FAQ

Resource is an independent charity, based in Finchley in North London, set up to help unemployed people in the Jewish community back into employment. It is operated by professional volunteers and paid staff who offer training and one-to-one support.

Those who are unemployed or under threat of redundancy, or returning to work after a break are able to use the facilities and take advantage of the services offered. We also help recent graduates or people who have come from another country and are legally able to work in the UK. Membership continues until a client finds employment or for six months. This can be extended under certain circumstances.

When you contact us by phone or email, an appointment is made to meet an advisor. You'll then attend a two day seminar to give you tools and techniques associated with finding a new job. You will be encouraged to meet with your personal advisor on a regular basis who will work with you on the practical elements of your job search and help you decide what other seminars may be useful.

We also offer IT training on a one-to-one basis in Word, Excel and Powerpoint, as well as how to use the Internet and e-mail. Even if you have facilities at home, you can still work at the Centre on our computers and search the Internet for employment opportunities. You can also make phone calls, scan the daily newspapers and access the careers library.

The Centre is open to clients from 9.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday, however the phones are manned until 5.00pm. The Centre will also take phone calls on Friday from 9.30am - 1pm. The Centre is closed on Bank holidays and Jewish holidays. All clients need to book an initial appointment by ringing 020 8346 4000.

We offer a telephone and Skype service to clients who cannot attend the Centre. In addition to talking to one of our advisors, you will be able to visit our Client-Access area on our website for seminar content and handbooks.  For more information contact Resource on 020 8346 4000.

All the advisors are skilled volunteers with relevant backgrounds, here to help our clients return to employment. They offer a safe and confidential environment for discussion of all issues related to job search. Advisors meet regularly for training and development. Unless there are scheduling issues or you prefer to see someone else, you can expect to see the same advisor.  See Our Team section for advisor profiles.

We would usually ask that you have had a break of more than one year, after your initial membership period, to see if we can help you again.  But please contact Resource to discuss your specific circumstances.

There is no cost to the client to use Resource or any of the facilities.  A small refundable deposit of £20 is requested when you attend the first meeting, and this is refunded when your membership is closed, provided you attend of all seminars that are booked and confirmed.

However, you may know of friends and family that are in a position to support our work, so do tell them about us. When you find employment, think about joining the Resource Community so that you can help us to support others in the future. http://www.resource-centre.org/resource-community.php

Our clients all have the opportunity to attend a range of seminars covering all aspects of their job search (see Our Services). Individual IT training is available to clients to increase their skills and abilities. And our networking department reaches out into the Jewish community and beyond to source additional vacancies, networking opportunities, internships, mentors and work experience.  We also offer Psychometric Profiling and Mock Interviews.

Resource will do everything it can in offering support and guidance to ensure your success. Our experience shows that the more effort clients put into finding a job, preparing CVs, researching their particular field and improving interview and presentation skills, the better the chances of securing and retaining the job they really want. Our job is to assist in that process.

We help people from any occupational background and with any level of qualification or experience. We help signpost clients, who may need additional training, to specific courses if they need additional training.

We help you to prepare in the best possible way for an interview.  We hold a seminar on Practising your Interview Skills as well as a Mock Interviews where constructive feedback will be given by our professional Interviewer.  Our Communicating with Confidence seminar also helps to 'speak up and speak out'.

A CV is for you to show off your skills and achievements and needs to be constantly monitored and adapted to jobs for which you are applying. Resource offers guidance on current best practice and together with your advisor, you develop a suitable CV as your marketing tool for a range of jobs.

We help our clients to become job-ready. If that involves a change of direction, support and advice is on hand via your advisor. Resource also runs a seminar called Career Review & Planning to help identify transferable skills and we offer Psychometric Profiling to help you learn more about your own set of skills.

Our premises are wheelchair accessible and we will do our very best to support clients with any disability. If we cannot offer the best support, then we will work with other organisations to procure specialist help.  Charities such as Jewish Care and JAMI are regularly signposted by Resource as well as other organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and local authorities.

We will help all the people who approach us. However, they have to be sufficiently motivated to contact us themselves.

Your advisor can support you in assessing your transferable and life skills. Attending the seminars Resource offers can reconnect you with the world of work, build up your self-esteem and confidence and help you find and retain paid or voluntary employment.

We regularly run a seminar specifically targeted at clients interested in setting up their own business or becoming self employed.

We can discuss the use of industry specific agencies, as well as the use of the internet and online applications.

Resource is not a recruitment agency, but we do regularly receive offers of work experience, internships and job opportunities. We advertise these vacancies for current clients who are job ready. These are available to view in the Client Area.

Many people find jobs through contacts they may have in the community, friends or family. Even if you cannot find a job this way, people within your network may be able to offer opportunities to shadow them or assist with advice about a certain industry. We have an active networking department that is constantly building up new links both within and beyond the community.

We are always looking to build up our network of prospective employers and will post vacancies that we feel may be of benefit to our clients. We also welcome offers of internships and work experience.

Please contact our Networking Manager for more information.

Resource is a registered charity (No 1106331) and relies on voluntary contributions to continue our work. We take pride that our services are free at the point of delivery when clients most need our help. Please visit our donation page with full details of how to make a donation that will help us continue to support members of our community who need our help.

We are also delighted to hear from people who wish to volunteer time and have skills and expertise that would be beneficial to our clients at Resource. To find out more, visit our How to Help page.