Archie Cannon, Young People Are Great campaign

In the second of today’s case studies for the Young People Are Great campaign, we hear from Archie Cannon, who is a Retail Assistant at Employability Orkney.  Before working at Employability Orkney, Archie completed a college course but was unsure what to do next.  He decided to apply for a job at Restart and has gained valuable skills in his time there.

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Tell us about your current job role or qualification.
I feel that I communicate well in the workplace and that I have developed my phone skills as well as face-to-face interaction with the public.  I also like working with other people as part of a busy team.  I have learnt retail skills such as pricing, cash and card transactions along with manual handling, being aware of customer safety and keeping the workplace clean and tidy.  I have gained a qualification in Manual Handling.
 
What were you doing before you undertook your current job or qualification, and why did you decide to move on to what you are currently doing?
Before this job, I was doing nothing.  I had finished a college course but wasn’t really sure what to do next.  My adviser from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) encouraged me to apply for this job when it became available, and I thought I would give it a try to help me gain some experience.
 
Have you faced any challenges in your current role, if so what were they and how did you overcome them?
Unfriendly customers can be a challenge, but I am always nice to them and understand they may just be having a bad day.  I learned to remain calm and be nice to everyone.
 
The heavy lifting of furniture in the shop was a challenge but I learned from doing a Manual Handling course how to lift correctly, as well as on-the-job training.
 
What skills have you learnt whilst achieving your qualification or working in your job?
 

• Communication
• Confidence
• Scheduling collections and deliveries
• Organisational skills (at work but also at home)
• Teamwork
• Specific retail skills
• Memory and retention of information.

 
Would you recommend this course or job role to another young person and if so why?
Yes, I would, I think if someone needs a good workplace to get experience and get a feeling and taste for work, I think Restart is a really good place. I think it is perfect for young people starting out.