Sharon's work experience

Name: Sharon

Age: 18

Location: Wrexham

Work experience placement: St David’s Hotel

Employment history: Various part time work

Current employment: Employed at St David’s Hotel

Criminal record

The biggest problem I faced when trying to get work was my criminal record. No one ever asks about being in care – and you never have to tell people anyway – but you have to be honest about convictions.

I’ve got arson on my record. As soon as any employer sees that they think “nutjob”. If there are ten people going for the one job, I’m the last person they’ll pick. Who wants an arsonist working for them?

This means I’ve got to try my hardest to make a good impression at the interview, and that’s not always easy to do when you’re nervous.

The thing is no one ever admits they’ve been put off by my criminal record – they just lie, or avoid you.

I’ve been for loads of interviews, and been rejected loads. In all that time, I’ve never had a letter. No one’s ever called to explain. I even chased it up on a couple of occasions. They would say my interview wasn’t good enough – they wouldn’t even mention the criminal record, as though they were embarrassed to admit that was the reason.

Opportunity

Because of these difficulties, the offer of doing work experience was just what I needed.

At no point did I think, “Oh it’s two weeks work without being paid, I’m not interested”. I realised I needed an opportunity to get some experience, to have something to put on my CV that shows people I’m a good, reliable worker.

I don’t understand why people wouldn’t want to do it. I got my travel paid for, I got meals paid for, and I got work experience. That’s got to be better than sitting around. It was much better to have some kind of structure.

If I hadn’t been on the work experience, my day wouldn’t have any structure to it, I’d have spent my time being lazy. Getting up at stupid o’clock, watching TV, being a bum. That’s not who I am, I want to get up and do something useful.

The work experience made me feel better about myself.  I thought, “you know, I’ve done something good. I’ve done two weeks and I’ve stuck at it.”

There were other girls on the course and they didn’t stick it out or they didn’t attend every day. I did. That was an achievement for me, to go in every day and smile.

At the end of the two weeks they offered me a job.