Testimonials: Nazia's Story

When I first joined the Restart Scheme, I’ll admit—I gave my Work Coach a bit of a hard time (sorry, Abdul 🤭). But Abdul was incredibly welcoming and introduced me to a range of work opportunities. He asked me about my motivation and what kind of work I was looking for. Honestly, I had no idea. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I almost didn’t want to be in a position where I had to look for work.

I’d been out of employment for over 10 years due to my son being diagnosed with a heart condition, which required full-time care. Thankfully, he’s now made a full recovery and is thriving. But after such a long time away from work, I didn’t know where to begin. Even though I have a bachelor’s degree in Education Studies, I lacked experience, confidence, and the communication skills needed to put myself forward.

Thanks to the Restart Scheme, I’ve come a long way. I went from not knowing what I wanted to do, to understanding my strengths and abilities—skills that are essential across all sectors. My coach, Harpal, has been incredibly supportive. Over the past few months, he helped me update my CV, taught me how to apply for jobs effectively, and encouraged me to complete online courses that boosted my knowledge, confidence, and motivation.

I was then invited to attend workshops led by Ali, who informed us that EE was recruiting for a customer service role. During the sessions, Ali walked us through the application process, interview techniques, and how to prepare. I’m so glad he did—it helped me feel mentally ready. He also explained the hours, dress code, and benefits of working at EE, all of which sounded ideal for me.

One key part of the final interview was a five-minute presentation on a topic of our choice. Following the coach’s advice, I chose ‘Home Education’ and prepared bullet points for myself, along with printed PowerPoint slides for the EE recruitment team. I timed myself, rehearsed, and refined it to fit the five-minute limit. Then I waited for the call…

I was invited to interview the very next day. I reminded myself that the Restart Scheme believed in me—that’s why I’d been shortlisted. I told myself, “You’ve got this!”

When I arrived at the office, just as the Restart team had explained, I was shown around, introduced to a few team members, and then taken straight into the interview. Most of the questions were ones we’d practised in the workshop, like “What attracted you to apply to EE?” and “Give an example of a time you dealt with a situation you weren’t responsible for.” The only surprise was, “How do you handle difficult situations with different personalities?”—which Ali may have covered, but I must have missed!

Then came the presentation. I truly believe this is what secured the job for me. I spoke passionately about Home Education, shared a chart showing the rise in home-educated children from 2019 to the present, and explained the reasons and benefits behind it.

Finally, I had the chance to listen in on live customer calls, which gave me a real insight into the role. It reassured me that, with training, I could definitely do this.

I’m proud to say I was offered the job on the spot.

A huge thank you to the entire team at the Restart Scheme for supporting me through this journey. I’m so grateful.