After being unemployed for almost a year, Joel joined the Restart Scheme in July 2025, determined to turn things around. Despite having solid work experience and relevant skills, he repeatedly faced setbacks during job interviews. Each unsuccessful attempt chipped away at his confidence, leaving him feeling stuck and uncertain about his next steps.
Joel was referred to the Restart Scheme to receive personalised, structured support. His biggest challenge was interviews performance, an obstacle that had become a significant barrier to securing work. What he needed most was to rebuild his confidence and refine his job search approach.
Joel’s Job Coach, Don from Reed, took the time to understand the difficulties Joel was facing and created a tailored plan to help him regain self-belief. Together, they focused on boosting his mindset, enhancing his strengths, and preparing him for future interview opportunities. As part of his journey, Joel took part in a range of internal workshops, including Introduction Pathway, Interview Skills Training and 1:1 sessions with Skills Trainer Brad and Job Coach Don.
These sessions helped Joel improve his communication style, refine his interview techniques and crucially, rebuild the confidence he had lost. His CV was fully revamped, allowing the in‑house recruitment team to start searching for roles that matched his skills and experience.
His progress soon paid off with the recruitment team put him forward for a Barista role at There Goes Coffee. After a successful interview and a promising trial shift, Joel officially started his new job in September 2025. This accomplishment marked a major turning point in Joel’s life.
Being back in work has not only restored his confidence and given him financial independence but has also provided him with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
Joel said:
“I felt very supported by my adviser Don throughout the process. It’s such a relief to be back in employment, and I feel fortunate to be in a role I genuinely enjoy.”
Job Coach, Don shared:
“Joel showed incredible resilience. Once his confidence returned, his potential really shone through.”
Joel is now looking forward to the future. With newfound confidence and experience, he hopes to continue developing his skills in the hospitality sector and aims to progress into a supervisory role in the future.
