Genette's AGM Speech 2010

I have been asked to speak to you today about my experience of the Women and Work Organisation.

I have recently got a rare and much sort after thing.....a job.....yaay for me. I have now stopped doing a little jig when I tell people I have a job, but I have yet to conquer the Cheshire cat grin I get. What's important is I couldn't have done it without the support of the fantastic Women and Work organisation - and that's why I am here today.

I was applying for jobs occasionally, struggling with what skills I had and what I could offer people. I even sent off one application full of what I couldn't do instead of telling them what I could do. I did manage to get an interview, more by luck than judgement, and I did two things right that day. I was early, two and half hours early, and I managed not to throw up on the interviewers shoes. I couldn't tell you what he asked me or what I said in response. Unsurprisingly I wasn't successful. However what it did make me realise was I needed help. During the post interview period when I was still beating myself up over my bad performance a letter arrived offering me a place on a Women and Work Fresh Start course - I took it. I learned so much, I was doing just about everything wrong, even down to envelope size and the paper I was using. I left the course so much better qualified to do the process of applying for jobs but something still wasn't quite right. Before I finished I was talked into retuning in the January to do an Interpersonal Skills course and that was when I turned my corner on to a great new path....that's the bit that for me made all the difference and also makes me believe Women and Work are a truly great organisation. Yes they are really good at the technical process of getting people into work, CV's, letters, application forms, even what to wear and say at interview, but more importantly for me they believed in me even when I didn't believe I could do it. I had so much help and support that I started to believe - I realised I had choices, I stopped listening to my negative self talk and started to really listen to what people were saying to me. I learned to choose which emotions to respond to, I used more positive vocabulary and I started to feel so much better about myself and going back to work. I am still learning and still developing but it's fabulous. So to finish I thank you for all the help and support I have received from your organisation. I would also like to extend my husband's thanks too, as he is much happier now I am much happier and easier to live with. Thank you for listening.