Case study: Ronnie

Kersal: kitchen assistant and student chef

The idea of finding a job used to be really difficult for me. I got into a bit of trouble when I was younger, which I thought would stop employers from giving me a chance; plus I found job adverts and application forms really confusing.

Skills and Work has provided me with a lot of help, from helping filling application forms, to preparing my CV. My advisor, Janet, was fantastic in providing me with the one-to-one support I needed to help me find my strengths. She really got to know me and what I wanted, and she found me opportunities that she knew I would be interested in. Janet was friendly and helpful, really made me feel that I mattered. She found me the job I am doing now. I work as a kitchen assistant, which is giving me many skills, but I also do on-the–job training to become a chef, which I love.

My life has changed completely. I feel I have more than a job now, I have a career! I’m part of something big, and my whole outlook on life has changed. In fact I have a life now - you just can’t have a life on benefits.

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009