Barista beginnings – Darran’s story

Darran had recently graduated with a master’s degree, but with little work experience he found it hard to find paid work, which is when he joined Better Working Futures for further support.

“I began to look for work to support myself whilst I built my portfolio in my spare time. I spent nearly a year independently looking for work with little success, and in turn was referred to Better Working Futures,” said Darran.

Upon joining Better Working Futures, Darran met with Employment Adviser Sophie who was on hand to help in any areas he needed further support in his job search. Sophie assessed the types of jobs that Darran had previously been unsuccessful applying for and identified his future career goals, working together on a plan to reach this.

Darran told us: “I feel that some of the employers that I interviewed with had expressed concerns around my experience exceeding the position’s requirements.”

Our teams of experienced Employment Advisers and Recruitment Managers have strong working relationships with local employers, who we work together with to fill roles with the most suitable candidates, ensuring our participants find sustainable employment that works for them.

“I have a master’s degree in art, and with this I hope to one day open my own coffee shop for artists like myself to be able to sit and draw whilst enjoying a cup of coffee. After graduating, I took a hiatus from my art career due to severe burnout. However, having that break from the subject meant I struggled to build a portfolio that was good enough to compete in the industry.

“It was reassuring having an Employment Adviser and a support network to keep me on track, as well as a safety net to fall back on if I struggled. Even when I thought I was doing everything right, it was good to have someone there to be able to double check and give feedback.

“The workshops were very helpful in supporting me with knowledge gaps and applying for jobs, and they built my confidence with interview skills and techniques to use.”

After completing several in-house courses with the Better Working Futures team, it wasn’t long before Darran was invited to an interview where he was successful and offered a role as a Barista. Darran was over the moon with this and received full barista training from his new employer.

Sophie and the team were able to support Darran with his transition into employment by helping with his travel costs so that re-entering paid employment didn’t impact him financially.

“Since starting work, Sophie has continued to support me with any advice or guidance I have needed, which is reassuring. I am very grateful for all their support.”