Blessing's story

Despite countless applications and interviews and a real desire to work, Blessing had never obtained paid employment in the UK.  She was frustrated with constant rejection and needed support and encouragement to keep up her job hunting efforts.

With Reed in Partnership's help, Blessing eventually secured a work trial that enabled her to demonstrate her talent with people. She is now enjoying the challenges of a permanent job in Glasgow - and is living proof that with the right support, success can be achieved.

A single mother, Blessing was fed up with living on benefits and was keen to move her life - and her young son's - forward.  As she explained to her Employment Adviser, she had made numerous job applications, undertaken training and attended countless interviews - but still had not managed to get a job.  Understandably she was becoming depressed and frustrated with the whole process.  Reed in Partnership provided the ongoing support, encouragement and practical back-up she needed to focus and continue her efforts - and to see them pay off.

That support took many forms: from cold calling potential employers on Blessing's behalf to interview preparation and practice. Additional training was also organised - gaining her Food Hygiene Certificate further enhanced Blessing's work prospects. Help with clothing and childcare arrangements was provided in order to ease the process for Blessing and keep her enthusiasm stoked up. Lots of moral support and encouragement was also thrown in over a period of several months.

Patience and sheer hard work proved the key in the end.  The Reed in Partnership team tried a different approach and arranged a work trial (without a pre-interview) for Blessing.  This removed the pressure of formal questioning, enabling her to demonstrate her practical skills on the job.  The strategy worked.

Blessing seems to have a natural talent for dealing with people and loves her job with Asda Eurest - a catering company.  She serves customers, prepares food and washes dishes - and with the support of Childcare@home, has been able to accommodate evening and weekend shifts as needed.  Since starting work in June 2009, Blessing has found the camaraderie amongst her colleagues an extra benefit of working life.

Blessing has been working at ASDA Café for just over a year now, and since the start, enjoys life more than ever and flourishes in being a till operator and serving customers.