NewVIc announces partnership with Day of Wrk to inspire disadvantaged students into professional careers
Day of Wrk and Newham Sixth Form College have come together to help inspire and educate and improve access of disadvantaged students into professional careers.
Day of Wrk is an initiative: www.dayofwrk.com which seeks to bring clarity to job roles and industries and improve representation of ethnic minority people in professional ‘white-collar’ careers. The website, created by ex NewVIc student Zakir Hasan, features contributors from a variety of industries and diverse backgrounds who share their authentic day-in-the-life stories.
Not knowing the day-to-day of job roles can be a massive barrier to entry, especially for those from a disadvantaged background. Studies have shown that people are less likely to apply for jobs due to a lack of understanding of what the role entails, which is more likely to affect disadvantaged young people who lack network connections. This lack of awareness and representation can lead to a cycle of privilege thereby reducing the opportunities for these young people to break into industry and make a difference.
One contributor Emmanuel Awoyelu, a primary school teacher said “there weren’t many black teachers to look up to, so I decided that I needed to become what I didn’t have”. It’s stories like these which Day of Wrk hopes to use to inspire those who may have been apprehensive about whether they could perform a certain role, or even apply for it.
Zakir Hasan, founder of Day of Wrk said:
Day of Wrk was born out of my younger sister asking me what I actually do for my job – to her it was sitting at my laptop in my room for hours on end every day. It made me realise that despite there being hundreds of job roles, there’s a severe lack of understanding of the day-to-day, and this is a massive barrier to entry which impacts diversity and society as a whole. I would not be in the role that I am in if I did not speak to my friend about what life at an advertising agency was like, and I hope that Day of Wrk acts as this vital source of information for those that lack those connections. I am so proud that NewVIc are the first official partner of Day of Wrk, and hope that the work we do together helps impact many students’ lives.
Magdalena Johnson, Vice Principal Student Achievement and Progress at Newham Sixth Form College said:
We are delighted to partner with Day of Wrk and promote the valuable work Zakir is doing. This content will help to support the progression of students from disadvantaged and minority ethnic backgrounds into a diverse range of professional career pathways. Providing outstanding careers information and guidance is at the heart of what we do. We are very proud to support, inspire and provide opportunities for young people in Newham to achieve their dreams.
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About Day of Wrk:
Day of Wrk is an initiative set up in March 2021, aimed at helping disadvantaged young people understand the realities of job roles and what they really entail, by providing a series of authentic day-in-the-life stories. Contributors from a variety of industries and diverse backgrounds are featured on the site – with each contributor answering five questions around their job alongside providing their day-in-the-life. The initiative also serves as a platform to champion ethnic minorities, with all contributors on the website from ethnic minority backgrounds.