Jobseeker takes to streets with his whiteboard CV...
a JOBSEEKER was so desperate to land a new career he stood outside an employment event holding his CV on a whiteboard.
andy blackburn says he ‘put his life on hold’ for the last few years to care for his ill mum.
sadly, she passed away recently and now andy, 38, a former Police community support officer (Pcso) in salford who has worked in several public sector jobs, is looking for employment again.
he spent yesterday outside the total DECOM event at Manchester central, bidding to catch a potential employer’s eye. all the key players in the oil, gas and nuclear energy industry gathered there, and andy managed to hand out his business card to some influential people.
he also carried a giant whiteboard listing his qualifications, to get their attention as they headed through the door.
andy said the stunt was a success, and he was handed around a dozen business cards from people interested in hiring him.
he said: “It was well-received, people were giving me contact details and said what I was doing was ‘admirable’.
“one of the contacts invited me to coffee.
“he spent a good half an hour with us. It was really beneficial.”
andy has been unable to work over the last few years as he was caring for his mother cecilia at her home in cumbria after she was diagnosed with alzheimer’s disease.
sadly, cecilia passed away earlier this year at the age of 71, and andy has started looking for jobs to get his career back on track.
andy has previously worked in a number of roles in the public sector, but said government cuts mean he is looking for employment in the energy industry, which has better employment prospects.
he said: “I have the qualifications and skills and willingness to learn, I just need a starting point.”