Fired up: Robert James is trained and ready.
ROBERT James has been looking for a full time job ever since he finished university three months ago.
But the 22-year-old feels he may be closer to nabbing that elusive job after a four-week course as part of the Young Adult Empowerment (YAE) program.
“It is hard for young people to find a job in Ballarat,” Mr Roberts said.
“This program has given me an extra edge to nab that elusive job.
“I (now) know how to handle interviews, what to wear and how to present myself.”
Mr Roberts said he was feeling more confident about his chances after finishing the course.
“I would recommend it to others,” he said. “It is a fantastic program and opportunity.”
Run by the Committee for Ballarat, the YAE supports disadvantaged, disengaged and unemployed young adults with practical opportunities.
The program was started to help reduce the long-term youth-unemployment rates. It has two parts – empowerment and employment – designed to complement each other.
Mr James said the empowerment program taught him a lot of skills regarding job searching.
“We did fitness, team building skills, personal growth, goals and values,” he said. “It is one of the best experiences I have had.”