. Opportunities for a 1-on-1 with a volunteer (must be pre-booked).
8 Jun (Zoom)	Preparing for Interview Increase your success rate at interviews through preparation, presentation and coping with those awkward questions Presenter: Adrian Foster-Fletcher :: Back-up: Peter Adams
15 Jun (BH)	Competency-based Interviews In this common form of interview you need to have real examples that demonstrate your competences. This session helps you prepare for for such interviews through adopting the STAR approach. Presenter: John Newell :: Host: Adrian Foster-Fletcher
22 Jun (Zoom)	Using LinkedIn Effectively LinkedIn can help you find and develop those contacts who can help you get your next job. In this session we login to LinkedIn and share profiles and tips for getting the most out of this vital networking tool. Presenter: Peter Adams :: Back-up: David Skyrme
29 Jun (BH)	The Hidden Job Market (2) - The Direct Approach Turning recruitment on its head! How to make direct approaches to prospective employers through better targeting and by developing a compelling 'value proposition' and leveraging your network. Presenter: David Skyrme :: Host: Ian Vickerage
6 Jul (BH)	Responding to Adverts When hundreds are applying for the same job, how do you decide whether and how to reply? This session helps you read between the lines, decide if it’s worth your time and prepare your response. Presenter: David Skyrme :: Host: John Newell
13 Jul (Zoom)	How Recruiters Work How to get the best out of employment agencies, head hunters and HR departments Presenter: David Skyrme
20 Jul (Zoom)	Your Other Choices Think about something different using your transferable skills, such as a career change, a portfolio of jobs or starting your own business Presenter: Peter Adams :: Back-up: Charles Fowler
	Summer Break
7 Sep	Start of Autumn Programme

Speakers and topics are subject to change without notice, although this happens only occasionally. Meetings on Zoom do not require a host, though sometimes it is useful to have a back-up volunteer.

Programme Extras

During the course of a programme, the following extras may take place, depending on demand and volunteer availability. Since these are often decided at short notice (1-2 weeks ahead), details are provided to registered members in the weekly email.

Mini-sessions. A 30 minute session that takes place before the main Wednesday workshop on a Wednesday. These cover specific topics in more depth and reflect the needs of our job seekers. Recent mini-sessions have included:
- Starting Your Own Business
- The Written Word
- CV Masterclass
- Marketing Yourself on the Internet.
Individual Guidance. As well as opportunities after most Wednesday sessions, you are welcome to contact volunteers for specific 1-on-1 guidance at other times. See the list of volunteers who can help you. Registered job seekers also receive a full list of volunteers, their specialities and contact details.

Format

Each meeting follows roughly the following format:

"Tell Me About Yourself". Job seekers give their 1 minute 'sales pitch'.
"Hear and Share". A self help session where we hear a job seeker's current situation and share knowledge and experiences that help them to progress.
Main Workshop.
Wrap up or extra mini-session

At our face-to-face meetings there will be light refreshments available on a side table in the conference room.

Venue

All face-to-face meetings take place at:
Broadway House
4-8 The Broadway
Northbrook Street
NEWBURY
RG14 1BA
We usually meet in Conference Room G9 on the ground floor. You will need to use a phone in the lobby to gain access.

Broadway House is a three-storey red-brick building very close to the Clock Tower and opposite Domino's Pizza. The building is run and funded by the Greenham Common Trust, and has recently been refurbished to a high standard, with air-conditioning throughout. Most of the occupants, permanent and temporary, are charities.

Click here for a location map

The doors to the conference room are open from 1:45pm. If you come later you will have to telephone for access from a phone in the main corridor.

The nearest car park is in Pelican Lane, just north of Broadway House. Other nearby car parks are at Park Way and the multi-storey Newbury Council car park behind W H Smith, with access via West Street.

Go to the West Berkshire website for more information (opens in a new tab):

West Berkshire Council Car Parks

This page last updated 20th April 2022.

Important Notice - The information and advice given on this website or by our volunteers is given in good faith. No responsibility whatsoever shall attach to Careers Springboard West Berkshire or any person acting on its behalf for any actions taken by any person acting on this information or advice.