Midge Got the Job

Fifteen months ago, Midge finished the first year of a Beauty Therapy course at college. She did really well but struggled with the physicality. As she looked ahead to the second year, it became clear that some aspects of the course weren't going to work alongside her health needs. It wasn't that she couldn't do the work. It was that reasonable adjustments and understanding were in short supply. Her tutor just wouldn’t adjust. The attitude seemed to be, "This is how we've always done it. We can’t change it." She could have. It wasn’t hard. I wanted to fight, like I have done for James and Arty. Midge didn't. She wanted to move on.

The problem was she didn't know what "moving on" looked like. She originally wanted to do more beauty courses independently. She has done some, but each course is expensive. For her to do what she wanted, she needed to work.

Her biological dad also thought she should get a job. He sees all reasons based on health issues as an excuse. A mentality issue. In principle, I understood. My disability has never been an excuse. I've always worked and pushed myself to do the best I could. The difference was in how the message was delivered. His push unfortunately dismissed the difficulties she did have and the effort she was making. She was applying for everything. Every vacancy. Every opportunity. Everything she could possibly do.

When an opportunity came up through Hannah's sister, she travelled to Nottingham, completed training, built new skills, and gained work experience with Boots. Afterwards she applied for Christmas jobs and managed to get a position at Tesco.

She worked incredibly hard.

There was a possibility that some seasonal staff would stay on after Christmas, so she gave it everything she had. Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

Then it was back to the drawing board.

Application after application. Interview after interview. Rejection after rejection. You could see how frustrating it was becoming.

Still, she kept going.

She attended Job Centre mentoring sessions. She explored every option available. She volunteered with the church children's team and became PCC Secretary. Neither role came with a wage, but they added experience, responsibility, and something positive to her CV.

A few months ago she also signed up with an agency as a supply teaching assistant. This time of year isn't exactly busy for supply work, but she still managed to pick up a day's work. One day isn't a career, but it was another step forward.

The reality is that the challenge wasn't simply competition. Plenty of people are looking for work.

There was also the issue of explaining her health needs. They're not particularly complicated. She can work. She wants to work. She simply needs sensible adjustments and an employer who understands the difference between working hard and making yourself unwell.

No employer will ever tell you that's the reason they didn't choose you. There are always other explanations available. Still, it was hard not to wonder sometimes.

Yet she kept applying.

Last week, another opportunity appeared. This time it was Frankie & Benny's.

The interview went well. A few days later they called and asked whether she'd be willing to do a Saturday night trial shift because they were short-staffed.

It was a difficult decision. On one hand, she desperately wanted to prove herself. On the other, we've all heard stories about "trial shifts" ending with free labour and a polite rejection.

Midge said yes. Of course she did.

She learned quickly, worked hard, got stuck in with the team, and came home exhausted but hopeful. They told her she'd hear by Monday at the latest.

Sunday came. Nothing. Monday came. Nothing. At one point she received a missed call and spent ages trying to ring back, but couldn't get through. Then the silence continued.

Tuesday passed. Wednesday passed. By then, I think we'd all quietly convinced ourselves that the call, if it came, would start with "Sorry, but..."

Then Thursday happened.

Midge was out with Hannah in Pets at Home when her phone rang. She rushed outside to answer it.

She got the job.

We are unbelievably proud of her. Not simply because she got the position, but because of everything it took to get there.

The applications, interviews, mentoring sessions, disappointments, self-doubt, and the constant need to pick herself up and try again.

Most people only see the phone call at the end of the story. We saw the fifteen months that came before it. That's what makes this so special. We hear about how hard it is to get a job nowadays, especially for those who are young, inexperienced, and have little qualifications to wow employers and stand out against the competition.

Midge never stopped trying. Never stopped learning. Never stopped believing that eventually somebody would give her a chance.

She earned it. Every step of the way.

We're so proud of you, Midge.

Now go show them what we already know.

Love Maddy 🧡🧡