Nader's chemistry knowledge didn't go to waste!
23 year old Nader moved to the UK at the age of five from Iran. He is currently living with his parents. They moved around quite a bit when he was younger but have been settled in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet for most of Nader’s life.
He had been studying Chemistry at University but in his final year things got to much and a mental health problem meant he could no longer continue with his studies. With nearly three years of studying behind him he didn’t want having to quit his course due to his mental health to leave him stuck in a dead end job he wasn’t interested in. When he was referred to Twining Enterprise Employment Specialist Kevin Tsang he was working in Tesco and really hated it, especially the 5 am starts.
Basically it was a very tough time I was in my final year I wasn’t capable of completing my course because of my mental health. I had just started my job with Tesco and didn’t know where to go from there because I hated it. I wanted to find something that correlated with my interest in science. Otherwise I would have felt like I had wasted three years.
Together with Kevin they tried a lot of different things to help Nader find something more suited to his interests which built on the years of study he had undertaken before his mental health meant he had to step away from his course without graduating.
Firstly we were focusing on the chemistry aspect looking at analytical science roles, but I just kept meeting dead end upon dead end. After a while it didn’t seem possible. I was very disheartened and Kevin tried to cheer me up and was very optimistic. Eventually we decided a pharmacy role might be better suited to me. So I began to go after those kind of roles, then Kevin found a mobile app where you could apply directly for those kind of jobs. You shared a mini CV, and if they were interested they contacted you for your full CV, well I managed to get an interview and it went on from there. I have been there three months and I am enjoying it a lot.
Today Nader is working in a pharmacy ensuring that his chemistry knowledge isn't wasted and rebuilding his life and career after a fairly serious incidence of psychosis. He really is evidence that career's can be got back on track after mental health problems with the right support.
I was so pleased for Nader when he reached his employment goal. He worked tirelessly in collaboration with me, and shows what can be achieved through the Individual Placement and Support employment model. It is also great to see him utilising his learning from University in a field of work which he is interested in.
Kevin, Employment Specialist
