From Despair to Determination: A Client’s Journey to Reclaim Her Life
Once, I worked with a client who had been long-term unemployed and was receiving disability support from social welfare. Her life had taken a difficult turn—she had been relying heavily on her boyfriend’s support. When the relationship ended, she found herself alone, desperate, and struggling to make ends meet on a limited income. She felt lost, isolated, and deeply discouraged, especially as her disability payment barely covered rent—let alone essentials like food, utilities, or communication. Even her daughter, who, after separation, lived with her father, was a source of emotional and financial worry.
As an Employment Consultant, I knew my first job was to listen—to create a safe, respectful space where she could speak freely. I gave her time. I paid attention to every word. I wanted her to feel heard and seen.
At the end of that first session, I asked her three questions that changed everything:
- Do you want to change your life?
- Are you willing to share everything that’s holding you back from getting a job and becoming financially independent?
- Are you ready to do whatever it takes to make that change?
She said YES to all three. I asked her to write the question and her answers on a sticky note and place it on her fridge. “Read it aloud every day,” I told her. She did.
Breaking Barriers
At our second meeting, we began addressing the real obstacles. She bravely disclosed her struggle with alcohol and her involvement with AA, a referral from her social welfare caseworker. That session solidified a strong and trusting relationship. I was inspired by her commitment—she was punctual, organized, and took every task seriously. Her confidence slowly began to grow.
We started identifying her interests, transferable skills, and core values. She lit up when she spoke about her past in construction. Despite her arthritis diagnosis, which had forced her to leave the physical side of the work, her passion remained alive.
Reimagining Her Future
Together, we explored the construction industry—this time through a new lens. She no longer had to lift tools or carry materials. Instead, we focused on roles that would let her stay in the industry she loved while accommodating her physical limitations.
She attended workshops to build soft skills, while I arranged a functional assessment to determine workplace accommodations. In parallel, I gave her research tasks to better understand the industry. Each meeting, she came prepared – her knowledge growing, her confidence rising. Eventually, she returned with her own career decision: she wanted to become a National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO).
I was deeply impressed. She had mapped out the training requirements, eligibility, and certification process all on her own.
When I Almost Lost Her
There was a moment in the journey when I feared I might lose her. Life’s weight came crashing back in—doubt, old habits, fear of failure. She missed a meeting. Then another. And just like that, the momentum started to fade.
But I didn’t give up. I believed in her even when she couldn’t see the way forward. I followed up—gently but consistently. Emails, calls, reminders—always with encouragement, no judgement, and never with pressure. I reminded her of the sticky note on her fridge, the promise she made to herself, and the light she had begun to see.
Slowly, she came back. And not just back—stronger, more focused, more determined than ever.
From Vision to Reality
I fast-tracked her assessment and ensured the course provider confirmed she would be accepted, even with arthritis. A few days later, the green light came. I provided her with the pre-course training package that typically takes clients three to four weeks to complete—she finished it in one week, driven by her new sense of purpose and with my constant follow-up.
Soon after, she was approved for financial support and completed the course. Her practicum led directly to a full-time job offer from the same company.
A Life Transformed
The transformation I witnessed in her was phenomenal. From a place of desperation and invisibility, she rebuilt her life with courage, effort, and hope.
This is the power of believing in someone’s potential—even when they can’t see it themselves yet.
Now I’d Like to Ask You…
What do you think made the difference in this journey?
- Was it because she met an energetic, passionate Career Development Professional who believed in her and never gave up?
- Was it her quiet determination to rebuild her life no matter what?
- Or was it the magic that happens when both Clinet and CDP come together at just the right time?
👉If this story resonates with you or someone you know, don’t hesitate to reach out. At stepsUp Careers, we’re here to help you uncover what’s holding you back and walk with you toward lasting change.
📩Get in touch today at info@stepsupcareers.com or through our Contact Us page in www.stepsupcarers.com
Let’s take the first step—together.