Adam’s story

‘I was 16 years old and was looking for something to do with my spare time, like work. One year went by, it was too daunting, I had no idea where to start. I would search for jobs but didn’t know how to apply for a job, there was too much information. 

My Mum got me in contact with Jackie. Jackie taught me how to make a CV, what to put in a CV related to the job and how to cater each CV to the position.  Then she went through a bunch of occupations with me to see what I was interested in and to help me to figure that out.

A few weeks went by, she would visit weekly and in week three or four I applied for an apprenticeship, and I got a good response from the apprenticeship partnership, and I got an interview set up. 

Then me and Jackie went through a lot of interview questions which really helped out because a lot of the questions they asked were relevant to the ones I’d already practiced.

The interview went well and the next week I got a call to say I had got the apprenticeship.  Even before the call I was still applying for other jobs cos I didn’t know if I’d get the apprenticeship and I got pretty far with those too – further than I had before.

I’m going to be working as an apprentice chef at a local pub in Nottingham, about 30 hours a week.  I enjoy cooking, so I’ll be doing something that I like. I like being creative with minimal ingredients so will have a big role to play in making food.

Thanks to Jackie I feel confident in looking for jobs and the process that comes with it.'

Jackie Blackburn is an Accredited Practitioner with the Family Intervention Services which is part of the Nottingham Early Help Partnership. Jackie helps lots of young people like Adam to find work and further education.

NB: Names and images have been changed to protect the anonymity of this individual