A few months ago, Craig McGowan was working part time in hospitality and struggling with motivation. After meeting with our Employment Support Team, he applied for and secured a job working as a Customer Hub Advisor at Southway.
Now he says his confidence has never been higher.
We sat down with Craig, and Zeek from our Employment Support Team, to discuss Craig's experience and what he’d say to anyone in his position.
Hi Craig, can you tell us a bit about why you got in touch with the Employment Support Team?
Weirdly, it was like a touch of fate. Southway rang my house and asked about any unemployed or part-time workers. My mum told me to ring them back, and a couple of days later, Zeek got in touch.
I was part time, at my mum and dads, with no money… It was just like, ‘ahhh help me!’.
I didn’t even know Southway had an Employment Support service, not even the slightest clue.
It was like no job centre I’ve been to in my life. This is a different feel, a different effort and a different vibe of helping.
What kind of things did you feel you needed support with in particular?
I’m 33 so this is a bit embarrassing… but getting out of bed!
The confidence and the sheer drive and motivation I had was zero. Everything was uphill, everything was a slog. The world was against me.
So initially I just needed help to get moving.
How were you feeling when you first got in touch with the team? What were you expecting?
The very first meeting, to be honest, I was rough as toast. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I had no hope of anything to come of it. Because my confidence and desire were on the floor, I walked in the building sort of on the floor.
Because everything else was against me, I thought ‘what could possibly happen here that’s going to get any better?’.
I had the same sort of narrow-mindedness about this journey. I didn’t even know it would even be a journey! I thought it would just be a tick-box for Southway, but it was genuine help.
Zeek, what were your first impressions of Craig when he first came in?
What I could sense straight away is that he reminded me of me. I was in a space before I got a job, when I was unsure about what to do and I was in turmoil. I could sense turmoil in Craig, as he didn’t know where to go.
I got the impression he was tired, and just felt like ‘it is what it is’. So his confidence was low. But it was just that, the confidence. It wasn’t his skill set that was low.
When I spoke to him, I actually thought he’d be good at what I do! I knew he’d be good with people. He had that energy and that spark about him.
Craig, what is the job you’ve now secured with Southway?
I’m a Customer Hub Advisor.
So, I’m the initial call handler for Southway tenants who ring up with any queries on repairs, rent, rehousing etc… I’m the first person they speak to for help and advice.
How have you been finding it?
Great! The bit I find most challenging is the actual learning of this completely new sector. But the actual people side of it, speaking to tenants, I find it as easy as walking. So I feel good at it, and I feel like I am learning.
On the personal side, I’m now finishing at 5:30pm, not working weekends, no late nights, not working on Christmas and I’m on more money than I’ve ever been in my life – add all that up and it’s the job that keeps on giving!
I’m eating better, I’m sleeping better, I’m socialising better.
When I was working part-time in hospitality, I never ever thought I’d land a job where I wasn’t up at 1am finally having a kebab for my dinner! So it’s absolutely changed my life.
How easy was it for you settle in your job?
Quite easy to be honest because everyone’s really nice and friendly and forthcoming and nobody makes you feel dumb. You can ask them a thousand questions a thousand times.
Because everyone understands it can be difficult and I’m new, everyone’s been so welcoming. So it’s been easy to settle.
What would you say to someone who is in the position you were a few months ago, before you started this journey?
Just put one foot in front of the other. Just do it, just go. Just count to three, kick your legs out and stand up.
But I understand if you need that nudge. Everyone deserves a Zeek to tell you ‘you can do it’.
I knew what I needed to do for 10 years, but you just get stuck in a rut. It was hard until I met someone like Zeek, who was willing to give me his time.
I just needed that push. He didn’t stop texting me, didn’t stop pushing me and he just made me do it.
I can never thank him enough because I’ve never had that person in my life, ever. Someone who just said, ‘come on Craig you are good enough, apply for it, do it, get out of bed, have you applied for this?’.
I keep saying it, but it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
All Southway tenants can access free career support, whether it’s finding what you want to do, improving your CV, preparing for job interviews and more…
Together, our team of Karen, Zeek, Leslie and Andy work to help our tenants begin their employment journey, look at their options or make a career change.
Find out more or get in touch with our team here.