Episode 3 Employable Me

-Tell me about your last job.

-My last job was customer based.

Nipple cripple.

I have a first-class honours degree.

-Why have you not got a job?

-You tell me.

I want a job because it's about feeling like part

of the solution, rather than part of the problem.

Employers say they welcome disabled applicants,

but a million want to work and many have found the job hunt impossible.

What does it mean to have a job?

You achieve self-actualisation, which is

demonstrated in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

In this series, disabled job-seekers

are coming together from all across the UK.

I have applied for 3,000 jobs, not even a thank-you.

-Can somebody give me a hand with the door on this side?

-How you doing?

Psychologist Nancy Doyle will help the group

realise their potential in a unique training centre.

Full scale IQ, 141.

-Wow, borderline genius essentially.

-That's correct.

-Above average? Me?

-WAY above average. Yes, you.

I've never been described as above average in anything!

Having a disability is not a barrier to employment.

Having discovered their skills, they'll try

to break into the job market.

Nine, ten.

Fab, fantastic.

I didn't want anybody to think that I wasn't capable of doing a job.

It's times like this that I do doubt my employability.

It's called... Ooooh!

Fishy fanny. It's NOT called that.

I don't mind working hard, bring it on.

Could their differences finally be seen as a strength?

All I need is one person to see past the fact that I can't.

There are sparks of brilliance in what you've done.

The train is approaching, get on board.

I'll just take an arm, that's great.

Watch the kerb here.

That's OK, that's great. Thank you very much.

-Thanks a lot.

-You're welcome.

-Where are you going?

-Going to London today.

-On the 13.23?

-That's the one.

That's fine,

don't worry, I've got it.

Fab.

In Stockport, 30-year-old Kerie is heading to London.

Thanks a lot, bye-bye.

Employers think, when they see me,

they just think hassle, they think money, they think time,

they think, "Oh, my God, there's going to be a dog in my office."

And they just see it as a difference that they don't want to accommodate, basically.

-Hi, I'm going to London, please.

-27-year-old Daniel

will be joining Kerie at the training centre.

I think my disability scares

potential employers because they don't understand it.

People think I'm incapable of working.

They see the wheelchair first and my abilities second.

Daniel and Kerie will be part of a unique group of job-seekers.

It's really hard to just accept that I have this condition

and have to live with it.

Acknowledging I am different is something

I've tried to run away from my entire life.

Despite their determination to find work,

they've struggled to be accepted by employers.

-Ooh!

-HE WHISTLES

People ask me what's the hardest part of being disabled?

It is getting a job.

I am disabled but I'm not dead.

Psychologist Nancy Doyle will be leading the group training.

By the time someone has been diagnosed with a disability,

they've had so much information about what they CAN'T do,

what they struggle with.

-What

-I

-want to do is find out what their strengths are,

draw out some positives, really focus on what people CAN do,

and then think about how could it develop a career path.

-Hey, everybody, this is Daniel.

-Hey, guys!

-I'll leave them

to introduce themselves.

I can't see things. I'm blind, that's my THING.

I have got artificial eyes. I lost my eyes when I was...

Well, didn't lose them, that makes it sound like I put them somewhere,

-but...

-LAUGHTER

Good boy.

What does having a job say about you?

Having a job is really important,

so that I am seen as a person first, who just happens to be blind.

I'm not a blind person.

-ELECTRONIC VOICE:

-Selected sound output device alert volume.

Call centre jobs in Manchester.

Dublin-born Kerie lives in Stockport.

Your application for the role

of call centre operative has been received.

I just get up every day and apply and apply and apply

and apply - I think that's the only thing, really,

that's the only thing I can do.

You will receive an e-mail confirming this information.

In the past year, she's applied for over 100 jobs.

I know I'm capable of working, of holding down a job, of leading

an independent life, and that's the most important thing.

Kerie was born three months prematurely

and has been blind all her life.

I was given too much oxygen in an incubator. That subsequently

led to my retinas detaching.

That's Braille.

We put these little labels on them all,

so I know which colour bin is what.

At the age of ten, I had my eyes removed, so I now wear

two prosthetic eyes.

It was quite traumatic to begin with, but by the time

we got home, we had, like, named both of the prosthetics -

Pop and Eye.

It was ridiculous, but, you know, I was ten, so, you know, it's OK.

In 2015, Kerie made the brave decision to leave her family home

and move to the UK, after securing her first ever job.

Leaving Ireland, yeah, was daunting, I didn't know anyone here,

I didn't have any friends, I didn't have any support or connections or anything like that,

so I very much was kind of striking out on my own.

I hate this bit.

Kerie was working in a customer service role

at an airline call centre,

but the job only lasted nine months.

The job didn't work out because, I guess, that whole situation

with people not understanding

the challenges that being blind in any workplace poses.

I got told once that I couldn't be taking extra

time for breaks because people would ask why I was getting

extra time or special treatment.

That's the kind of stuff you're up against.

Oh, no, I'm not going to be able to open it.

SHE SQUEALS

Being able to stay here, it means everything. Not having to just

go home and say, you know, "I've failed, it hasn't worked out."

Starting back on the ladder, I guess, is what we are trying to do

right now, because effectively right now I'm not on ANY ladder, so...

I'm, like, ladderless.

What are your biggest hopes for the future?

My biggest hope for the future is...to get a job,

to make something of myself.

I just want to show people that, yeah, I'm disabled but I am employable.

Just because I have no legs doesn't mean you can't employ me.

Come on, be a good girl.

Daniel lives in the village of Mintlaw in Scotland.

Good boy. Come on.

He became a double amputee after a life-changing accident

five years ago.

Since then, he's applied for over 800 jobs.

It is horrible not hearing back.

It's like getting rejected

over and over and over again.

My wheelchair is definitely a barrier to getting employment.

People see it as a hassle.

I've worked since I was 12 years old.

I was a paperboy, I worked at a restaurant as a waiter for

two years, and then I worked in a betting shop, and then I got

a job as a graphic designer trainee, and then my accident happened.

-Just push.

-In 2012, Daniel was run over

by a police vehicle.

His mum Ann was the first to hear the news.

We were in the car

and my mobile phone rang and it was the police...

And all they told me at the time was

that he was getting worked on by paramedics.

I got hit, and then, like, I got scalped -

I've got a scar at the side of my head that'll prove that.

My legs had basically been crushed

from the impact of the accident.

The guy that operated on me worked in Afghanistan

and stuff like that. He said, "It's as though you've stepped on a bomb."

I was that bad that I was dying.

The fright in Daniel's eye when he came out of the coma was just...

I still see it now.

Um, he's just staring at me...

Sorry, I'm getting a bit upset.

Can you...?

I can't speak, so...

When I woke up, like, all my family were around me

and I was like, "What has happened?"

They were like, "Oh, you've lost your legs."

I was like, "Bullshit," you know?

It was kind of like a realisation that I am actually going to be

disabled and I am actually going

to have to rely on a wheelchair and other people in my life.

Daniel getting a job, I think it'll bring him

back to life, basically.

He needs to get back into the working environment

and he's not getting the chance.

In London, it's the first day of Daniel and Kerie's group training.

All right, chaps, shall we go through to the group room?

Torture me. Put me in the red room.

At 10am, Nancy kicks off the session

with a vital lesson on how to get the attention of an employer.

We are going to talk about cold calling

and then we are going to do some cold calling.

On average, you need 50 calls...

equals one interview,

and then three interviews equals one job.

So you are looking at probably 150 calls.

OK.

CHUCKLING

I know, I know, I know.

Do you know, it is hideous, it is. BUT it is actually very effective.

All right? Are we ready to go?

-Yeah.

-Whoo!

-OK.

For the next hour, the candidates practise contacting potential

employers in front of each other.

-Hang on.

-Are you trying to find nine?

-No, the speaker thing. Down here?

-Yeah.

-RINGING

-ON PHONE:

-How can I help you today?

-My name is Kerie, I'm hoping you CAN help me.

What I'm trying to do, I am blind

and I'm trying to do the same job as you do. So, I'm just wondering

if you can point me to somebody I can speak to

and explain, how do I do the same job as you do, etc,

-and that's why I'm calling, really.

-OK.

-I may need to just pop you on hold for two wee seconds.

-No, that's fine.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Oooh!

-WHISTLES

Hello, this is Kerie's sex line.

Don't make me laugh!

-Hello, Kerie?

-Hello.

-Sorry about the wee wait there.

-That's all right.

-Basically, you need to get us a copy of your CV

and someone will reach out to you within 24 hours.

That's brilliant, thank you so much. Have a really nice day

-and thank you again, so much.

-Cheers.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Can we just clap Kerie, please?

That's a good cold call.

-A VERY good cold call.

-Yes, very, very good.

I mean, I would hire you. I'd think,

"Wow, this is a really great person, I want her on the phone, she can

"talk to my customers, this will bring me in more business."

It's the face-to-face stuff I can't do so much.

I want to lick your face.

Let's go.

Next-door, it's Daniel's turn to take to the phones.

I feel my heart pounding.

You're going to be grand, you're going to be absolutely grand.

-Put some of that confidence in you.

-What I would say if I was you

is, "I'm Daniel, I've got experience in graphic design. I'm wondering

"if it's possible to come and do a work trial with your company."

Take one step at a time and do your phone call.

RINGING

-ON PHONE:

-Good morning.

Hi, I was... Hi, my name is Daniel

and I am looking for some experience just now,

and I was wondering if you had any internships or...

I'm sorry, we haven't got anything at the moment.

Could I get your e-mail address so I could send a CV over?

We don't take on any work experience placements.

-OK, no problem.

-OK, thanks, bye.

-Thank you very much, bye-bye.

-She was a bitch.

-Yeah.

Well, I wouldn't go that far. She was busy.

After lunch, the training steps up a gear

with face-to-face interviews with industry recruitment experts.

Daniel, you're up for your interview.

-I need to go now?

-Off you go.

Before his accident, Daniel was training as a graphic designer.

-How are you?

-Hi, I'm Katie.

-I'm Daniel.

-Nice to meet you.

To help him prepare to face potential employers,

he's mock interviewing for a similar role.

So I wondered if you could start by telling me about your past experience

that makes you think you would be a good candidate for the position.

I did, um, a graphic design course...

Sorry, I didn't see that on your CV, the...

No, um, I didn't think I would disclose that cos I failed.

-OK, right, OK.

-So, I only put the things that I passed.

OK.

It was a shame that he didn't put on his CV

that he had studied graphic design.

I think it would have been relevant, certainly for this job.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

How did it go, Daniel?

-I feel relieved.

-What was the role?

-A junior graphic designer.

That's something you have done before, isn't it?

Yes. I did college for that, so it's not on my CV.

So she asked me why is wasn't on my CV.

-Good question.

-I was like, "Because I failed it."

I only failed because some of the buses

were not wheelchair accessible.

-Really?

-So I couldn't get to class.

And then they failed me for not being able to turn up

-to assessments.

-You're joking?

-No.

The purpose of bringing everyone together is to build confidence.

Looking for work is isolating.

So, what I'm hoping is that by bringing them all together,

they can feed off each other, get a bit of feedback,

and then they'll leave with the confidence that they need.

If you have to pour it into them cups, right? I can't even do that

-and I've got two hands. How do you do it without it falling over?

-I just hold it in my elbow.

-Huh?

-Like this, like...

-No way, get out!

-Yeah, like that.

-Get out!

-Do you do that as well?

-Yes.

-Do you know what?

We're learning from each other.

As well as offering each other support,

over two days, the group training continues with CV sessions,

technology workshops and career guidance.

Rather than "suffer from", how about "I have" cerebral palsy?

That's amazing! Oh, my God, how do you do...?

They respond electronically to muscle movements.

-Right.

-As you can see, I can spin it.

Ooh!

-This is a Bluetooth head mouse.

-OK.

-Using the click with your mouth.

-Right.

By the end of the second day, Nancy wants to see what effect bringing

the group together is having on the job-seekers.

What has worked well for you?

I think, just seeing the struggles that other people have,

cos sometimes you can get a bit, "Oh, my God, it's so difficult

"and I don't have a job," and then all of a sudden,

you are thrown together with all these other people

and you kind of go, "Well, you know, I don't have it so bad."

Ooh!

So I hope it won't be long until I phone one of you guys

and say, "I have a job."

Yeah, yeah.

Nancy will be keeping in touch with the candidates

over the next two months, but before they leave to put their training

into practice, she's got some final advice for them all.

The most important thing is that we are working together.

That there is some rapport and camaraderie

and that we can get the most out of each other as well.

And I just absolutely look forward to seeing what happens now

that you are sailing out onto open seas with big wide horizons.

I'm going to go home full of, like, new vigour and just put

the techniques and different things I've learned into practice.

These last two days have been like a real experience

and have definitely ignited a fire and a spark to try and find a job.

I view myself as more capable than ever now.

I think there's some really good, strong options

and opportunities for all of them.

But they are going to have to persist.

They're not going to be able to go home and sit

and wait for those opportunities to come knocking on their door.

The hard work does start now.

Back at home in Stockport,

Kerie's been putting what she learned

at the training centre into practice.

Today, I have a job interview.

I found the job online, so I just applied

and I was really, really surprised

when they called to offer an interview,

so, yeah, it's really good.

This morning, Kerie will be interviewing

for a customer service role at a communications company.

Just hoping to make a first impression as somebody who

actually would be an asset and could be an asset

if only, you know, they can give me a chance.

It's very sunny for Manchester.

-It is, yeah, you're right. Are you ready now?

-Yeah, thank you.

Everything that I've worked to build up over the past two years,

everything I moved here to leave behind is now under threat

because I don't have a job.

There are no words to describe how important it is that

I find one really, really soon.

-All right.

-Are we OK now?

-I'll just, yeah... Got you.

-OK, the door's wide open for you now.

-OK.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-And I think this lady is going to take you.

-Thank you.

That's great, thanks a lot. Thank you. Hi.

-There we go.

-Thank you very much. Thank you.

-So...

-Sorry, where is it?

Oh, there we go. OK, I see it now. Thank you very much. Sorry.

So with regards to your experience, your previous job,

why did you leave that position?

Customers would ask quite visual questions

that would be really difficult to answer,

like, "Where is Seat 62C in relation to this?"

And you're like, "I can't see the plane!

"But I'll find you someone who can see the plane

"if you wait one minute."

Can you tell me a little bit about your visual impairment?

-I mean, I've been this way always, so it's not a thing to me.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-OK.

But what I would say is, I'm 150 million percent,

I just want to work and I want to learn.

And I'll be... Eventually, it might take a bit of time,

eventually, I would be an asset.

I just need a chance, that's all I need, I just need a chance.

And I know everyone comes in and says, "I really want this job,

"and I really will work really hard and I'll do this

"and I'll do this and I'll do this." But...

Are you OK?

I'll get you a tissue.

-I've got some, it's fine, thanks.

-Have you got some?

-Yeah, sorry.

-Are you all right?

-Sorry.

-That's OK.

All I need is one person to see past the fact that I can't,

and say, "You know what?

"Maybe eventually she'll be the same

"if not better than the sighted people behind her."

You know?

And that's, that's... I just want a chance, that's all,

you know, that's all.

It went pretty OK. Right up until... Until I kind of got a bit teary.

I just want somebody to turn around and say,

"We're going to offer you a position," and that's what I want now.

I suppose the only thing I do to try and keep myself

from kind of giving up altogether

is just remember why I keep... Why I'm doing it, you know?

And, you know, that's why I don't give up.

Application complete. And then submit it.

Which is right here.

In Scotland, Daniel's determined to face

the challenge of finding employment head-on.

The training centre kind of lit a fire in me.

I think I'm more positive about the job search now.

When I met all them other people with disabilities,

it was reassuring that I'm not the only one struggling for a job.

So, it was nice to share that for once.

As well as applying for jobs online,

Daniel has managed to get some work experience at a local business

in need of some graphics expertise.

At the back of my mind, I'm always concerned with

if I can get into the building

and whether or not the employer can make reasonable adjustments.

All the houses seem to have steps.

I'm a little confused at how I'm going to get in here.

I can't even knock on the door.

What am I meant to do? I can't knock on the door.

I'll see if I can reach.

There we go.

-DOOR OPENS

-Hi, Adrian, how are you?

Yeah, good, come on in, come on in. I'll get these set up for you.

-You want help? Are you OK?

-Perhaps a little bit?

-Of course, of course.

-Say when.

-Perfect.

-Ready?

-Let's go.

-Perfect.

-Thank you.

For Adrian to come out with a ramp, it was kind of like,

"Oh, OK, you thought of that."

Instead of me thinking,

"Oh, no, I can't do that because it's got steps."

Welcome to the office.

-Are you all right?

-Perfect.

-Are you OK?

-Yeah, I'm fine.

It's kind of enlightening to just be treated like that.

Daniel has been asked to redesign an advert for the company.

-That's an old graphic.

-Oh, wow, that's not you?

-That is me!

So, really, it's up to you for the graphics, text,

where it's going to get placed.

No pressure!

We had a chat, just to see if you would be quite happy replacing me.

I have no problem with that.

For the first time since his accident interrupted his career,

Daniel has the chance of a fresh start.

Advertising poster.

-There we go.

-Perfect.

It's our biggest advert that we do,

a magazine that's read by over 1 million people.

So we are putting a lot of faith and trust in Daniel.

It is quite a lot of responsibility to be doing this advert.

They trusted me with things that I didn't think they would be, so it means a lot.

I think that's it.

-That's ace!

-Awesome.

-That looks really good. I really like it.

-Perfect, I'm delighted with it.

-How are you feeling?

-Yeah, I love it.

Absolutely fantastic.

I'm really impressed.

Before I did this advert,

just thought graphic design was totally out of the question.

Now it is definitely an option.

I'm actually falling in love with it again.

It's a struggle. You get fed up, you know, really.

You just have days where you go, "Oh, my God, this is never-ending,

"this is never going to be...

"I'm never going to have a time when this is ever going to be OK."

Kerie's job search is still ongoing.

Although she was offered a few days' work at the communications company,

it didn't lead to a full-time position.

At this point, I would work, you know,

behind a counter in a coffee shop if I was able to.

You still have to keep going because at the end of the day,

it's about what you want at the end, you know?

Which is a job and employment and all that that represents.

To help Kerie keep her job search on track, Nancy has come to Stockport.

-So, are you happy for us to go ahead with the testing?

-Yeah.

I'm going to say some numbers

and I want you to repeat them to me backwards, OK.

Five, six, four, six.

Six, four, six, five.

Nancy's assessing Kerie to discover what skills she has

to help her sell herself to potential employers.

-I'm going to read you a long list of words.

-OK.

What I'd like you to do is say them back to me with the animals first

in size order, and then the other items in size order.

Window, watch, cat,

spider, rhino, boat.

Spider, cat, rhino,

watch, window, boat.

Whoo! I'd like to high-five you, Kerie. That was amazing.

Never mind, you did really well. Your memory is way above average.

-What? Above average?

-Way above average.

-Me? Me, above average?

-Yes, actually you, yes.

Wow! I've never been described as above average in anything!

-That's so awesome.

-Well, your memory is above average.

When you're looking for work, you really need to bear in mind that

you are very talented when it comes to processing verbal information.

That's, you know, pure talent.

It's just unbelievable. It's unbelievable. I'm just, like, "What?"

Oh, my God!

Because I've had so much difficulty in finding a job

and finding an employer who can sort of see my abilities,

it just makes you feel like, well, maybe there's something I can do.

So, yeah, it's definitely given me a new get-up-and-go, if you want.

Kerie was very surprised to hear that her scores were so high

and I think partially because

she just hasn't ever lived up to her potential so far.

She's got a really strong mind and a really competent brain,

and she needs to be out there working.

-Hiya, how can I help?

-Oh, hi, how are you? I'm hoping you can.

I have seen the specialist jobs advertised on the website.

I'm just wondering, is there anybody specific

that I can give my CV to at the store?

Armed with her new-found self-belief,

Kerie's been spurred on in her search for work.

I'll just keep looking and just hope ultimately

that something will come up

and it will just all be, you know, steps forward from here.

All right, you've been really helpful, thank you very much.

-All right, bye-bye.

-Have a nice day, bye-bye.

"Unfortunately, we do not have any vacancies available right now,

"but our eyes are nearly always open for talented and creative people

"who are looking to take the next step in their career."

For Daniel, things aren't going as well as he'd hoped.

Being in a wheelchair and trying to look for a job in such a small town,

that's accessible and that I'm going to thrive in,

is quite difficult.

Despite bolstering his CV with recent work experience,

finding a paid job is proving a challenge.

Daniel needs to work,

but he's not having any luck on the job front at all.

I just want to be given the chance to get back into graphic design

and be like, Monday to Friday or even, Monday to Sunday,

just be constantly working.

He loves interaction and he needs to be in amongst people,

so it would mean a lot to him to get a job.

Before his accident,

Daniel's life was clearly laid out in front of him.

I am looking at a video from 2011,

of Peterhead rugby team,

which I was part of.

It's weird, looking at me, I was so tall!

That's me in the back, with the blue socks, running,

with the ginger hair.

-ON VIDEO:

-Go on!

-Go on!

There has never been a day that I don't think about my accident

and I don't think about, oh, well, what if?

There is a difference being born with a disability

because you don't know any better,

but having 21 years of being able to walk

and then having that taken away from you, it's just horrible.

I get days where I do wish I had my legs back,

and being in a wheelchair is, it is a burden.

But it's my burden.

Eight weeks after the first group training session,

Kerie is back in London.

Despite her high hopes of finding employment,

she's yet to receive any job offers.

-Hi, Kerie.

-Hi!

-How are you?

-How are you?

-Good.

-Nice to see you again.

-Yeah, you too. Shall I take you over to the seats?

-Yeah, thank you.

-I see you're a cane user?

-Yes.

-I'm a dog user.

Oh, right, OK.

-I didn't catch your name.

-Kerie is my name.

-Kerie, I'm Marv.

-Hiya.

-Nice to meet you.

-Yeah, you too.

Are you a retriever?

-How are you, Kerie?

-I'm not so bad.

Right, do you want to come and have a chat with me?

-I'm in the first room.

-Right.

-So the table's in your way.

That's all right, I'll take a wing

and we shall do Strictly Come Dancing and we'll be fine.

Let's do it that way.

What kind of interview experiences have you had?

I had quite an emotional one.

It was going fine and they were being really nice and things,

and then I think they asked something really simple and fine,

like, "Why should we hire you?" Or something, I can't remember.

And then, I don't know, it was like Watergate kind of thing

and I got a bit emotional.

Well, I think maybe a useful thing for us to think about

is how you answer those questions

so that you feel really confident about it.

-Mm-hm.

-So, we've got other people that have got experience

that is exactly what we're looking for, Kerie,

-why should we hire you? Come on!

-SHE LAUGHS

-I can't!

-Yes, you can.

I think my experience is relevant to the role

because not only have I got customer service experience,

I also have training experience.

And I also have a really good memory,

so anything I learn, I'll be able to absolutely explain it 100%,

because I remember things really, really, really, really well.

Your head was face down,

and even though lots of what you said was good,

the tone of your voice didn't vary

and that made it seem very flat and over-rehearsed.

So I want you to answer that question again and this time,

I want you to tell me that your memory is in the top 1% of the population...

-I can't!

-Not that it's really good.

-I can't do that!

-Yes, you can.

-No, I can't do that.

-Yes, you can. In an interview you've got to.

That's the point. Let's hear it again. Breathe.

I think I should have this job

because I can help customers like myself who have visual impairments.

As well as that, I can remember things,

I have a memory that is in the top 1% of the population.

And I know that I can put across how enthusiastic I am

about the products and make them feel the same way

before they leave the shop, so they want to come back.

-Now you're getting hired!

-THEY LAUGH

See, now I believe you when you tell me that you're enthusiastic.

If you're going to say "I'm enthusiastic,"

you've got to sound enthusiastic.

And you've got to look enthusiastic

and you've got to do that infectious laugh.

And you were doing all of those things, that was amazing.

Kerie's an incredibly bright woman

and she's so keen to get back into the workplace.

Anything that is an opportunity, she will take it.

I hope that what we talked about gave her a little strategy

of just doing something to just settle her state

and practise those answers,

so she can just get through that, because I think if she can,

that's where, hopefully, we'll get the result that we want for Kerie.

Thank you. It's nice to come here and sort of talk it out, you know?

It helps, it helps a lot.

I do really feel very positive, empowered

and just ready now to go on and take the next step, whatever that is.

Despite being unable to attend

the last session of Nancy's training centre,

Daniel is determined not to lose touch with the group.

-Hello?

-Hi!

-How are you?

-I'm good, thanks.

I've been telling my friends how amazing you are.

Whilst on the course in London, he struck up a friendship

with 44-year-old Julie who has cerebral palsy.

They have been keeping touch ever since.

-So, you have a job now?

-I do.

I wanted to be the lion tamer but they said,

"We don't do that training."

But I work in Dinosaur World.

I basically serve the customers, and just be polite and happy.

That would suit me ideally, I love dinosaurs.

They've been really supportive.

I tell them what I can't do, what I can do,

and they just compromise around me.

That's nice, that's good that you've got a job.

I'm just rooting for you 100%.

I know you can do it. Just be open and honest.

Yeah, that's all I can be.

And bring that personality out, that amazing personality.

And trust me, you're going to go far in life.

Oh, thank you, honey.

-Julie, I'm going to let you go now.

-OK.

And I hope you have a wonderful time at work.

-All right, love you!

-Bye!

-Love you too, see you later! Bye, Julie!

-Bye!

Speaking to Julie has given me extra confidence,

and I've kind of got some pointers from her.

I know that she goes through

some of the same things that I go through,

so it's really inspirational

when people like Julie say things like that.

So I'm really grateful for having Julie as a friend.

Today, I have got an interview for...

..a kind of, sort of, maybe, possible job thing.

Following the pep talk from Nancy,

Kerie's feeling optimistic about her forthcoming interview.

I'm not worried about it any more.

I feel like it's...it's so close,

I can dip my finger in the, you know,

"I am employed pie".

That's how close it actually is.

Kerie will be interviewing for a customer service role

at a business concierge company in Manchester.

-Kerie, thank you for coming in today.

-No problem.

-This is obviously an office-based...

-Yeah, yeah.

-..role.

And you're happy with travelling in and out of Manchester?

-Oh, yeah, absolutely. Like, it's no bother.

-OK.

You've got great customer service skills

from what I can see from your previous experience.

Um...what would you say are your main strengths?

I really just enjoy talking to people, really.

I'm Irish, I'd talk the hind legs off a donkey sort of thing, you know.

And I think most people really respond, er...well to that.

-OK.

-So, what are your, um...short-term goals?

My short-term goals, really, are to find a job

and just learn everything I can about where I am,

and settle in and be an asset

and normally, after this bit,

it's normally kind of the most you ever get, kind of thing.

But I don't want to sound too, er...

-KERIE LAUGHS

-..you know, ambitious or whatever.

-Be ambitious.

-There's nothing wrong with being ambitious.

-Well...

THEY CHUCKLE

-Any more questions?

-No. No.

In the last interview I did, I got really emotional and cried

and it was like, you know, How To Not Pass An Interview 101.

But this time, I really was very calm,

so it's exciting.

-SHE CHUCKLES

-Yeah, it is.

Hi, I have an interview with Spencer at ten o'clock.

OK. If you'd like to just wait over here.

In Scotland, Daniel has been widening his job search.

He's managed to secure an interview

for a graphics design role in Aberdeen.

I'm kind of just trying to stay cool, calm and collected

because I don't want to, like, geek out

and be, like, "Yeah, I just want a job," you know?

Do you want to work here?

Yeah, I'd love to work here. It would be awesome.

-Hi, Daniel, I'm Spencer.

-Hi.

How you doing? Nice to meet you.

-I'm Daniel. Nice to meet you.

-Go on through.

-Perfect.

Um... Well, thanks for coming in.

I want to know as much about you as I possibly can

to see if there is any real potential for you in this business.

So what I want to do is to start by finding out some detail about you.

Well, obviously, you can tell that I'm in a wheelchair

and I have a double amputation.

Your disability is not... It's not... It's not important to us.

-Yeah.

-It has no bearing at all on what we're about to talk about.

So I've got your CV, I just wanted to go through some of your work experience, really.

-I started working at a graphic design company.

-OK.

And they were going to train me up and everything, but then I had my accident.

Ah-huh. What do you really want to do in life in terms of work?

I just want to be as creative as possible

and just create beautiful things that I can be proud of.

We're looking for somebody that can be a superstar.

Somebody that the clients want to work with.

So with that in mind, what we had planned for you

is a two-day trial here as part of the studio team.

And hope that at the end of it, you impress us enough

to set out your career for the future.

-Hopefully.

-DANIEL CHUCKLES

-But it's really up to you.

-OK.

-The ball's in your court, as they say.

-Yeah, yeah.

I'm nervous, but I'm excited.

I have two days to prove myself and do the task at hand.

Him talking about his disabilities was...

It took me back a little bit, to be perfectly frank.

It was quite surprising that he felt the need to cover that so quickly.

The truth is, he doesn't need his legs to be a graphics designer.

The real test will be the next couple of days.

He has to deliver.

Todayisthefirstday oftherestofmylife.com.

SHE CHUCKLES

Kerie's been offered a trial at the business concierge company.

If she impresses, it could lead to her first job in over a year.

I'm going to go get a job, OK?

I'm going to get a job! Oh, yes!

I couldn't sleep last night. I had a shower at 2am

just cos I was, like, thinking about today and stuff.

So, um...I mean, like, I sincerely hope I wouldn't be doing that every day.

SHE LAUGHS

Kerie will be providing a bespoke concierge service

to business executives across the UK.

Watch. Watch.

-Good lad.

-What are you thinking?

I'm thinking, don't panic.

SHE LAUGHS

For God's sake, don't panic.

-Don't panic and don't mess it up.

-SHE LAUGHS

Cool. What we're going to do, we're going to go through some courtesy calls.

-Yeah. I'm very nervous now.

-Oh, don't.

I'm just going to keep going...

Maybe if I just say, "Grand," and, "Top of the morning," and...

THEY LAUGH

So, do you want to try one?

Can we start with a super-lovely person?

We'll start with a super-lovely person.

-KERIE LAUGHS

-Yeah.

Hi. Um...this is Kerie here, calling from Keys Concierge.

So I was just calling... Just a courtesy call,

just to see if there's anything that, um...

um...we could do, um...for you or anything.

Um...if you want to get...

um...in touch with us, then somebody will be able to help you.

OK? Thanks, and I hope you have a nice day. Bye-bye.

She definitely needs to be more confident in her abilities.

Phone manner is the most important thing.

It's one of the main ways that we speak to our clients,

which is why you've got to be on your toes,

always thinking of what you're going to say next,

but also taking in... It's a lot of multi-tasking.

That's right, yeah. Yeah, for every pound you spend,

you get, um... For every pound you spend,

you get half a Keys credit, yeah. That's right.

Obviously, I did have to kind of dive in at the deep end

and sort of do some calls and stuff like that.

And I found that a little bit nerve-racking,

but hopefully, with time and stuff, that will all get better.

Thank you. Have a nice day. Bye-bye.

In Scotland, Daniel's been given the chance

to prove that his graphic design skills are good enough

to secure him a job.

-Hi, Daniel. How you doing?

-Hi. I'm fine. How are you?

-You got here, found us again.

-Yeah.

-In you come.

-Thank you.

Daniel is going to be a part of the design team today,

and let's see what he can bring to the table.

They're real clients, so, really, if he's done his research

and he listens in the meeting,

it should be a fantastic opportunity to produce some work

that will be out there and that people will see.

-It's going to be hard to impress these guys.

-Yeah.

They know their business better than anybody.

So you're going to have to come up with something, present it back to them,

and before you do that, understand all the things they're saying.

Daniel's been asked to redesign a logo

for a shipping company's 30th anniversary.

He's got just two days to impress the client and his boss.

I was quite surprised that Daniel was wearing shorts and a T-shirt

and that his limbs were on show.

I would have expected him to be a little bit smarter

for that kind of meeting.

Maybe that was an intentional step from Daniel to get it out in the open

without having to talk about it, I don't know.

But, er...he has to put his work first,

before his disability,

because that's what's going to make him a great graphics designer.

This is extreme pressure to get the job done in time.

I don't want to let it get to me.

Do you want to talk me through the process for this and how you got that?

I just decided to do a gold anchor because gold means a celebration.

-I don't think it will work for the client.

-Yeah.

I think the client traditionally is quite corporate.

It maybe is bordering on being cartoony for them.

-Yeah.

-That would be my fear.

This is definitely a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.

I am a little bit out of my depth

and the ideas that I did have just didn't work.

The question I've got to ask myself is, is Daniel up to the job?

Is he the best possible option that we can take into this business?

It's not about how he performs in the meeting,

it's not about how he moves himself around the office,

it's about what he actually creates design-wise, that will be the test.

Tomorrow is a really important day to prove myself

and show them that Daniel is not just a guy in a wheelchair,

he can actually work.

If not, then I won't get the job.

I've just had a call from one of our clients.

We're going to do a team-building party.

-We've got a deadline of 1.30 to give them the options.

-OK.

-Brilliant.

-Massive.

It's the second day of Kerie's work trial.

She's been given the task of organising

an event for an important client.

We want to find some fun activities for them to do.

So it needs to be kind of...

-Outdoorsy.

-Outdoorsy, yeah.

-Like, paintballing.

-Rock climbing.

How would you, if you wanted to do that, go about finding that?

-They're based in Leeds.

-Mm-hm.

-So we'll just see what they can do around that sort of thing.

-Yeah.

I want her to be resourceful.

She's got a couple of hours to do it, so it's like a no-time-wasted moment.

OK, so...

KERIE DIALS OUT

Hello. Who am I speaking to?

Oh, hi. Is this...? Did you say Matt?

CLICK!

Oh, he's just hung up. Thank you.

-That's who you don't want to go to.

-THEY LAUGH

KERIE DIALS OUT

Oh, hi, Steve. My name is Kerie and I'm calling from Keys Concierge.

How are you this morning? Are you OK?

Oh, good, good.

A team of seven, they've contacted us, looking for us to sort out an event for them.

If you could give me, like, a brief outline with some prices

of what we might be able to do, that would be really, really helpful.

Oh, that's what they wanted. That's awesome.

Oh, you've been so helpful. Thank you so much. Thanks. Bye-bye.

Having sourced a team-building event before the deadline,

Kerie now has to sell her idea to the client.

Hi, James, it's Kerie here.

Yeah, hi, how are you? You OK?

Good, good. Not bad, not bad.

How is your train journey going?

-Oh, dear.

-KERIE LAUGHS

Yeah.

-KERIE LAUGHS

-Absolutely.

Well, I've found, um...this thing that looks really, really good.

It's, like, paragliding.

Would that be something that you might be interested in?

Awesome. OK. So we'll figure it all out for you.

All right, enjoy the rest of your day.

Thanks a lot for taking the call.

All right. Bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

Brilliant. Really well done. I'm really impressed.

-Don't be.

-You did really well.

-KERIE LAUGHS

-He was happy with it, wasn't he?

Maybe I didn't make a total shambles of it

and they might think that I didn't do such a bad job

and it might be all right, so...

But that remains to be seen, I suppose.

SHE LAUGHS

Having failed to impress on his first day,

it's Daniel's last chance to prove he's right for the job.

I'm finding everything a lot easier today than I was yesterday.

I'm just trying to do the best that I can with everything.

Daniel might be feeling more confident,

but it's his boss who will decide

whether he's got what it takes to be a graphic designer.

-In you come, Daniel, we'll have a chat.

-OK. Thank you.

I'll just shut this.

Let me see what it is that you've designed.

This is what I did initially. So you can see, like,

-it went from this to this.

-Huge difference.

I really like that, Daniel.

I can see that as a full-sized advertisement somewhere, you know,

it's really impressive.

I'm really looking forward to presenting this to the client.

-I think they'll be really impressed.

-Thank you.

So, the million-dollar question, where do we go from here?

Yes.

You're not yet at the standard

that we would, um...require for a graphic designer.

However, there's some real potential here.

There are sparks of brilliance in what you've done.

-So what I want to do is, I want to offer you a mentor programme.

-OK.

Where we can help you learn the skills required

to get to an entry-level graphics designer.

So that you have a portfolio which will allow you

to potentially work here in the future,

or anywhere else, for that matter, as a graphics designer.

Hopefully you'll take us up on that offer.

Definitely. When do I start?

-THEY LAUGH

-We can have a chat about that.

-Yeah.

Being here for these past couple of days has just reignited something I thought I had lost.

-Is that right?

-Yeah. It's been awesome to be a part of it.

-Thank you very much.

-Great. Well, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

I feel ecstatic.

I mean, that somebody has that little bit of faith in me.

So I'm grateful for this opportunity.

My disability didn't really come into any of the considerations.

And they accommodated me perfectly.

Daniel's limitations will only be set by his mind, nothing else.

And I think that he really has grasped the fact that

he has to leave his wheelchair at the door,

because it has no relevance to the position he's looking to fill.

And I think Daniel really wants an opportunity in life,

and wants a career, and hopefully, this might be his future.

It means everything to me

because there are employers out there

that are willing to give you the chance.

I've definitely changed my perception of myself.

I'm not just Daniel in a wheelchair,

I'm Daniel the graphic designer.

For Kerie, her two-day job trial has come to an end.

-So we've really enjoyed having you here.

-Yeah.

Your phone mannerism was fantastic.

Your research today was really, really good.

One of the things I think you could improve on is your confidence.

I feel that you bring yourself down a lot

and you need to be confident in your own abilities

and, you know, not say, "Oh, this is so rubbish,"

when actually, you've done a fantastic job.

So, how do you feel about coming to work here full-time?

Is that something that you're looking to do?

-I mean...

-KERIE LAUGHS

Yeah. If that was, like... If that was...

That would be awesome, if that was, like...

If that is something that is...is there, that would be amazing.

We have been speaking and we'd like to offer you a full-time position.

Oh, my God! Huh!

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

Awesome! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

-Oh, brilliant.

-That's amazing! That's awesome!

Is that a yes, then?

-THEY LAUGH

-Don't keep me in suspense like that.

No, definitely! Absolutely! Yes, yes, yes!

Oh, brilliant. Well, welcome aboard, then!

I 100% think that she can do this job.

She wants to work and it's a shame

that no-one's given her an opportunity to do so.

Just because, you know, she's visually impaired,

there's nothing that we can do that she can't.

I have to tell you something! I have to tell you something!

We got a job, sweetheart!

Really, incredibly humbled and amazed

that somebody has done

what I've been waiting 12 months for somebody to do, basically,

which is look past the fact that I can't see.

It just means everything, it really does.

I feel like I've been accepted.

I had so many times when I thought, "Am I going to have to give up?

"Am I going to have to go home? Am I going to have to admit I failed?

"Am I going to have to go back to Ireland and just, you know,

"say it didn't work out?" And now that's not going to happen.

Are you employable, Kerie?

KERIE LAUGHS

I am now!

SHE LAUGHS

I am now.

I want to pull my weight for society.

Other people see me as less intelligent

because they don't understand autism.

If I see something I'm not expecting, I can have a meltdown.

I feel hopeless. My skills are being wasted.

Being autistic, we see things differently.

It's not we see things wrongly.