Brendan, a 22-year-old from Edmonton, came to EmployAbilities in March 2021 after a therapist referred him through the Primary Care Network. Before coming to EmployAbilities, Brendan had worked as a dishwasher. He quit after a few weeks because he found the work environment too challenging for his mental health. This was his first job in over four years.
Brendan went back on Income Support and got connected with the Primary Care Network. After having worked through some mental health concerns with his therapist, he felt ready to pursue employment once again. To assist him with this, his therapist referred him to EmployAbilities.
Brendan explained what his challenges were with his Employment Coach. Although he was in a better place with his mental health, he struggled to compete in the labour market due to poor longevity and long gaps in employment. Brendan and his Employment Coach put together an action plan to make himself more marketable to employers. He completed Food Safety and WHMIS training, revamped his resume, and spent many hours working on his interview preparation skills, focusing on talking positively during the interview and answering questions regarding gaps in his resume.
Brendan worked diligently for several months on his self-improvement. He was hoping to get back into a kitchen environment. By June, he was offered and accepted a position at a local restaurant, where he did dishwashing and food preparation. Brendan kept in contact with his Employment Coach for retention support but has excelled in his position since June. He successfully completed his 180-day follow-up and, in doing so, also completed services with EmployAbilities. Brendan’s story has been an excellent example of successful collaboration and referrals between community programs and services.
