Transitions exchange w orkshop with candidates and KPMG staff

1. Transitions exchange workshop with candidates and KPMG staff Prepared by: Daniel D. Date: 25/09/2013

2. Education Background • BSc Degree; Mathematics and Statistics (2:1) Kingston University (2009 - 2012) • BA Degree; Statistics and Demography (75%) Asmara University (2000 - 2005)

3. Employment in Eritrea • Inspector and Statistical Officer (2005 – 2008) Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare Inspection Department

4. Employment in UK • May 2013-Present Personal Assistant/ Development Support Worker-Part Time • Feb 2013-July 2013 Cover Supervisor/Support Staff-Teaching Assistant, London schools • Aug 2012-Sept 2012 Volunteer Receptionist/IT Assistant Divine Rescue • Jun 2010-Nov 2011 Customer Service and Retail Operative-Stockroom Selfridges • Mar 2009-Sep 2009 Production Machine Operator & Warehouse Operative Maple Leaf Croissant Company

5. Achievements in UK • NCFE Level 2 Award in employability skill (problem solving at work, team work, understanding your customers, Interview skills) • Certificate in volunteering with Divine Rescue *reference • Analysing categorical data to the number of deaths due to chronic liver disease (1970-2000) for final year project at Kingston University • Have managed to achieve consistent UK employment in very challenging situations

6. Support from Transitions-London • Intensive 1-1 careers guidance and building Professional Development Portfolio • 4 x graduate job applications detailed feedback and advice • 1 graduate scheme interview practices • Half-day Refugee Graduate Orientation workshop • Half-day Assessment Centre workshop • National Grid information workshop on graduate recruitment • KPMG CV and interview practice workshop

7. Personal Development Plan • To gain work experience through internship/volunteer • To readand practice so that to broaden my knowledge on some statistical/financial software • To gain professional body accreditations (RSS,CIMA)

8. Specific barriers for refugee professionals Lack of: • UK work experience on relevant field • strong oral communication skill • having network with professional individuals • employers’ knowledge on refugees rights to work in the UK

9. Addressing the barriers At individual level: • Keep applying to find relevant short work experience/volunteering office based and aim to impress them • Try to integrate with society to improve communication skill and networking • Always read about effective job searching techniques and understand UK job market • Keep your brain busy by reading relevant articles and develop your IT skills

10. Addressing the barriers At organization level: • Employers and HR have to increase their knowledge on refugees rights to work • Remembering that organizations can gain diverse range transferable skills • Develop networking with organizations who support refugees professionals • Introduce methods to test/evaluate refugees transferable skills

11. Tips for effective professional hire • Always keep the moral up and be positive • Only keep applying to those posts that you can do • Develop tailored CVs and Covering letters • Try to find active career adviser

12. Finally just to say; • Refugees are not economic migrants; we are here due to political, religious and others problem in our country • We really need moral support to reach our long term plans • Most of us are mature, well disciplined and we can be a great addition to any organization and to UK economy as general