Sumayya’s Story
Sumayya joined the GoodWork Core Programme in 2024 and landed a role with one of our partner organisations. Almost two years later, we caught up to hear how it's going.
What career challenges were you facing before joining the GoodWork programme?
I was studying law at university but realised it wasn’t the right path for me, so I decided to leave the course. After that, I found it challenging to secure a role despite having developed a range of skills and certifications. I struggled to translate those experiences into a strong CV and found interviews particularly difficult. Understanding how to present myself effectively, research companies, and navigate interview processes were key areas I needed to improve.
Why did you apply for GoodWork?
I discovered GoodWork on LinkedIn, and what stood out to me was its focus on supporting young people in building their careers and developing practical skills for the corporate environment. The fact that it was a structured, longer-term programme rather than a one-off workshop really appealed to me. I valued the opportunity to receive consistent support and to have access to a network of people I could learn from and ask questions, which isn’t always easy at that stage of your career.
How did the programme help you address these challenges? Were there any particular highlights?
One of my biggest challenges at the start was interview confidence. Through regular practice sessions, including short mock interviews with different volunteers, I was able to build both confidence and consistency. Now in my new role it is seen as one of my strongest skills and I’ve landed contract positions with clients.
The programme also covered a wide range of practical topics, including financial literacy, workplace rights, communication in professional settings, and CV development. These sessions helped me better understand how to navigate the workplace and prepared me for the transition into a corporate role.
What did you expect from the programme? Were your expectations met?
I saw the programme as an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and explore whether it was the right fit for me. I went in with an open mindset and a willingness to learn. The experience exceeded my expectations. Being part of a diverse cohort and learning from both peers and professionals made it incredibly valuable, and I gained a lot of confidence and clarity about my next steps.
What’s your current role, and how did GoodWork support you in securing it?
I currently work in a technical role, which came through from GoodWork and I wasn’t sure on what a technical enabler even was - what would I be doing? I spoke to one of the programmes team, who encouraged me to apply. Then there was planning for my interview; I did a mock interview and sent my CV across a few times for feedback. GoodWork supported me throughout the process by providing CV feedback and mock interview practice, which helped me approach the application with much more confidence and preparation.
What are your career aspirations now, and how have they evolved?
I’m working towards a promotion this year, and I think I'm in a really good position now that I'm on contract with a client to showcase the skills that I have. A lot of the skills that were previously quite theoretical, I’m now using in a practical sense. This is what I've been working towards and I'm really happy with where I'm at.