As a Jesuit Community College trainer, Tessa has had the privilege of seeing her former students find employment in many areas including nursing, teaching, administration and the arts. The employment course supports participants to build the practical skills, mindset and confidence needed to find meaningful work. Tessa’s approach combines her knowledge of neuroscience with her own experience of rebuilding her life after domestic violence.
“The participants I work with have all had their self-confidence knocked in some way – they might be older and experiencing long-term unemployment, or they might be a new migrant, or have domestic violence in their past, like me,” Tessa said.
“I always say that you can support people with all the skills around writing resumes and cover letters and using technology, but if they haven’t got the confidence, they aren’t going to get a job. For someone who might already be dealing with anxiety and depression, a job interview has the potential to be terrifying.” Tessa supports participants to develop the practical skills they need to get a job, and she draws on the latest in brain and mind science when she coaches her students. Frequent role-plays are a fixture of her course.
