Qaizaar recently qualified as a Generalist Adviser after quickly getting started with volunteering. He’s planning to use the experience he’s gained here to help him in his future law career. As a result of his fast progress, he now works as a Helpline Assessor part time.
When did you start?
So I started in June [2024] and initially it was two days per week, but then I decided to do the full week, and I was here every day from July. I qualified as a generalist adviser quite quickly, in about six months, which is quite unusual. I found that it’s been rewarding.
Tell us a bit about what you were doing before you joined us
I joined Citizens Advice Barnet right after I graduated. I did law, and that was a four-year course. So this is my first step into the working world. I thought it would be a good experience for being in an office environment as well as developing some important skills for a career as a solicitor, which is my overall goal.
What skills have you learned here that are going to be useful for becoming a solicitor?
I think one of the most important ones is time management. It’s important to balance different elements of a role and be able to do all of them in good time. But the most valuable skill I’ve learned here is interpersonal – communicating with clients and being able to get information very quickly, process it, and then give complex advice in a way that’s easy to understand.
What’s the most challenging part of volunteering?
I think the hardest part has just been doing things I’m not familiar with. So being on the phone is something that I haven’t really done that much. I mean, maybe it’s just part of my generation – I don’t know! Whenever you’re on the advice line, you have to accept calls. At first, I found that jarring, like psyching myself up as if I’m about to hit the ‘available button’, and then the phone ringing immediately and someone’s like: “Help me with my problem,” and I’m like: “Okay!”.
I’ve found that I’ve gotten over that fear, which is really good. I think it just comes with experience, and being here has helped massively.
What’s the best part?
I feel like the most valuable thing I’ve gotten from this experience is probably just working with peers – being able to connect with people that I’m working with, and then being able to approach them for help. It might not even be the people that I’m supposed to approach for help that end up helping me the most. So, specialist advisers have been so helpful in giving me information, which is not necessarily part of their remit, but it’s something I use to develop my own understanding.
Any moments you’ve been particularly proud of?
This lady came in with a benefits check appointment. I think those are the most rewarding because you get to help them there and then. I was able to find three or four different benefits she was eligible for, and I guaranteed that she was eligible by going through the check with her. She was very happy by the end of the appointment, and that was quite gratifying to see the amount of money that she’s going to get every month – she was obviously happy with that too.
What’s surprised you the most about volunteering here?
The biggest surprise has probably been finding employment. I thought it would be a voluntary role, and then I just developed my own skills. Getting a job out of it at the end was the biggest surprise!
What would you say to anyone who was thinking about volunteering with us?
Go for it! Even if you just do the two days a week, it’s not that much of an obligation, especially if you’re finding work because you’ve still got time to do your applications, so it’s worth it.
If you’re interested learning more about volunteering with Citizens Advice Barnet you can find out more here.