0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Tell me about your last job.- Whoo! My last job was customer-based.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Nipple cripple!
0:00:06 > 0:00:10- I have a first class honours degree. - Why have you not got a job?
0:00:10 > 0:00:11You tell me.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15I want a job because it's about feeling like
0:00:15 > 0:00:17part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Employers say they welcome disabled applicants.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23But a million want to work,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and many have found the job hunt impossible.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28What does it mean to have a job?
0:00:28 > 0:00:30You achieve self-actualization,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33which is demonstrated in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35In this series,
0:00:35 > 0:00:39disabled job-seekers are coming together from all across the UK.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42I have applied for 3,000 jobs.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Not even a thank you.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Can somebody give me a hand with the door on this side?
0:00:47 > 0:00:48How you doing?
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Psychologist Nancy Doyle will help the group
0:00:51 > 0:00:56realise their potential in a unique training centre.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Full scale IQ, 141.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02- Wow! Borderline genius, essentially. - That's correct.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Above average?- Way above average. - Me?- Yes, you.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06I've never been described as above average in anything!
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Having a disability is not a barrier to employment.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Having discovered their skills,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15they'll try to break into the job market.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Ten!
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Fab, fantastic.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22I didn't want anybody to think that I wasn't capable of doing a job.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28At times like this, I do doubt me employability.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29- It's called, erm... - HE WHISTLES
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Whoo! Fishy fanny! It's not called that.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34I don't mind working hard.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35Bring it on.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Could their differences finally be seen as a strength?
0:01:39 > 0:01:43All I need is one person to see past the fact that I can't.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46There are sparks of brilliance in what you've done.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48The train is approaching - get on board.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59- VOICEOVER:- I want a job so I can live independently.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04But sometimes you need to work with me on a bespoke basis.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Erm, erm, erm...!
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Er...
0:02:15 > 0:02:2026-year-old Alan is on his way to the training centre in London.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Ohh...!
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Er, I don't know how far away we're from it!
0:02:27 > 0:02:29D'you want to look on your phone?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Haven't got time!
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Just go, all right!
0:02:38 > 0:02:4246-year-old Erica will be joining him there.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44- VOICEOVER:- Other people see me as less intelligent.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Because people don't understand autism, they judge me
0:02:47 > 0:02:51straight away, cos my facial expressions are a bit different.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56It is frustrating because I'm hungry to learn skills
0:02:56 > 0:03:00and give back to society what they've given to me.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06DOORBELL RINGS
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Erica and Alan are both on the autistic spectrum.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- Hi!- Hi, erm, if you just take a seat.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17They're joining a unique group of job-seekers in the hope that
0:03:17 > 0:03:19they'll learn from each other.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21So help yourself if you'd like a drink or anything.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Can you sit there, can you...?
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- Er, yeah, yeah, if you'd prefer to sit there.- Yeah.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27So that I'm not too much in the way.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Psychologist Nancy Doyle will be running the group sessions.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35People with autism need a space that isn't too
0:03:35 > 0:03:38overwhelming in terms of the senses, so that they can concentrate
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and that they can work on the things that they need to address
0:03:41 > 0:03:46to move into employment, and they'll get better at social interaction.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47Hey, everybody!
0:03:47 > 0:03:51I'd never heard of the label Asperger's till I was late 20s.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55It was actually Asper-ger - this is a common misconception.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59I mean, there is no soft G in the German language,
0:03:59 > 0:04:00so it's Asper-ger.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19We see things differently.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It's not that we see things wrongly -
0:04:22 > 0:04:25that's what people have got to understand and accept.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27My psychology works in a different way.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30How long have you been unemployed, Alan?
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Well, I've never really had full-time employment.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Stop!
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Alan lives with his parents in a small town in Hertfordshire.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55It's a rather pleasant but little bit unremarkable, er, commuter town.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57There aren't that many jobs here.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I applied for a job there, and the interview didn't go well,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04partly cos I got a little bit lost on the way.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08This is this sales assistant's job.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10I e-mailed them, they never replied back.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13They post a lot of adverts here.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I'm a graduate, I should already be working full-time by now.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Despite leaving university three years ago with a psychology degree,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Alan has struggled to find permanent work.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35I've applied for over 100 jobs, erm,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38most of which I didn't even get interviews for.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42I feel hopeless, you know, just...
0:05:43 > 0:05:45My skills are being wasted.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49Autism, erm...
0:05:51 > 0:05:56..gives me problems with social interaction, social understanding.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Always tend to take things quite literally.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02These books are about my special interest.
0:06:02 > 0:06:08This is The Times Guide To The House of Commons 1979, the year
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Margaret Thatcher was first elected, quite a momentous occasion it was.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15There is a constituency in Suffolk called Eye,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18E-Y-E, like the eyes on your head.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20The honourable member for Eye voted aye!
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Get it?
0:06:27 > 0:06:29- Y'all right?- How are you?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Socialising can be challenging for Alan.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32How have you been keeping?
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- OUT OF BREATH - I've been keeping...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I've been keeping OK, Elaine, I'm just...
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- But I mean, I'm just... - Are you hungry?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Er, yes, have you got something for me?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46But he's formed a close relationship with his second cousin Phil
0:06:46 > 0:06:47and partner Elaine.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50- You've got an encyclopaedic mind.- Yeah.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Alan's got a lot of talents.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55You know, he's got an incredible intellect
0:06:55 > 0:07:00and memory for figures and statistics.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02D'you think you could eat all of that?
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- Could you put a bit back in...? - Yeah, sure.- That's better.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Alan's in his 20s, and when you're young
0:07:09 > 0:07:12and you've got your life ahead of you, you've got to have hope,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and if you've got no hope, erm,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18it can soon become quite a bleak existence.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- How do you survive, Alan? - It's not really a life.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26You're living day-to-day, and I need an escape route somewhere.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31How does it feel to be unemployed?
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Hmm, it's depressing, disappointing...
0:07:38 > 0:07:43Feeling rejected all the time, just because people can't understand you.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45I want a job so I can feel good about myself,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I want to support myself, want to live independently.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52I want to use my talents for the greater good, I want to use them...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55..er, in a way which will actually help people.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12I'd like a job because of my hunger to live
0:08:12 > 0:08:15and exercise me potential.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Because I've never passed an interview,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19I feel a lot of rejection from it.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28People think I'm less intelligent
0:08:28 > 0:08:31because me facial expressions are different,
0:08:31 > 0:08:32me speech was very monotone,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36but there wasn't such a label as Asperger's when I was a child.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40I was just labelled "learning difficulties."
0:08:41 > 0:08:46For most of her life, Erica's condition went undetected.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48School was a very frightening place.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55In me mainstream school, I would get sensory overload and I'd have...
0:08:56 > 0:09:00..people, a lot of noise round me, I would just go into a meltdown.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03People bullied me and teased me for being different.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08It was lonely, I felt isolated.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11They thought I was stupid cos me voice was very monotone.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14So I worked at having a Liverpool accent
0:09:14 > 0:09:16to try and sound hard, actually!
0:09:21 > 0:09:27At the age of 32, Erica was finally diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30It was a very special moment.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34When a doctor said to me, "You've suffered with Asperger's,"
0:09:34 > 0:09:38it was very, very special...
0:09:38 > 0:09:39to me, that I was part of a group.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Sales executive.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48I don't see you as a sales executive somehow.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Foster dad Patrick has watched her struggle through the past
0:09:52 > 0:09:54five years of unemployment.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Cleaner, kitchen assistants, maintenance...
0:09:56 > 0:09:58I did that, I wasn't very good at it.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- It's a residential centre again. - Yeah, yeah.- It wasn't great, was it?
0:10:01 > 0:10:02And I got labelled a slow learner.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Having brought up two children, Erica went back to education
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and gained a degree from Sheffield University.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15People with Asperger's aren't stupid and they don't have a low IQ.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19I brought me children up on me own.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21I've done something right!
0:10:21 > 0:10:24I've brought children up who are going to be an asset to the world.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28You know, people who go out to work and pay taxes,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32they've looked after me when I've brought me children up,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and I want to do my... pull my weight for society.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38Yeah.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Erica's last job was a disaster.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45She was with a group of people where she didn't really fit,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48and they didn't understand her and her needs,
0:10:48 > 0:10:53and she couldn't really adapt to what they expected and wanted.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57And it knocked her confidence really badly.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00"Public facing role which requires excellent people skills
0:11:00 > 0:11:03"and a genuine enthusiasm for helping."
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- "You must be a well-organised..." - ERICA LAUGHS
0:11:06 > 0:11:10But what it shows, Erica, is there are all sorts of jobs, aren't there?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- Yeah.- And there will be something that is right for you.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16All I want is a job that I'm employable for.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25So if I could get you guys to go in the middle...
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- Move a little bit so I can get through, please.- Yeah, will do.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Thank you.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34It's Alan and Erica's first day at the training centre.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Nancy wants the group to discuss their career ambitions.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40We're going to take turns to sit here
0:11:40 > 0:11:46and just talk about either our ideal job or a job goal.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49- So, Alan, happy to go first, then? - Yes.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55My ideal job would be a psephologist.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57"What is a psephologist?" you ask.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Well, a psephologist is a person who studies elections
0:12:00 > 0:12:05and why people vote for particular parties or particular candidates.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08And what's it called again? What-ologist?
0:12:08 > 0:12:14Psephologist. S-E-P-H-O-L-O-G-I-S-T.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I'll have to write them down before I go home later.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23The job-seekers have over 400 failed applications between them.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- Hi!- Hello! - There we go.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Thank you, guys.- Yes!- Hi! How's it going?- OK.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Nancy has brought in a team of recruitment experts to
0:12:35 > 0:12:37steer them in their job search.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- You're feeling around in too big an area...- Yeah.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- ..and I think with your job search we need to narrow that.- Yeah.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49So how do you find your Asperger's affects your work in the workplace?
0:12:49 > 0:12:52I'll ask a question and somebody will answer me with a face,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55and I need precise words, not a face.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59I'm constantly telling people, but they can't really imagine it.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03They just... "Mm, she's off away with the fairies."
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Everyone works a bit differently,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10so for you, it's just finding an employer that knows how you work
0:13:10 > 0:13:12and can adjust things accordingly for you.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- Hello, Alan.- Hello, Alan! - I'm Tab.- Hello, Tab.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Do you think my handshake is strong enough? Cos I'm feeling it's not.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Yes, your handshake's strong enough.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- This is my CV.- This is your CV.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Yes, and you've made a lot of annotations to it.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Well, only just certain things that then I can remember to ask you.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35It seems to me that you've got perhaps a particular
0:13:35 > 0:13:38interest on the stats and the data side of things.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Have you ever had any kind of test which demonstrates those abilities?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- Not really.- OK...
0:13:44 > 0:13:47The only sort of test I've had is the IQ test.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51- It gives me a full scale IQ of 141, but...- Which is pretty high.- Yes.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55How many applications have you actually made to the
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- sorts of roles you want to do? - Well, to all roles, I would say 155.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Right, but what about the roles that you really would like to do?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- Zero.- OK... If you're applying for roles that you're not suited to,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09you're not going to get them, and if you did get it you probably
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- wouldn't be happy doing it. - I suppose so, Tab.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Just feeling a bit depressed about the whole thing.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21I think it's really difficult when you are trying to get something and
0:14:21 > 0:14:24you've lost a lot of confidence, and you haven't got what you want to do.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Urgh, I suppose I'll have to give it my best shot.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Yes, exactly, and perhaps we can try and help you to do that.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34- Let's speak again soon. - We will, Tab.- OK, great.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- Goodbye.- Thanks very much, thank you.- Thank you.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Tab's assessment has made me feel a bit better about it, but I still
0:14:45 > 0:14:48need a bit of help to find just the right role that suits my abilities.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52I've got a lot to learn for this if I'm going to get the role I want.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Social interaction can be particularly challenging for
0:14:58 > 0:15:03Erica and Alan, so Nancy's arranged for some tailor-made training.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Nice to meet you, Alan and Erica.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Emily has come to guide them on the rules of the office.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19I'm autistic myself, so I can use ten years of working in autism,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22and being an autistic person, to sort of come together
0:15:22 > 0:15:24and give you some of my tips and advice.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26OK, conversation topics,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and what might or might not be appropriate for the workplace.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33So have either of you got any hobbies? Alan?
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Analysing elections, human rights violations and politics.
0:15:38 > 0:15:43OK, politics is one to maybe avoid.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47I actually do believe in talking about politics,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51and I think it is having morals and standards.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54People often have really strong political opinions,
0:15:54 > 0:15:56and other people might not agree with them,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58and in work that can be hard,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01because we don't necessarily know people in work very well,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03and so it might be that they become offended or upset.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09So for now, we're going to move on to a body language activity.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- VOICEOVER:- I can have issues with socialisation,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15especially understanding social context.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Reading body language is particularly a problem.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22I thought maybe you were at work but didn't really want to do it.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- Yeah, maybe that's another one as well.- That's how I interpreted that.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31OK, let's look at doing some practice conversations.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34So, Erica, if you can start off being green,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36and Alan, you're going to be purple.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- This is actually lilac, it's not purple.- Erm, so, Alan...
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- Look at the shade. - It is a little more lilac.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47- It's pink.- And I am very green - I care for the planet.- There we go.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50So, erm, now I want you to try and have a conversation like that,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53so a small-talk conversation, but without the prompts.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57It's feeling pretty cold for March, don't you think?
0:16:57 > 0:17:02Erm, not, not too bad, cos they say about a white Christmas,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04but that's more a thing from Dickens.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07It's more common for coldness in February
0:17:07 > 0:17:09and it can still continue in March...
0:17:09 > 0:17:10I'm going to interject.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13I'm going to give you an example that we can say, right?
0:17:13 > 0:17:16"I don't know, it's not as bad as it could be."
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- So we're keeping it brief. - Condensed version.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20So, let's start that again.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I said, it's a bit cold for March today, isn't it?
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Erm, I wouldn't say too bad for March.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Feels colder than it should, I mean, it's not winter any more.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Ah, but what have you got planned for this weekend?
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Hopefully, I'll finally be going on a date for once.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39OK, Alan, I'm going to interject you.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Remember, we're pretending to be at work,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46so personal relationships are one of our avoid topics.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49So try and think of something else that you might be doing this
0:17:49 > 0:17:51weekend that isn't a date.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53OK, I'm going to be analysing election results.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57OK, that was great.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02At the end of their first training session, the group have a
0:18:02 > 0:18:05final meeting before they head off on their job search.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09I am so impressed at how hard everybody's worked.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13I feel like you've all put in so much effort to really
0:18:13 > 0:18:16kind of learn about yourselves and each other.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18You've worked so hard.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19I'm really glad I came here,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22because I've just been wandering around on the wrong
0:18:22 > 0:18:26lines for many days, and it's finally getting on the right track.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32I've learned to sort of try and see me disability as more of a gift.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35I'm here to give something a little bit different
0:18:35 > 0:18:38than your typical people.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40I'm good at specific things,
0:18:40 > 0:18:45and that could be an asset to certain employers.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Right, let me grab the door...
0:18:47 > 0:18:50I can use the skills I've learned from the last two days to vastly
0:18:50 > 0:18:54improve my job search and flourish and get on with my intended life.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00What we've done is got them out of the starting blocks.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02They now know effective ways to job search,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05they now know how to sell themselves on a CV,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07they now know what kind of things they should
0:19:07 > 0:19:10and shouldn't say in an interview, but they have got to go
0:19:10 > 0:19:12and put all of that into practice now.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14They are going to have to persist.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33- Can you take that? Can you?- Yes.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38After constant rejections from local employers, Alan's decided to
0:19:38 > 0:19:42take the bold step of moving out of the family home to a larger city.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Can't see where I'm going! It's unwieldy!
0:19:46 > 0:19:48I chose to move to the East Midlands
0:19:48 > 0:19:53because of its excellent transport network, its high potential,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and its cheap housing stock.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57I do feel confident about getting a job here.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01I really don't need the toaster either, I'm not going to make any toast.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04It is important to get a job when you're living independently
0:20:04 > 0:20:06so you can look after yourself and you can make ends meet.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09It's quite simple, really.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11I don't want the television.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14It's going to just waste electricity.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16I specifically asked not to have that.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19If you don't want it, you can get rid of it.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20I'll pawn it for cash.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25I don't need the grater either, I'm not... I don't eat cheese!
0:20:25 > 0:20:27It's taking ages to move everything.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32- What is this for? - I don't know.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Right, that's the kitchen stuff...
0:20:45 > 0:20:47I'll just say goodbye and good luck.
0:20:49 > 0:20:50I've got to go home now.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- OK.- And I'll be back when you want me.- All right, see you soon.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Today has been one of the most important days in my life.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05I'm feeling liberated, I'm feeling ready to move on from where I was
0:21:05 > 0:21:07and actually get somewhere for once.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15"We're looking for someone to join our collective,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17"currently all women, to share all tasks
0:21:17 > 0:21:20"and responsibilities in this busy high street business.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23"Four days, including frequent weekends."
0:21:23 > 0:21:26In Merseyside, Erica's been looking for work.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30I've heard there's a vacancy in a radical book shop
0:21:30 > 0:21:32that's very up my street -
0:21:32 > 0:21:35got my socialist, feminist principles.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40"First part of the application form is for you to fill in your contact
0:21:40 > 0:21:45"details, then we ask you to answer the other questions that follow."
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Hang on, erm...
0:21:49 > 0:21:52But the process is proving a challenge.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53How do you click it?
0:21:53 > 0:21:56SHE CLICKS THE MOUSE
0:21:56 > 0:21:58I don't think I saved it.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00I think I've got to start again now.
0:22:02 > 0:22:08I am not the most au fait with everything in this hi-tech age.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14SHE WHIMPERS
0:22:14 > 0:22:15Making me feel anxious...
0:22:40 > 0:22:43If I see something I'm not expecting, I can have a...
0:22:43 > 0:22:47I can have a meltdown and really doubt meself and go on a downer.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Times like this, when I feel stupid, I do doubt me employability.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13ELECTRIC RAZOR BUZZES
0:23:19 > 0:23:21I don't think I can shave that off.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Not properly.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27I'll try.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28RAZOR BUZZES
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Spurred on by his time at the training centre,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Alan has got an interview with the local council.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37I've been to lots of interviews before.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Just need to make sure I can maintain eye contact.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41This can be done with training.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50The council are recruiting temporary staff for the local elections.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I have excellent mathematical skill, also I can count very fast
0:23:54 > 0:24:00and I can, I can al... I can also maintain secrecy, and make...
0:24:00 > 0:24:04And spot even the slightest error.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11I don't find doing ties easy, cos it's just
0:24:11 > 0:24:14so awkward to get the loop round.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18I generally do the simplest of knots.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Aww, not again!
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Ohhh...
0:24:29 > 0:24:32This can take me as much as 40 minutes!
0:24:33 > 0:24:35It's just stupid!
0:24:35 > 0:24:39They didn't have them before the Industrial Revolution anyway!
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Oh, you know what? Forget it!
0:24:43 > 0:24:45HE GRUNTS
0:24:45 > 0:24:46Finished.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50How do I look?
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Yep, let me get my jacket please.
0:24:58 > 0:24:59What are the key things
0:24:59 > 0:25:01that you need to remember to do well at this interview?
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Showcase my knowledge,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06maintain eye contact...
0:25:06 > 0:25:08don't go off on a tangent.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11- Hello, Alan. - H-Hello, I-I am indeed Alan,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13it's a pleasure to see you.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- It's a pleasure to meet you.- What's your name?- My name is Julie Hicks...
0:25:16 > 0:25:18- Right.- ..and I'm the human resources manager
0:25:18 > 0:25:22- for Rushcliffe Borough Council. - Oh. Ah, yes.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23Good to meet you.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Indeed. Lovely artworks these children have made.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28- I know.- They're wonderful. - Very impressive.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Especially since they're so young.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34The reason I want to work in an elections team is
0:25:34 > 0:25:40because I am very interested in politics, elections and voting,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43and how the whole process works.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45And I've also got strong attention to detail,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47and it certainly helps with the counting
0:25:47 > 0:25:49and with spotting these little errors.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51In the letter I was given,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I noticed a few small errors
0:25:54 > 0:25:57that I need to poi-poi-point out,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59given that even a slight error can affect
0:25:59 > 0:26:01the result of our selection.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05This should be B, that should be C, um,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09this should be II and this should be III.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11That second A should be B,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13that B should be C and that C should be D.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Excellent.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17I can give you a job on the communications team as well,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19for proofreading!
0:26:19 > 0:26:21It is particularly important in elections
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- to act in accordance with the procedures.- That's correct.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28As set out in the Representation of the People Act 1983.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30You can find this all on
0:26:30 > 0:26:33the Local Government Boundary Commission for England website.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37It's www.lgbce.org.uk,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40and you look in Current and Past Reviews.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Thank you very much.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47I managed to look at them most of the time.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49I maintained good eye contact with them.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51It's important not to stare, though.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55- Thank you.- Thank you, Alan.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58My pleasure. Goodness me, that is firm!
0:26:58 > 0:27:00THEY LAUGH
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Very strong one!
0:27:04 > 0:27:08I'm feeling very confident and happy,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11because I'm feeling I'll do very well in this field indeed,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13and I've had an excellent interview.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Erica has finally heard back from the local book shop.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29"We are sorry to inform you that your application
0:27:29 > 0:27:32"has not been successful."
0:27:32 > 0:27:36It can be very soul destroying, looking for...
0:27:36 > 0:27:38looking for work.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39Because I hate rejection.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42I worked very hard on the application.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55People who have been out of work for a long time might have had
0:27:55 > 0:27:57several knockbacks, and they might be feeling that they don't
0:27:57 > 0:28:00have any skills, they might be doubting what they think
0:28:00 > 0:28:03they know about their strengths and their assets.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07For most of her life, Erica was told she had learning difficulties,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10which seriously damaged her confidence.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Nancy is assessing her skills in the hope that
0:28:13 > 0:28:15this might focus her job hunt.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20OK, what I want you to do is simply repeat what I'm saying.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Two, three,
0:28:24 > 0:28:29two, five, six, eight.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Two, three, two,
0:28:31 > 0:28:33five, six, eight.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36What is a ballad?
0:28:36 > 0:28:41A ballad, it's a lyrical tune that tells a story.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45In what way are electricity and water both alike?
0:28:45 > 0:28:46To do with current.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49What does the word onomatopoeia mean?
0:28:49 > 0:28:52It means like a sound noise, like snap, crackle and pop.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59So, you've got quite a few things that are above average.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03Overall, your verbal skills are between superior and very superior.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06- Oh, wow. - So, that, I mean, 127,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10that's slightly higher than the average IQ of somebody with a PHD.
0:29:10 > 0:29:15- Right.- So, it's a really strong, strong skill.- Wow!
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Quite chuffed about that.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19Good, I'm glad you're chuffed. You should be.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22So, I've got an exceptional talent!
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Erica has had a really hard time,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29but she really does have some outstanding ability.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32She's an intelligent woman.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36There is absolutely no reason why Erica can't be thriving
0:29:36 > 0:29:40and really contributing to society through her work.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43I love to hear something a little bit exciting about myself,
0:29:43 > 0:29:46because people have sort of just pushed me to one side,
0:29:46 > 0:29:50like I'm nothing, because I was a bit different.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54But I've got to be employable for something.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03BBC RADIO PIPS
0:30:03 > 0:30:05It's seven o'clock on Thursday, 4 May.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07The news headlines this morning.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11Voters are going to the polls across Britain in 88 local council
0:30:11 > 0:30:13elections, and in contest...
0:30:13 > 0:30:15I'm feeling very excited indeed.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19I'm feeling very elated and so... and so...
0:30:19 > 0:30:21and so pleased.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24After impressing the council at his interview,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28Alan has been offered a few days' paid work as an election clerk.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33I'm finally getting some work in an atmosphere which will use
0:30:33 > 0:30:38my tremendous amount of political knowledge and election statistics.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42It will give me the chance to really make a difference.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58You will be accepting ballot boxes from polling stations.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00It's very important that you check in
0:31:00 > 0:31:02everything that they're supposed to have brought back.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05You don't let them go until everything is in.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07It's pretty basic, what we're doing tonight, so...
0:31:07 > 0:31:10It is very basic, but it gets quite busy and quite rushed.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13- I think I know what I'm doing here. - Good.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15- VOICEOVER:- I'm feeling very good about this.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19I mean, it can't be that difficult, being the checker.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27Until now, Alan has ever experienced being part of a team at work.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Er, hello.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31- That's number...- Number 18.- 18.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Brown and black sacks here.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35The ballot box... Yes, we need to mark that up...
0:31:35 > 0:31:38- The ballot box, obviously, yeah.- OK? - Tick.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43- And postal votes in the yellow box. - Yeah, it's good to go.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44They're arriving quite thick and fast.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- Yes.- Have you noticed the queue?
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- Postal envelopes in this... - Let's go steady...
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- ..in the yellow box, please.- ..just so I can make sure I get these.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53So, 29...
0:31:53 > 0:31:56- Yes, 29.- Can I have it, please? - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59And please, pass that over to Craig in the yellow box.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06- And we're finished. - We're done! Good work.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Before starting the election count,
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Alan has a chance to try out the small talk he learnt
0:32:13 > 0:32:15at the training centre.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18I'm... I'm old enough to be a father, in case you ask.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20- How old are you?- 26.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23Well, I didn't have my daughter until I was 40.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26- So...- That makes you, um...
0:32:26 > 0:32:2855 or something?
0:32:28 > 0:32:30No, I'm coming up 50.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Oh, oh, it's a... Oh, right, yes.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37- Sorry, I thought your daughter was a teen, but...- No, she's nine.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40- ..she's only ten, by the looks of it.- Yeah.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I'd rather not wait until I'm in my 40s, thank you.
0:32:47 > 0:32:52- Yeah.- Well...- It's not always a choice thing, though.- No.
0:32:57 > 0:32:58Get counting.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04It is very important to make sure the election
0:33:04 > 0:33:09is conducted in a free, fair, honest and democratic manner,
0:33:09 > 0:33:15and to make sure all results can be verified and affirmed.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18That one looks doubtful, it's not been marked very well.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20It's been marked pretty poorly.
0:33:23 > 0:33:28- These are actually Labour votes. - Oh, are they?- Yes.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Can you pass me a red slip? You just put the wrong slip on it.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- I'll double-check it anyway.- OK.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39This was a... Sue filled it in, not realising
0:33:39 > 0:33:41it was actually for the Labour candidate.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46- Oh, right, OK. - I've double-checked all that.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Look at where the cross is. Look.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56After completing the count, it's time for Alan to get feedback
0:33:56 > 0:33:58on his first job in his new town.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Would you like to come and get some feedback on your work
0:34:01 > 0:34:02placement from Alan and I?
0:34:02 > 0:34:07- Yes, I would. Um... - OK, just come this way?- Yes.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13You are extremely capable,
0:34:13 > 0:34:17and therefore, you see something that's wrong and I think it's
0:34:17 > 0:34:19a natural instinct for you to bring it to people's attention.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23There are different, subtle ways of pointing out to people quietly
0:34:23 > 0:34:26that you've spotted something and checking that they know that.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28There was only one error I needed to spot,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31I mean, and it could have potentially affected the result.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34It's just something that you've just got to be a little bit aware of,
0:34:34 > 0:34:35within a team environment.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Yes, so, I've never really had much of an opportunity to work
0:34:38 > 0:34:40- in a team environment.- No.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43But we would say to you, the positive side,
0:34:43 > 0:34:44you've done that very well overall.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46I've got skills no-one else has got.
0:34:48 > 0:34:49Practically.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52In terms of personal feedback, I would like to see you smarten up
0:34:52 > 0:34:54just that little bit more.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55Well, how do you mean?
0:34:55 > 0:34:57Standards of dress and standards of...
0:34:57 > 0:35:01What standards do I not meet at the moment?
0:35:01 > 0:35:03Like, you're wearing a-a-a cardigan.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05But I need somewhere to carry my phone, though.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09Yes, so think about a tie or a very smart shirt.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12- I have major difficulties with ties, though.- Hm.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16- If you've got somebody who can help you...- I don't.- Yeah.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Well, they're small but important points, Alan.
0:35:21 > 0:35:22- VOICEOVER: - Maybe they've got a point.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26They're just being honest, you know.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31As long as it's constructive and honest criticism, I can take it.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35I'm feeling pretty good about the future.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37I'd like it to start quickly, though.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46- Hello, Alan.- Hello, Grace.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49- How are you?- I'm fine, thank-thank you.- Good.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52It's been eight weeks since their last training session,
0:35:52 > 0:35:55and the job-seekers have returned to London.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59So then the next part of the brain to develop was the cortex.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Nancy's arranged specific sessions tailored to their individual needs.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07- Did you have a work trial? - I did.- Hm-mm.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09My work trial was with Rushcliffe Borough Council.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- And did you do anything in the local elections?- Yes.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15It was a very good count. I counted quite efficiently and quickly.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- Hm-mm.- I spotted just one mistake. - Hm-mm.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20I pointed it out a bit too loudly
0:36:20 > 0:36:22and they said I could have been a bit more tactful about it.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25- They said sometimes I was a bit over-enthusiastic.- Hm-mm.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28And that I need to comb my hair a bit.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31So is that something that you have enough information to work on,
0:36:31 > 0:36:33or do you want to do a bit more on that?
0:36:33 > 0:36:37The problem is because I didn't bother properly combing my hair.
0:36:37 > 0:36:42I think sometimes, you know, the first day of work, in any job can be
0:36:42 > 0:36:46as important as the interview, and it's kind of just a message to think
0:36:46 > 0:36:51about it is to always be really mindful of the appearance
0:36:51 > 0:36:54issues and kind of, you know, brushing your hair before...
0:36:54 > 0:36:56I haven't got a comb or a hair brush. I need to buy one.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59You most certainly do, that's very important.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06Understanding appropriate dress in the workplace can be
0:37:06 > 0:37:09particularly for people on the autistic spectrum.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Please do take a seat. Sorry, that's terrible language - sit down.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17To help in their job hunt, Nancy has organised a further
0:37:17 > 0:37:20session for Alan and Erica with Emily.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25All right, so, Erica, what would the expectations in work be for hair?
0:37:25 > 0:37:28- Neat, tidy, clean hair. - Neat, tidy, clean hair.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31- You can fry chips in my hair some mornings.- Can you?- Yes!
0:37:31 > 0:37:36So, we're going to need to shower at least every other day,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39and then brush
0:37:39 > 0:37:44before leaving home.
0:37:44 > 0:37:45You might not like it,
0:37:45 > 0:37:50but it is something that you are expected to do within work.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54This is a lot to think about. Any questions from you, Alan?
0:37:54 > 0:37:58- Um... Not at this stage, Emily.- Fantastic!
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Before I came here, I was of the opinion that appearance really
0:38:01 > 0:38:03didn't matter, and that you should listen to what someone says,
0:38:03 > 0:38:07anyway, particularly because appearances can be deceiving,
0:38:07 > 0:38:10and this is how conmen get rich quick.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14You've got to put yourself in someone else's shoes, effectively.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Most of the group are still unemployed, so Nancy's brought
0:38:19 > 0:38:23in a team of specialist recruiters to help broaden their search.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27There's loads of kind of choice available, if you do the training...
0:38:27 > 0:38:28..and she's the director...
0:38:28 > 0:38:31So what kind of thing are you looking for, Alan?
0:38:31 > 0:38:32I'm a data analyst.
0:38:32 > 0:38:37Despite her hard work, Erica is yet to find a job.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39- Hiya.- Nice to meet you.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42- How are you today?- Er, good. Yeah, yeah.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Nancy has set up a meeting with Marks & Spencer.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49They run a work placement scheme, in partnership with Remploy.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52It's essentially a programme to help people get into work.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54We essentially scrap the interview
0:38:54 > 0:38:57and we say you don't need to do that, but come and join us
0:38:57 > 0:39:01for two weeks, three weeks, and we want to see what you can do.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04We need amazing people like yourself to come
0:39:04 > 0:39:07and interact with customers and talk about the products.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Do I have a go on the till and everything?
0:39:10 > 0:39:13So you'll be doing all parts of what the customer assistant role is,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16so how does that sound to you?
0:39:16 > 0:39:19- Yeah, yeah.- Yeah? So what I'll do is...
0:39:19 > 0:39:22'I'd give a trial a go just to see, really,'
0:39:22 > 0:39:25what I'd be like in the retail world.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Erica has been sort of, you know, battling this negativity,
0:39:30 > 0:39:33and what I'm really hoping is that the validation that she's
0:39:33 > 0:39:35received from...from not just me,
0:39:35 > 0:39:37but from her peers, from the interviewer
0:39:37 > 0:39:39and from everyone she's interacted with,
0:39:39 > 0:39:44that that validation will give her an extra boost.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46The hard work does start now.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52So what are you getting a haircut done today, for, then?
0:39:52 > 0:39:55- In preparation for job interviews. - Oh, OK.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Taking advice from the training centre,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Alan is smartening up his appearance.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04What do they say, imagine them without their clothes on,
0:40:04 > 0:40:06it makes it easier!
0:40:06 > 0:40:07That doesn't actually work!
0:40:10 > 0:40:12It looks good to me. I'd give you a job, definitely.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Yes. I'm not planning to work in a barbers', though!
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- You are looking dapper, Alan! - Thank you very much.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25Sorry - it itches a bit.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29In Merseyside, Erica's friend Caroline is helping her get
0:40:29 > 0:40:31ready for a significant day.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34Go on, then, try your coat on, let's have a look, let's see what it looks like on you.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36- Yeah.- The full effect.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Fantastic. Ah, you look fab, don't you?
0:40:41 > 0:40:44Let's have a look. Oh! Fab.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- Fantastic. - Well, I've got my work uniform on.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49It feels strange, really.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53I can feel the reality happening.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57This could be the start of something really big.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06If Erica's four-week trial is a success,
0:41:06 > 0:41:10it could mean an end to her six years of unemployment.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15It is daunting, working in a big department store, because I don't
0:41:15 > 0:41:16always read body language
0:41:16 > 0:41:20so I don't always know what people really think of me.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26- Hi, Erica.- Hi!- You all right?- Yes. - Very smart in your uniform.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28- Let's go.- All right.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30If she's to have any chance of getting a job,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34she will need to impress the recruitment coordinator.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- So now we're on the second floor. - I've bought a few bras from here.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Oh, very good. So that's where you can go...
0:41:39 > 0:41:43- I think I've got a Marks' bra on. - So have I! Come this way. Come on.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46We'll go down and have a look on the ground floor.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Standards are high. It's a big store.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51We expect an awful lot from our staff,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53and I think that some of the challenge is
0:41:53 > 0:41:56getting to know our customers, getting to know our stock, I think
0:41:56 > 0:42:00that's part of the learning curve, for Erica to be able to fulfil that.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- This is Roma, your buddy.- Hiya. Nice to meet you.
0:42:05 > 0:42:06Nice to meet you as well.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10I'm going to hand you over to these lovely girls and they'll look after you. Thank you. See you later.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- See you later.- You've got your book, have you? Yes. OK. See you later.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18Erica starts on the shop floor, sorting out the stock.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22So as you see there, that's a bit of a mess at the minute, so you would
0:42:22 > 0:42:25be putting everything back into size and making sure that they've
0:42:25 > 0:42:29got one of these on, and that's called a pip.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Why can't I find a 20?
0:42:34 > 0:42:36What other one is it we're looking for?
0:42:36 > 0:42:37Ooh!
0:42:37 > 0:42:39- Oh, dear.- Sorry.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- Ooh!- It happens to all of us.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50- Yeah.- Shall I put them on the counter?
0:42:50 > 0:42:53They're quite safe on the counter. No-one'll knock them.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57- Are they safe there?- Hopefully. - Right. OK.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01They just dropped out my hand - me trying to be too clever for my own good.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03You're doing really good, Erica. Brilliant.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06- I like what you're doing there. - Oh, thank you!- Yeah.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11I like to feel I'm a bit of use.
0:43:11 > 0:43:12Oh.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16It must be hard for her, coming in to a workplace like this.
0:43:18 > 0:43:19I think it is a confidence thing
0:43:19 > 0:43:23and maybe these four weeks will bring out the confidence in Erica.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26In four weeks' time you'll see a different person.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38After applying for dozens of jobs,
0:43:38 > 0:43:41one of Alan's leads has finally come through.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45I think I'm looking just right for this role, and hopefully, this'll
0:43:45 > 0:43:50lead on to an actual career, because they could really use my skills.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53Ah.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56Oh, you tie it like that, I think.
0:43:57 > 0:43:59Um...
0:44:01 > 0:44:03And we're finished.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05People who aren't autistic,
0:44:05 > 0:44:10they claim we're the ones with the obsessional attention to detail,
0:44:10 > 0:44:14yet they get finicky about things being slightly out of place!
0:44:19 > 0:44:23Alan's been offered a three-day work placement at one of the UK's
0:44:23 > 0:44:28- leading energy suppliers. - I'm really excited about this.
0:44:28 > 0:44:30I'm having wonderful feelings of elation.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36If he can prove his worth to the company,
0:44:36 > 0:44:38it could lead to a permanent job.
0:44:38 > 0:44:43I want them to see my wonderful talents and look at those
0:44:43 > 0:44:47rather than just the disadvantages that autistic people have.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52It's very important that this goes as planned
0:44:52 > 0:44:54and that it leads me somewhere.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00This international power company employs
0:45:00 > 0:45:03over 5,000 people in the East Midlands.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07My team is responsible for how we support our customers
0:45:07 > 0:45:10who are having difficulty with their payments.
0:45:10 > 0:45:12It's all about using statistics and segmentation models
0:45:12 > 0:45:14- and all that kind of thing. - Excellent.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17- Is there anything that you'd like to ask?- Um...yeah, yes.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21How much investment does e-on make into the increasingly
0:45:21 > 0:45:23important renewable energy market?
0:45:23 > 0:45:26Cos this is going to come increasingly important as time
0:45:26 > 0:45:28goes by.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31I believe £1.8 billion over the last five years.
0:45:31 > 0:45:33I'm very pleased about that.
0:45:36 > 0:45:39- How many customers? - 900,000, from memory.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41It's a lot of customer information.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45Alan has been given the task of analysing customer data,
0:45:45 > 0:45:48which he'll later present to senior management.
0:45:49 > 0:45:53I think we should remove customers in columns I to J.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57And how many have got an energy rating that matches the potential...
0:45:57 > 0:45:59I've found 5,000 of them.
0:45:59 > 0:46:035,282.
0:46:03 > 0:46:05You need to be more specific, I'm afraid.
0:46:07 > 0:46:08What do you mean?
0:46:08 > 0:46:12- You need to say an exact number, rather than just around.- Oh, OK.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16- No problem.- 5,282.- OK.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21I'm feeling rather at ease, and I love working with this data.
0:46:21 > 0:46:25The presentation bit is what I've really got to get right.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27That's easier said than done.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44- Hello, there. Do you want a bag? - No, it's all right, I've got one.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Fair enough.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50Erica is partway through her four-week work trial.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53That's lovely, thanks very much. Have a nice afternoon.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55After a hesitant start,
0:46:55 > 0:46:59her next job is to help serve customers at the tills.
0:46:59 > 0:47:03I'll scan them and then you can fold them. There you go.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05I'll just fold them up for you nicely.
0:47:07 > 0:47:11Communication is a big challenge for Erica and we're aware of that.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14There is a lot at stake. Is this the right job for Erica to do?
0:47:14 > 0:47:17Is this the right environment to put her in?
0:47:17 > 0:47:20At the end of the placement, that's what we'll have to decide.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25- Are you visiting?- Yeah. We're from Australia, yeah.- Oh, nice!
0:47:25 > 0:47:27I quite like The Seekers.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29Sorry?
0:47:29 > 0:47:33You know the original Seekers, the group, they were from Australia.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36- I sing a lot of their stuff. - We're from West Australia.
0:47:36 > 0:47:42Oh, I'm glad you're having a nice time. Thanks.
0:47:42 > 0:47:43Bye-bye.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46- I wonder if they thought I was mad telling them that.- No, not at all!
0:47:46 > 0:47:49The original Seekers were from Australia.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52People say I sound like Judith Durham from The Seekers.
0:47:55 > 0:48:00- Would you like a bag?- Er, no, thank you, I've got one.- Oh, sound, OK.
0:48:00 > 0:48:05- Oh, lovely. You've given me £20. - That's it.
0:48:05 > 0:48:09I have surprised myself cos I didn't think I'd cope
0:48:09 > 0:48:10quite as well as I did.
0:48:10 > 0:48:15- Here's your receipt.- Thanks very much. Thank you.- Bye.- Bye.
0:48:15 > 0:48:21Getting a job that I'm employable for would mean the world to me.
0:48:21 > 0:48:25I don't want my life to be sort of just this dead end, I want it to...
0:48:25 > 0:48:28I want to prosper and blossom.
0:48:39 > 0:48:44Alan is nearing the end of his work placement at the energy company.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48After analysing customer data,
0:48:48 > 0:48:51he now has to present his findings to the team.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54I need to make the best impression I can on the teams
0:48:54 > 0:48:57who are viewing this presentation, and to make sure I give them
0:48:57 > 0:49:00good opportunities to ask relevant questions.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05If he's to have any chance of securing a job at the company,
0:49:05 > 0:49:09Alan will need to impress a room full of senior management.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Let's begin, huh?
0:49:13 > 0:49:17We started with the 885,000 customers in the East
0:49:17 > 0:49:19and West Midlands...
0:49:19 > 0:49:22Sorry, could I ask you just to move slightly backwards
0:49:22 > 0:49:25and to your left, cos you're blocking the screen at the moment.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27OK.
0:49:27 > 0:49:33Right, and we got a final result of 14,236 customers we can help.
0:49:33 > 0:49:38We used a Venn diagram to construct how many would need more than
0:49:38 > 0:49:41- one of these measures. - I'm a non-technical person.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44My question for you is, did you...have you found anything
0:49:44 > 0:49:46in the last couple of days in your research... Is there any
0:49:46 > 0:49:48- learning for e-on?- Ye-yes.
0:49:48 > 0:49:50We had to change all the Ys and Ns to zeros and ones
0:49:50 > 0:49:53because one's yes in binary, zero's for no,
0:49:53 > 0:49:57and from that we could get sums and averages instantly in the Excel
0:49:57 > 0:49:59data sheet without having to use any formulae,
0:49:59 > 0:50:02so we could have a quicker method.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05It's best to substitute the Ys and Ns for binary code when we can.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10- Any last questions before we wrap up?- Not for me.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12Thank you very much, everyone.
0:50:12 > 0:50:13Thank you, Alan.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18My biggest hope is that I've impressed the team
0:50:18 > 0:50:20with my analytical skills and they'll give me a job.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22The worst situation is that I wouldn't get
0:50:22 > 0:50:26a job at the end of it and I'd be back to square one again.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37The time has come for Alan to find out
0:50:37 > 0:50:39if he has a future at the company.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46We'll start off by asking how you found the experience overall.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49I found it a very exhilarating, relaxing experience, I can tell you.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51Fair enough!
0:50:51 > 0:50:53What do you think are the things that have gone really well?
0:50:53 > 0:50:55The presentation
0:50:55 > 0:50:59and my ability to work proactively with your data insight team.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02So you haven't worked in our industry before, you haven't worked
0:51:02 > 0:51:05with some of the tools we've been using, and you rose to the
0:51:05 > 0:51:09challenge of it, but there's still an awful lot for you to learn.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11I have a couple of things to share as well,
0:51:11 > 0:51:14which are more around the presentation piece.
0:51:14 > 0:51:19I felt you were talking at the room rather than necessarily
0:51:19 > 0:51:21really engaging closely...
0:51:21 > 0:51:24It's actually very difficult with this sort of presentation.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26It's not the right style voice, I'm afraid, Rob.
0:51:26 > 0:51:31Well, with any feedback, you're more than welcome to park it
0:51:31 > 0:51:32and say that's not for me.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37The situation we're in at the moment is that we don't have
0:51:37 > 0:51:39any direct vacancies.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44But given that you've only been with us a few days,
0:51:44 > 0:51:46you have definitely shown that you have the
0:51:46 > 0:51:51potential for a career as a data analyst, and we really look forward
0:51:51 > 0:51:55to seeing applications from you when we have vacancies in the future.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59- I understand. Well, thank you for your time.- Thank you.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02Thank you.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07I would describe it as a bittersweet experience.
0:52:08 > 0:52:12Even though I wasn't offered a job, which would have been ideal,
0:52:12 > 0:52:14I felt I'd done my best here.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22The good news is they said I had potential.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27Are you ever going to give up on finding a job?
0:52:27 > 0:52:32Well, you can't, really. Come on! Unless I had some sort of windfall.
0:52:41 > 0:52:46With her month-long trial over, Erica's about to find out
0:52:46 > 0:52:50- if she's done enough to get back into employment.- Oh, hello, Erica!
0:52:50 > 0:52:52- Come in.- Hiya.- Take a seat.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55- VOICEOVER:- I do feel nervous about discovering the reality about...
0:52:55 > 0:52:58as to whether I've done well in these last few weeks, you know,
0:52:58 > 0:53:03because, basically, I'm 46, I haven't got for ever.
0:53:03 > 0:53:07I do feel I've given it my all and that's all I can do.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10How do you think you've done over these last four weeks?
0:53:10 > 0:53:13I surprised myself, how I've performed.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15- More than I gave myself credit for. - Yeah.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Obviously, there's an awful lot that you can improve on.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19The tasks that we give you on the shop floor,
0:53:19 > 0:53:22just processing them at a quicker pace,
0:53:22 > 0:53:25take that as a future reference for any other jobs.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29But timekeeping has been great over the four weeks that you've been
0:53:29 > 0:53:33here, and also, your communication's improved an awful lot.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36And on that note, I would really like to say to you, which I'm
0:53:36 > 0:53:38so proud of saying, that we can offer you a vacancy.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40Yes!
0:53:40 > 0:53:41Oh!
0:53:41 > 0:53:44So, well done, Erica, and that's all through your hard work,
0:53:44 > 0:53:48and that's all well done to you, so...
0:53:48 > 0:53:50- Are you pleased?- Yeah!- Yeah?
0:53:50 > 0:53:54So well done! And that's the hard work...
0:53:54 > 0:53:57That's all I can say to you, well done, I'm so proud of you
0:53:57 > 0:53:59and you should be proud of yourself.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01Thanks!
0:54:01 > 0:54:05- And we look forward to working with you.- Yeah, yeah.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08- So I can celebrate tonight. - Celebrate tonight. Not too much!
0:54:08 > 0:54:10But you can celebrate tonight, yes.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14I'm feeling really ecstatic, I can't believe that I've got a job
0:54:14 > 0:54:17and one I really believe I'm employable for.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24It's amazing! I didn't think anyone was ever going to employ me.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28I thought I was going to be just a pensioner who's done very little work.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43Erica's keen to share the news with foster dad Patrick.
0:54:44 > 0:54:50- So they offered me the job.- They offered you the job?- Yeah!- Erica!
0:54:50 > 0:54:52- Oh, fantastic!- Yeah!
0:54:52 > 0:54:56Oh, that's really great. Oh, this is wonderful.
0:54:56 > 0:55:01- Yeah, I'm ecstatic at it. I'm over the moon.- Yeah. Excellent.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04It wasn't about me, it was about pulling my weight.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06- Yes, I know that about you.- Yeah.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10You've always wanted to contribute your part to society, always.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13- I have, yeah. I've always had a conscience.- Yeah.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16I want to be an asset, not a liability.
0:55:16 > 0:55:20Isn't it lovely to have someone who gets
0:55:20 > 0:55:23so much joy about contributing to society and being a taxpayer?
0:55:23 > 0:55:27That's wonderful, isn't it? It's one of the great things about her.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31Cheerio, Erica. And well done. That was brilliant! I'm really pleased.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34- Thank you.- Bye-bye.- Thanks. Bye.
0:55:36 > 0:55:41I'm looking forward to this big world in front of me, really.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45It's a start. Waited a long time for this big start.
0:55:58 > 0:56:05Excellent! Just going to get my name badge, which I need. There we go.
0:56:07 > 0:56:09And we're set.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Four months after his job trial,
0:56:12 > 0:56:16Alan's persistence has finally paid off.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19I got a telephone interview for this job,
0:56:19 > 0:56:23I passed the telephone interview and I started here on Wednesday.
0:56:23 > 0:56:28I felt elated, I felt relieved, I felt so pleased I'd got it
0:56:28 > 0:56:32and I felt this is an important step forward.
0:56:32 > 0:56:36He's found a job, in the energy company's accounts department.
0:56:36 > 0:56:41- The parking receipt's missing for this one, unfortunately.- Oh, is it?
0:56:41 > 0:56:44It should... I mean, it must have got lost.
0:56:44 > 0:56:48What I do is order the expenses of 10,000 UK employees.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53I check the envelopes, the receipts, whether the records match,
0:56:53 > 0:56:58and approve them so that their expenses can be repaid.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00It has to be done carefully.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05Done the last one of this pile.
0:57:05 > 0:57:10- Where are your completed ones that you've done today?- They're here.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12You're holding them right now.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14I think I'm doing very well.
0:57:14 > 0:57:17They're very impressed with the way I've been able to clear
0:57:17 > 0:57:19much of the backlog.
0:57:19 > 0:57:20When you're done with them,
0:57:20 > 0:57:23then, bring them round and then I'll file them away for you, yeah?
0:57:23 > 0:57:26Yes, indeed. I just need to click "pass".
0:57:26 > 0:57:29- I'm going to store these in the cupboard.- OK.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32Pass them to Lou and she'll be able to show you.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36I know where they go.
0:57:37 > 0:57:41Is this is where you place... That's not... Where...
0:57:41 > 0:57:43What do you place in here?
0:57:43 > 0:57:46His mathematical skills are phenomenal,
0:57:46 > 0:57:49he has managed to clear a huge backlog that we had
0:57:49 > 0:57:53for expenses, which he seems really proud of, so that's really great.
0:57:57 > 0:58:02For the first time, Alan has started full-time employment.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04I do feel part of the team.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07I've already been invited to a birthday meal
0:58:07 > 0:58:09of one of my colleagues.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11I'm certainly very proud to be working
0:58:11 > 0:58:18here in an analyst-type job and to be progressing with my career.
0:58:18 > 0:58:21My life is back on track, and it's certainly going forwards.