|
Darren was recently helped into employment by the Kennedy Scott Community Jobsource team at Banbury. As an asthma sufferer, Darren had been assigned to the caseload of a Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Adviser, who identified the Community Jobsource programme as an appropriate source of support for Darren.
Darren had been out of work for three and a half years due to health difficulties. He felt that his main barriers to securing a job were his lack of a clear job goal, his limited recent experience and his low confidence levels. During the thirteen weeks Darren spent with Kennedy Scott, our coaches Cathy and Nicola guided him through the process of dealing with all of these barriers.
A diagnostic interview revealed that he enjoyed working with computers and numbers and identified what work was suitable for his health condition. This greatly helped to focus his search for jobs. With expert advice from Cathy, Darren created a CV and a cover letter that expressed his suitability for admin roles by describing his numeracy and IT skills. Cathy also coached Darren on strategies for marketing his non-work related experience. Darren was concerned that an extensive period of travel would disadvantage his CV but, with helpful prompting on the most effective wording, he was able to promote his experiences as valuable personal development opportunities.
Darren found the informal and supportive environment created by the Banbury team, and being with others in a similar position to himself, helped him to grow more confident. When a vacancy as Accounts Assistant for Remploy, a charity that helps people with disabilities into employment, caught his attention Cathy encouraged Darren to apply for the role and showed him how his skills and experience fitted the employer’s requirements. Darren’s enhanced CV and tailored cover letter secured him an interview for the role and his new-found self-esteem enabled him to impress at interview and gain the job.
Darren quickly settled into his new role and has already gained the additional responsibility of training staff. As an employer, Remploy is particularly suitable for his needs as it provides ongoing support in managing his health condition within the workplace.
|
|
|