After being knocked back for a job by 160 employers most people would have given up.
But not Jason Roberts from Orange, NSW.
Mr Roberts will soon be helping customers at the city’s StarChem Discount Pharmacy after his persistence, determination and dedication finally paid off.
With the help of employment and training agencies including OCTEC and LiveBetter the 26-year-old has ended 40 weeks of frustration and searching by scoring work.
With a new electric wheelchair, Mr Roberts said he was delighted.
“I’ll be greeting customers and doing customer service,” he said.
He said he had previously worked on a checkout with Woolworths.
“It was too much for me,” he said.
He then embarked on seeking a new job but found constant knockbacks.
“They said, ‘no wheelchair access, no disabled toilets’.”
On top of that, emails he sent to employers were often never even considered.
OCTEC Disability Employment Services and career consultant Rebecca Plant said Mr Roberts was an inspiration to others.
“He’s got sheer determination really,” she said. “He’s a volunteer, he doesn’t have to do this, it wouldn’t affect his funding.
“Every Monday morning he would send me about eight emails saying he’d been knocked back.
“Some emails [to employers] just pinged back which is disheartening.
“He has visited most places in the CBD.”
She said Mr Roberts would start at Starchem in a couple of weeks.
“They’ve made the role for him,” she said.
LiveBetter Vocational Services manager Kristen Hunter said Mr Roberts had undertaken a range of vocational and educational training to help him find work.
Mrs Hunter said staff had accompanied him on some visits to companies.
She said there were about 45 people on their books from the Central West.
StarChem nutritionist Kylie McCloskey said Mr Roberts had impressed them from the moment he came into the shop to ask for work.
“He has a very strong determination,” she said.
“He impressed us with his amazing personality, he is very keen to improve and learn, very enthusiastic.”
She said he displayed an empathy for customers the store sought in staff.
Mr Roberts’ job will initially be eight hours a week but he is hoping that can expand.
He currently also has one day a week’s work at Wangarang Industries.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
