Juggling a full time job, homeschooling a lively six-year-old and launching a new business has kept one Great Sankey mum busy over the last 12 months.
But Laura Constantinou is reaching out to help people searching for work or returning to work after being furloughed during the pandemic.
The 31-year-old’s lockdown start up offers a creative and modern approach to CV writing, ensuring prospective job applicants have a bespoke resume that’s tailor-made to each individual.
Laura works as a retail manager in Warrington and has been furloughed during each of the national lockdowns.
She decided to launch Good Copy UK last year when she saw the high level of redundancies that were occurring as a result of the pandemic.
Laura, who has also worked as a freelance branded copy and CV writer, said: “As a retail manager myself, I felt such heartache seeing multiple high street staples collapsing.
“I worked closely with several ex employees of Arcadia and Debenhams to try and rebuild their confidence and help them back to work.”
She added: “Good Copy UK is a creative and modern approach to CV writing.
“Gone are the tired clichés and corporate templates and in their place is a bespoke approach to selling yourself and your skills to an employer.
“Simply put, I like to say that it’s you on paper.”
The former Penketh High School student promises to research prospective employees’ experience and career aspirations and write a CV that beats the ATS – applicant tracking system in an online advert – putting CVs to the top of the virtual pile while adding her own signature flair.
Laura’s time during the pandemic was spent homeschooling her daughter Penny while she was in reception and year one, supporting her husband, who is a key worker, and trying to launch her business but she believes the services she is providing are needed now more than ever.
Laura said: “Not only is the job market tougher than ever before but the confidence of the people applying is at an all-time low.
“From speaking to my clients, it is clear that job seekers fall into one of two categories – either the pandemic has taken away their job or their joy has been lost.”
She added: “I don’t just help people who are trying to re-enter the working world but also those who have re-evaluated their career goals as a result of spending most of the last 12 months in lockdown.”
Laura sees herself as a “one woman band” who understands the highs and lows of what it means to be a modern working parent.
Having been refused a flexible working pattern when her daughter was five months old, she has made it her mission to forge her own career path and help others do the same.
Laura said: “I think the view of what a traditional 9-5 job looks like needs to change.
“Flexibility in the workplace doesn’t mean a busy working mum slinking off early to grab a coffee before doing the school run.
“It could be that parents and carers need help to make things work around their already busy lives.
“In the right hands, flexible working can be the most powerful tool an employer holds to increase productivity and I am hoping that my CVs, confidence coaching and advice empower people to approach new roles armed with this knowledge.”
Laura has some top tips for anyone looking for work after being furloughed or made redundant during the pandemic and she feels the “keep going, stick with it” attitude is more than a little tired.
She said: “My advice would be to take a real unbiased look at your skill set and think about where else you can place this experience that you might not have considered before.
“Many people forget that joining a company doesn’t mean you have to stay in that role forever.
“There are opportunities all the time in management and HR and there are always ways you can use your skills while you build back up financially and boost your confidence.
“You never know where an open door can lead.”
Laura added: “Never sell yourself short.
“Talking about your skills and your achievements is never a bad thing and I think, as Brits, we often shy away from talking ourselves up.
“Feeling confident and proud should be normal because it can change your whole approach to finding a new job.
“At Good Copy, I pride myself in getting to know my clients, even down to their hobbies, because you’d be amazed what trophies you find when you remember to dust off the cabinet.”
For more information visit Laura’s business page on Facebook @deargoodcopy and Instagram @goodcopyuk or email deargoodcopy@gmail.com
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