Preparing Students for the Workplace
We offer support and training for students who are leaving the world of education for the workplace. The contrasts between the world of education and the world of employment are sharp and the workplace environment can be a challenging one for new entrants with dyslexia and related conditions.
Dyslexic /neurodiverse students are likely to benefit particularly from good preparation to meet the challenges of the workplace. We can help students gain an understanding of what employers are looking for in the recruitment process, gain a self-awareness of the skills they do have and how they can be transferred to a workplace environment. As a result they will learn how to demonstrate their achievements and strengths to potential employers more confidently.
In education, the student with dyslexia may well have been supported with a range of reasonable adjustments and by tutors who understand dyslexia. The workplace environment is often very different, being fast-paced, less forgiving, with short timescales and tight deadlines.
Workplaces commonly demand strong and efficient skills in the following areas:
- written and oral communication
- memory
- organisation, of time, activity, materials, of ideas and information
- self-management
- multi-tasking
- team working
Workplaces also expect people to have the following key competencies:
- ability to work as part of a team
- problem solving skills
- ability to show initiative and enterprise
- ability to learn new skills
- ability to use IT as a work tool
We offer tuition to help students prepare for such an environment and the programme will be developed to meet the needs of the individual student.
The programme can also include the following:
- the difficult issue of whether or not to disclose dyslexia or disability
- preparing CV’s
- application forms and covering letters
- reasonable adjustments at the recruitment stage
- how to handle applications and interviews
- preparing for Interviews
- preparing for different types of assessment
We can help students make a successful transition when moving from student life to employment.
Careers Advice
Students with dyslexia may need more explicit guidance and support to find the right match between their areas of strength and the particular organisation and job.
Employee“Hi Liz, hope you are well, finally got myself out of X! Managed to get myself a role as Account Manager for XX, super excited! It mostly plays to my strengths – sales and customer service and coaching my girls to do the same, little bit of paperwork but nothing major so hopefully this is the right move for me. Thank you for all your help supporting me really meant a lot and without you I don’t think I would have the confidence I had when going for the interview! Using all my new skills to lean the products and mind-maps have been invaluable! Still lots to learn but feeling really settled at last. Xx ”