A UKRAINIAN refugee who settled in South Ayrshire hopes to “inspire” other refugees to find work through her new job in Ayr.
Arriving in Scotland in April 2022 and now living in Troon, Anna Kyryzliieva struggled to find work until she received help from non-profit employment resource Fedcap Scotland who gave her resources such as interview tips and CV advice.
Now, Anna has moved up the employment ladder and bagged the role of employment advisor as part of the company’s new digital campaign to help Ukrainians find employment.
Anna said: “I have tools and capabilities that I can use to help Ukrainian people. I’ve experienced what they’re going through so I can give them advice.
“In Ukraine, job interviews are very different than in Scotland. They are very formal and official whereas in Scotland you’re free to talk more casually.
“Also, it’s not easy to get a job as Ukrainian education and qualifications are not suitable for employers over here.
“When I was first applying for jobs in Scotland, I was sending away hundreds of applications but never hearing anything back.
“However, when I went through Fedcap I was given a great advisor called Jenna who helped me brush up my CV and gave me interview tips.
“Being an advisor, you should inspire and give people confidence to find work and that’s what I want to do.”
Helping others is of great importance to Anna.
Once she had arrived in Scotland, she successfully and selflessly managed to arrange for one of her friends to escape Mariupol, via Poland.
Fedcap’s campaign comes as part of Fair Start Scotland, the Scottish Government’s employment support service, and has resources available in Ukrainian, Russian, and English.
The initiative has been praised by Scotland’s Minister for Employment and Fair Work, Richard Lochhead, who met Anna in the company’s Ayr base.
He said: “I’m delighted to visit Fedcap Scotland’s Ayr office to see first-hand how this not-for-profit organisation is successfully delivering the Scottish Government’s employment support service.
“Fair Start Scotland has been assisting people who face significant challenges accessing the labour market – who now include those fleeing the war in Ukraine - since April 2018.
“In that time there have been more than 17,500 job starts from those supported, helping to tackle inequalities and grow Scotland’s economy.”
Fedcap are currently helping almost 200 Ukrainian refugees find work and nearly half have managed to secure employment.
CEO of Fedcap Scotland, Brian Bell, said: “[Ukrainians] have found a safe and welcoming home in Scotland, and we’re working hard with employers and other partners to find meaningful employment for them that will help them to settle more quickly life here.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here