Gowthami, Get Into

Previously shy and quiet, Gowthami built up her skills and confidence to land a role which involves speaking to strangers every day, trebling her family’s income.

Gowthami (20) used to avoid speaking in group settings and struggled to impress in job interviews. But after building her communication skills and confidence on the Get Into programme, Gowthami landed a role which involves speaking to strangers every day.

Gowthami’s family moved from their home village to the city of Hyderabad so that her father could find work. The family of eight relied on his salary alone, and the pandemic lockdowns plunged them into poverty. Despite the financial hardship, Gowthami was determined to complete her education so that she could earn a decent income and help support her parents and siblings.

After graduating from university with a degree in commerce, Gowthami set about looking for work. She applied for post after post but, although often asked to interview, she was repeatedly unsuccessful. Disheartened and unsure where she was going wrong, Gowthami signed up to the Get Into programme to build her skills and improve her chances.

Overcoming shyness

Get Into is an eight-week employer-led training programme designed by King’s Trust International and delivered in India by Magic Bus India Foundation. Aimed at young people from low-income backgrounds, it covers general employability skills, job-hunting tips and technical, sector-specific knowhow, creating pathways for young people to move into entry-level jobs.

Although she was hard-working and committed to learning, Gowthami found it hard, at first, to join in with group discussions and activities. ‘I was very shy initially and would not speak to anyone,’ she recalls.

But after some one-to-one time with the Magic Bus trainer, Gowthami started to come out of her shell, realising that her reservations about joining in were holding her back. ‘I learnt that if I don’t participate or respond then it will hamper my learning,’ she explains, ‘I slowly gathered confidence and started participating in sessions.’

Honing interview skills

Alongside building her confidence around speaking and working with others, the programme also enabled Gowthami to develop her problem solving and time management skills. And, crucially, it gave her the chance to practise mock interviews with supportive trainers who could provide constructive feedback.

Within weeks of completing the programme, Gowthami had secured a job as a telecaller in a customer support team. She uses many of the skills she honed on the programme in her job, handling dozens of customer calls every day. And, after years of financial hardship, Gowthami’s salary has trebled her family’s income.

‘My family’s condition during Covid-19 was vey bad,’ she recalls. ‘All I knew was I wanted to help them in any way possible, and this job is now giving me this opportunity.’ 

 

In future, Gowthami wants to pursue a Masters degree in Business Administration. Eventually, she hopes to set up her own business and employ other young women like herself.