Published: Tuesday, 27th July, 2010 3:46pm

To boldly go for a new challenge

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Starting a new job, whatever it is and at whatever stage in life, opens doors.

Last year Jayne Parsons, from Reading, was made redundant in her role as a global communications manager and today she holds a pivotal role in the fast-expanding financial organisation, the Reading Credit Union.

Attending last year's Reading Job & Learning Fair started a chain of events that she could not have anticipated.

At the Job & Learning Fair, she met an employment adviser from New Directions, Reading Borough Council's learning and employment service.

Redundancy in 2009 came as a blow to Jayne as she had only worked for one company, BT. Never having had to complete a job application form or produce a covering letter, Jayne had previously only had a CV for internal job moves. She said: "The external jobs market was new to me - I needed as much help as was on offer."

Now, having set off in a completely new direction as a customer service manager with Reading Credit Union, Jayne is overseeing some aspects of the organisation's expansion and development, including an input and involvement in the new computer system and website.

Reading Credit Union is a financial co-operative owned and run by its members in accordance with strict laws and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Recently the FSA has approved an increase in the number of offices the Reading Credit Union has across Berkshire.

After attending the Reading Job & Learning Fair, Jayne became a member of the New Directions Job Club that meets at the North Reading Centre in Caversham each week.

Her aim was to meet like-minded people who were going through the same experiences. She said: "I got the opportunity to network and to share the highs and lows with other people going through the same process. It stops you from feeling alone and isolated."

Of her current role she said: "I really love my job, it is very diverse and provides me with a range of challenges."

Jayne added: "Doors have opened and I have had new opportunities and challenges. I am now working in a completely different field to my previous role.

"My advice is to not be fearful of the unknown. If you don't try it you will never know. If it isn't an area of work you are familiar with, for example transferring from retail to the financial sector, just give it a go. The skills you have may be just what is needed in another sector." Reading Job & Learning Fair is sponsored by The Reading Chronicle and is on Monday from 10.30am-6pm at the Novotel in Friar Street. Entry is free.

www.newdirectionsreading.co.uk