George’s Journey - from his coach Neil
I joined the Jobs+ Project at the end of June, with the first event we attended being the 50+ Jobs Fair on Duke Street on July 12th.
It was at this event that I met George, a 60-year-old local resident of Toxteth, who happened to live within our catchment area. We had a long conversation and connected well. George had recently finished his job as a postman, a position he held for over 20 years.
During our chat, George expressed that he felt conflicted. On one hand, he was eager to return to work, but on the other, he worried that at 60, employers wouldn’t be interested in hiring him—a sentiment many people I spoke to that day shared. However, I was confident that wasn’t the case, especially for someone as employable as George.
I suggested that once the Hub was fully operational, we could do some one-on-one sessions to build his confidence, improve his digital skills, and help him search and apply for jobs. George agreed and mentioned that in the meantime, he would join a 'Digital Inclusion' course while waiting for Kelvin Grove to open its doors.
George attended the Jobs Plus Open Day, and from that point on, we met on a weekly basis. During our first session, we conducted a diagnostic to figure out exactly what he wanted to do and the steps needed to get there. I was impressed by how much he had progressed with his digital skills. Despite feeling a bit discouraged about applying for jobs online, George was confident that he would do well if he secured an interview (and he didn’t disappoint!).
Together, we worked on developing a list of non-negotiables: a maximum 30-minute commute, a full-time position in retail, and a job that allowed him to stay active. We created a "dream job" scenario and started working towards finding it. Each week, I found five job listings, and depending on his interest, we would apply for them.
After a few rejections, we made some adjustments to George’s CV and conducted a cover letter session before returning to the application process. Within four weeks of starting our work together, George landed his first interview in 23 years!
Our final session took place the day before his interview. We went over bus routes, discussed what to wear, and focused on making a strong first impression. We also did a quick session on interview techniques. George left the Hub feeling confident.
Two days later, George got the job! Below is a photo of George coming to tell me the good news. He brought in a box of celebrations because in his words; ‘This is a Celebration!’…Go George!