Restart Scheme
Aneela joined the Restart Scheme in April 2024 with Steps 2 Work in Walsall. Aneela's background was primarily in the food industry, where she had worked as an area manager, senior baker, and recipe developer throughout the years. After her contract ended at her last job, she decided she wanted a change in direction, a move that was risky since she did not have experience in any other industry.
An essential part of Aneela's previous roles had been the administrative side, which she enjoyed. However, her early search for an admin/office job brought no results, leading her to enrol in an admin course to increase her chances of employment. Despite this, she continued to face rejections due to her lack of experience. After over a year of trying to secure a position, she had almost given up.
At this point, Aneela was referred to the Restart Scheme by her local Jobcentre Plus, where she was assigned Darren O’Hare as her Job Coach. During her initial meeting, she was invited by the office manager, Kate Dziuba, to apply for a job working for the Restart Scheme with Steps to Work. Despite her lack of experience, the team were willing to take a chance on her and help train her. Aneela agreed immediately and applied straight away.
After the interview, Aneela was successful and was hired to work as an onboarding coordinator. Although she had no knowledge of the recruitment world, she quickly found herself enjoying the feeling of matching the right people to the right jobs and helping them turn their lives around, much like hers had been.
Working on the Restart Scheme has opened Aneela up to new experiences, from which she has learnt a lot. Looking to the future, Aneela would like to continue to work in recruitment, continuing to assist people, especially since she was once in the same position as them. Well done Aneela!
