Mona bags dream job through apprenticeship programme

Our customer service apprenticeship with Karbon Homes has given mum Mona Jammeh the opportunity to change career and spend more time with her young family.

Mona, 29, has spent the last seven years working for the NHS as a semi staff nurse in Middlesbrough. Her shifts were long and tiring which meant she didn’t get home until late at night and would miss spending valuable time with her two young children.

She needed a lifestyle change and wanted to find a career that would give her a better work-life balance. Last year, she moved into a Karbon home in Newcastle upon Tyne and knew she needed to find something closer to home as she couldn’t continue with the long journey south to Middlesbrough every day.

She saw an advert on Karbon’s social media, advertising six new apprenticeship positions. One of the positions was an 18-month apprenticeship working within the Support Services team while studying for a Level 2 in Customer Services at Gateshead College.

“I saw the advert and thought this was too good to be true. The roles were advertised solely for Karbon’s customers, so I enquired for more information. I didn’t think I had a chance because my background and work experience is in healthcare and this was a completely different role.” said Mona.

Mona was referred to Karbon’s Foundations for Life team, which is a free service of specialist advisors who support Karbon customers to develop their employability and digital skills to help them get into work, progress their careers or simply develop new skills.

Here, she worked with employment advisor, Brendan McCreesh who supported her with her application, developed her CV and prepared her for her interview.

Mona said: “I was over the moon when I found out that I was successful. I’ve only been working in the role for a few weeks, but I can feel my confidence has lifted and I am really happy. It means so much to me to be able to finish work at a reasonable time and spend time with my family on an evening.”

Mona started her new role in January and is working full time Monday to Friday and studying one day a week. Her role involves dealing with customers for booking in and following up repairs appointments and supporting the team with administrative duties. “This is my dream job. I am really enjoying it and my colleagues have been great. Not having to wear PPE all day and to get home in time to see my family means the world to me.

“There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that I wasn’t aware of as a customer and it has allowed me to see first-hand the challenges that colleagues face and how much Karbon really cares and puts its customers first.

Brendan said: “I was delighted for Mona when she was offered the position. She put a lot of work into her application and was really enthusiastic and she will be a great addition to the team. Her background may not be directly linked, but she has shown initiative and determination to change career and to support her family.”

Mona hopes her apprenticeship will lead to a permanent role and one day, she aspires to become a manager. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes, braiding hair, socialising with friends and keeping fit.