Restart Scheme
Joining the Restart Scheme in August 2023, Jake was assigned Bicky Vassan from Steps to Work as his Job Coach. Jake has underlying medical conditions and Aspergers, both of which have impacted his confidence when considering and looking for employment.
Meeting regularly with Bicky, Jake developed a trusting and reassuring relationship with his Job Coach, initially due to Jake’s passion for cars and buses and Bicky’s experience of the high-end cars market. This mutual passion for cars allowed for friendly and rewarding conversations, allowing Jake to open up more about himself. He shared that he has been a volunteer for Heritage Buses for over 5 years and enjoys working on vintage buses. Jake also explained to Bicky that his ideal job would be to become a Bus Driver. In pursuit of his dream, Jake had already attended college to gain a qualification in Vehicle Light Maintenance.
With support from Bicky and the Restart Scheme, Jake managed to secure an interview with National Express West Midlands, where he was invited to an online interview. Jake was nervous about this as he had never undertaken an online interview before. To combat this, Bicky arranged for Jake to attend a bespoke interview techniques preparation workshop session with Skills Trainer Aram Dhaliwal, to help prepare and hone his skills.
During this workshop, Bicky learnt that Jake was planning to undertake the online interview on his mobile phone at home. To allow for a more focused interview without the distractions that can happen in a home environment, the Restart Scheme recommended he make use of a meeting room and provided him a laptop to use so that Jake could complete the interview in a professional setting supported by his Job Coach.
Jake’s passion for everything cars and buses shone through, and by applying the tips and techniques he remembered from the workshop training, he performed strongly in the interview. Jake was grateful for the confidence he had gained from attending the workshop.
