Kersty, 24, has been unemployed since October 2003 and she last worked in a shoe shop as a sales assistant.  That was the only paid job she’s ever had but she has also done voluntary work in a charity shop and a work trial in a hairdressers.

She has been to TNG twice before, on a short Gateway to Work and continuing on the FTET programme.  She did get an interview for a job in the last programme she was at, but was not successful in gaining employment then.

Kersty had very little self confidence and self esteem and very rarely participated in group sessions when she joined the FTET programme this time.  But after having regular one-to-one sessions with her adviser, Clare Wheeler, and being given little tasks to do in the group sessions, she slowly started coming out of her shell.

Clare helped Kersty re-write her CV to make it more impressionable.  She also got help in making herself look more presentable as she often wore inappropriate clothes; this also lifted her confidence as the other customers started paying her compliments.

Kersty also attended two interview group sessions.  However, after the first one, her adviser decided to do a one-to-one session with her.  She was still shy even when she did this mock interview.  They went through the possible questions and answers she could give and was advised to use this as a practice run which reassured her and seemed to relax her more. There was an improvement when she took part in the second group session.

The interview preparation Kersty received has been really useful.  She was successful in gaining employment with a large national services company, as a post room operative.  She is very pleased with working there as she feels she has been given a second chance to build herself up after 7 years of being unemployed.

"TNG made me think that success is easy if you focus on what you want to achieve."

Kersty attended our offices in Enfield