Alba, 33 (Croydon)

Alba, 33, had applied for 200 jobs and spent hours every day at the library trying to get noticed in an increasingly automated job market. “I would go to the library from 10 till 6, Monday to Friday… it was like a full-time job just trying to find a job,” she recalls. “If you do not put the right words in the right place, you won’t even be given the chance, no matter what your skills are.” Originally from Spain and now living in Croydon, she was in cleaning roles while dreaming of an administrative career but the modern recruitment system felt impossible to navigate. Alba’s story shows the emotional, financial, and systemic barriers many women face, and how Smart Works gives them the tools, guidance, and confidence to break through.

Before finding Smart Works, Alba struggled to understand how modern recruitment worked. Skills alone were no longer enough; she needed to learn how to present herself digitally in a way algorithms could recognise.

From February to June, she spent full days at the library, applying for roughly 200 jobs. She had little knowledge of how to craft cover letters or tailor her CV for each role. The process left her exhausted, disheartened, and increasingly anxious about her future.

The pandemic added another layer of uncertainty. While cleaning roles remained available, administrative positions, her goal, were scarce. Alba describes the anxiety of wanting career growth but feeling trapped:

“It was very confusing because of my title, and because of COVID-19, I got very scared and didn’t want to leave my cleaning job. But I knew if I stayed, I would never have a career growth.”

Financial pressures compounded the stress. Universal Credit provided only basic housing support, forcing Alba to rely on savings to pay bills. Each week brought uncertainty: could she afford her rent, her utilities, even food? The job market was no longer just competitive, it felt unforgiving and impersonal.

Alba first heard about Smart Works through a referral from Universal Credit. On arrival, she didn’t know what to expect but the team immediately created a space where she could rebuild confidence and skills.

“Smart Works made me feel really welcome. They taught me how to tailor my CV, write proper cover letters, and gave me tips for personal statements. They made me feel capable again.”

Smart Works also provided interview clothing, a seemingly small gesture with a profound impact. Alba recalls stepping out of her comfort zone and into outfits that made her feel confident and empowered:

“They gave me clothes that made me feel confident and go on myself. They really helped me get that little bit out of my outer shell.”

This combination of practical guidance and emotional support transformed her job search. Alba went from sending applications blindly to attending targeted interviews, ultimately securing a role in the charity sector she had always admired.

Smart Works’ support goes beyond the individual. By equipping women to navigate impersonal recruitment systems, the charity helps challenge the barriers that keep capable candidates from being seen and heard.

Alba’s new role in charity administration aligns with her previous volunteer work and her personal values. She describes the environment as welcoming, her colleagues supportive, and the work meaningful. For her, employment now represents more than income:

“To have a job means having independence, the ability to pay your bills, and sometimes even treat yourself. It gives peace of mind.”

Her experience highlights wider systemic issues in today’s job market: the increasing automation of recruitment, the gendered allocation of tasks, and the widening gap between minimum wages and living costs. Alba notes that women are often expected to take on support tasks while men get the opportunities that lead to advancement:

“If something needs to be done, women are often expected to take it on, while men get the opportunities that lead to growth.”

Smart Works’ role is to help women navigate these inequities. By building confidence, providing practical skills, and offering guidance on career strategy, the charity ensures women like Alba are not sidelined by a system that often undervalues them.

Alba’s regained confidence is not just personal, it’s a tool for navigating structural barriers. The months spent searching for work without support had eroded her self-belief. Smart Works helped her reclaim it, showing her that her skills and potential were real and valuable:

“The team really assured me that it’s normal to feel confused and uncertain. There’s nothing wrong with me, I just needed to find the right place.”

This confidence extends beyond the job search. Alba now approaches work and opportunities with a sense of agency and self-assuredness, which is crucial in a market that often overlooks women. Smart Works demonstrates that supporting women’s confidence is not a soft intervention, it’s a strategic way to tackle inequality in employment.

Alba’s journey from uncertain, overworked, and under-supported job seeker to confident, employed professional is a testament to perseverance and the transformative impact of Smart Works. Her story reminds us that employment is about more than a paycheck, it’s about independence, dignity, and the power to plan for the future.

Smart Works doesn’t just help women get jobs, it equips them to challenge a system that often undervalues them, providing the guidance, confidence, and skills needed to break through barriers. For Alba, this has meant not just securing a role she loves but gaining the independence, security, and self-belief to thrive.