Employment Grilling - Jade Hearsum

Jade Hearsum who has been working for the Cathedral Archer Project for the last 15 months, gave us her views on being an employee.  The Cathedral Archer Project is a homeless day centre based at Sheffield Cathedral.

Perfect working day: Doing lots of different things – giving tours of the Project, organising events, spending time in the actual Project to remind me why I'm doing what I'm doing.

What makes a good employee? Someone who can hit the ground running. I obtained the job through Rise, an organisation that works with charities and businesses. I needed to have had experience for my job as charities often don't have the time or funds to train you.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self? Get as much work experience as you can, as young as you can. Don't have a set plan of what you want to do, but have an idea so that when you're ready to find work, you are exactly what they want.

First job: Working in a café as a pot washer and collecting trays.

Best job: My current job as it's the most meaningful.

Worst job: Waitressing. It's a tough job and I have a lot of respect and time for those doing the job. Many people think waiting staff don't have aspirations and don't have respect for them but they do.

Best thing about the organisation: I work with really nice people who aren't driven by money but by helping people. Everyone working there wants to better people's lives and this really shines through.

How do you think your colleagues would describe you in three words? Outgoing, noisy and funny (I think I give them a laugh in the office but they may say otherwise!).

Tip for people applying for a job: Be yourself, don't turn up and be wooden, look the part. I've been told employers make up their mind about an applicant within seconds.

Tip for bosses: Don't micromanage everything, give people responsibilities, accept where their attributes lie and let others take over.

Batman or Robin? Robin – the underdog.

Thanks Jade.