The Job Skills group from the Impulsores project is heading into the final week of the course with high motivation and a strong sense of job readiness.

Every Wednesday and Thursday brings a new activity. Today, we’re practicing job interviews; tomorrow, we’ll uncover how to identify a company’s internal culture. Next week, we’ll focus on strategies for analyzing information, and the following one, we’ll dive into effective teamwork techniques.

In the job skills course offered by the Confluye Association, participants have worked on technical competencies related to oral and written communication, as well as proficiency in digital tools. In a professional landscape increasingly shaped by remote work and digital environments, we have prioritized mastering Google Drive, design applications like the popular Canva, and various databases applicable to creating budgets, delivery notes, inventories, and invoices.

The first edition of the course began intensively in July 2024, with morning sessions. These initial modules included company visits across different sectors, active online job search workshops, a CV-building module, and classes on transversal competencies such as self-esteem, interpersonal communication, personal responsibility, and time management. Among the most memorable experiences for those involved was spending time with elderly individuals during their daily entertainment and cognitive stimulation activities.

After the summer, the course resumed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays focused on job-specific technical skills relevant to roles such as building attendants, concierges, access control staff, and couriers. One participant secured a job in access control, and three sat the national civil service exams for building attendants, aiming for long-term public sector employment. Thursday sessions continued to build soft skills — essential across any role — covering topics such as labor rights, stress management, emotional intelligence, and internal and external responsibility.

One participant, Pablo M., successfully completed a course on warehouse and logistics support operations, including a practicum at a TV and theatre props company based in Arganda. “I had previously tried to earn certifications in cooking and gardening, but those weren’t a fit for me. The warehouse course is the first professional qualification I’ve earned. I really enjoyed it and felt very comfortable working in a warehouse,” he shared.

A total of 10 students took part in the initial 45-hour course. All were added to Confluye’s employment pool and continue to receive individual career counseling at the association’s headquarters.

January 2025 saw the launch of the second edition of the course, now running Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Sixteen participants earned their certification through this training, which aims to boost employment motivation and open doors for people with functional diversity to integrate into the mainstream workforce.

Rodrigo González, a student in this latest edition, praised the learning process: “This experience has been very positive for me because I’ve been discovering lots of digital tools, especially websites for job hunting.” He added, “The course is helping me shape the professional profile I want to pursue.”

The training follows a dual path: participants receive instruction while also supporting others in job searching by creating short educational videos. Some shared through Confluye’s social media channels include: “How to Create a CV” and “Top Job Search Websites.”

One major innovation in this second edition was the inclusion of coaching — a transversal methodology of Confluye. Applied to employment, its essence is captured by one of the trainers: “Uncover your inner potential and learn to set career goals you can achieve independently. Be your own job coach. Strategically plan your steps to reach the job you want.”

Participants undergoing coaching while taking the course become motivation agents and performance boosters in any workplace.

Another highlight was the opportunity for work placements. One participant worked for two weeks in a sportswear store. She shared that it was a rewarding experience, where she felt genuinely helpful to her colleagues: “I’ve realized I’m fast and efficient, I’m not afraid to deal with customers, and I’ve been able to apply accredited skills I could use in another retail role.”

Meanwhile, another student is preparing for her placement at the municipal archives in Rivas, and Rodrigo — the student quoted earlier — is about to begin administrative tasks at the local Associations House.

As one instructor put it, the course has significantly increased employment motivation among individuals who initially weren’t committed to job-seeking. Now, all continue receiving career guidance. Three have already found employment thanks to Confluye’s supported job groups, and ten began a new professional certification in May. One of them is further enhancing his employability through private English lessons provided by one of our job coaches: “I’m learning English not only to improve my career prospects, but also to enhance my social life and communication skills. It’s a new personal challenge for me.”

With this preparation in hand, and to reinforce their self-esteem, one of the instructors offers two phrases straight from a coaching playbook: “Every ‘no’ brings you one step closer to a ‘yes’. And if the ‘no’ comes after an interview, have you ever considered the interviewer might have been the one who got it wrong?”

The job skills course proves to be a highly recommended way to begin a supported employment journey — and to sustain meaningful work — in a constructive environment tailored for professionals with any form of disability. Those who embarked on this path are now progressing in their careers with growing motivation.