How did you first hear about jobs in housing?

I have family who work in the Housing Executive so I was always aware that they existed. At the time I didn't fully appreciate all the things they did - I always thought it was just about bricks and mortar.

During my under graduate, while I was doing my dissertation on Reconciliation, I interviewed one of the District Managers. He explained all the work the Housing Executive do with re-imaging and Community Development. It was only then that I realised the full extent of the work that they do and the opportunities there are within housing.

How did you find further information about a career in housing?

I found out further information by speaking to people who worked in housing and reading the local newspapers. I found information through the career website at the university.

I also started working in the Housing Executive as a temporary clerical officer before the Graduate Programme was advertised. This enabled me to speak to staff that worked across the organisation in different departments and gave me a greater understanding of the wide range of positions available.

What was it that appealed to you when you were thinking about a job in housing?

I was interested in working in Community Development and had already spent two summers volunteering in America as an Inner City Youth Worker. It was then that I realised that Voluntary and Statutory agencies need to work together for change to happen.

Also understanding the work that the Housing Executive do for reconciliation made me more curious about housing and where a career in housing could lead.

How did you get your first job in housing?

I was already working as a temporary clerical officer in Belfast Area office when I saw the graduate scheme advertised. By then realising the opportunities that exist in housing, I was keen to join a scheme that would enable me to develop further and gain a professional qualification.

The recruitment process consisted of an application form, aptitude tests, and an interview with three of the Housing Executive Directors. I then found out a month after the interview that I had a place on the Management Trainee scheme and was to work in the Housing & Regeneration division.

What personal skills and qualifications did you have that helped you secure your first job in housing?

I had my Under Graduate degree and experience in Community and Youth Work. I spent two summers volunteering in Camden, New Jersey in an area of urban deprivation outside Philadelphia. During this time I taught dance and drama, art, sports and basic household skills, such as cooking. I supported the local community in the work that they did with the young people. This gave me an understanding of poverty in a developed country, the importance of community involvement in rebuilding and redeveloping an area and how we should learn from the communities in which we work.

I had gained leadership skills at university by taking part in various committees and organisations. I was an Ambassador for the college showing prospective students and their families around the college and university and answering any queries they had. This also gave me experience of meeting people and being confident in representing an organisation.

What skills & training have you gained since you have had your job in housing?

The learning and development programme in place for management trainees has been very beneficial. I have attended training courses on housing and homelessness, anti social behaviour, community involvement, accounts, time and priority management and on the job training in various departments. In the past two years I have worked in over nine departments across the organisation.

I was also placed with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) for a month. This gave me an insight into housing from the perspective of the professional body in the UK. I was involved in writing a Financial Inclusion Action Plan with the CIH financial inclusion advisor in Scotland, helping me see the wider perspective of housing in the UK and the role of housing within financial inclusion.

I am studying for my Post Grad diploma in Housing and spend one day a week in Jordanstown. The fees are paid for this course by the Housing Executive which is a great support. They also provide study leave and subsidise the purchase of books.

Along with the other graduates I was part of an enterprise project raising money for the Prince's Trust. Through various activities and fund raisers we raised almost £18,000 in less than a year. This brought us together as a team and taught us valuable communication, team work and fundraising skills.

Describe a typical day?

There are no two days the same - especially working in a district office! A typical day, if there is one, involves visiting people in their homes to fill out a housing application, taking homeless presentations at the office, dealing with antisocial behaviour complaints and answering queries about housing and giving advice.

I also attend community group meetings and I have had the opportunity to attend meetings with the Housing Community Network. This group represents people in our estates. It is a great opportunity for the Housing Executive to get feedback from its customers and hear about the great work going on in our communities.

I also take part in management trainee projects such as the Customer Journey Mapping exercise. This involved visiting customers who had used a Housing Executive service to get their feedback on what they thought was good about our service, what could be improved and to listen to their suggestions about how we could make the service better. This information was presented as part of the Customer Service Excellence awards submission.

What would you tell people who are interested in a housing career?

Go for it! There is such a wide variety of jobs within housing and such a wide variety of experiences within the one job. You get the opportunity every day to be part of a bigger picture of developing communities and helping people on the way to building happier and healthier lives.