Meet Dave

 

Dave, 53 years old , has a masters degree in business and had a long successful career in business and management. He tried his hand at being self-employed as a business consultant but it wasn’t successful and he struggled for a number of years, lost his car, credit cards and his home and ended up homeless on the streets in May 2015. After volunteering and taking a new direction in his life and career, Dave has secured an amazing job opportunity to teach business in China.

 

Dave tells his story during his appointment at Suited for Success.

 

 

Dave's story

 

 

 

“Feeling lost, I withdrew all the money I had in the bank closed the front door to my house for the last time and jumped on a train to Blackpool in May 2105.   I spent about a week there drinking far too much until I ran out of money, jumped on a train and ended up in Burton. For the first few weeks I lived on the streets before a room became available in a local YMCA.

 

“Through the YMCA and other residents, I started using the local soup kitchens each weekday. Not only did you get food but also access to clothes, toiletries, advice and assistance.  I met some great people who I am still in contact with. I became a volunteer at AgeUK and worked there every day.  My roles included admin, escorting, and mostly serving the meals.  This was great fun and I enjoyed it enormously – AgeUK even nominated me as Volunteer of the year for the 2016 local awards.

 

A new career

 

“I moved to Birmingham in 2016 and have been living in a homeless hostel on the Hagley Road.  At the local Jobcentre Kelly, my usual advisor was extremely helpful and knowing that I enjoyed my roles at AgeUK asked if I had considered a career working with and helping people.  We looked at various courses and knowing that I enjoyed the English Language I decided to take this route. 

 

“It took a little while to secure but after a couple of months, I purchased a £400 Advanced TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course from ‘WOWCHER’ for £24 – which the job centre covered.  Since passing this course I have, on a voluntary basis, assisted a number of people to learn English.

 

A new job in China

 

“In August this year, I posted my details online and  I was contacted immediately. Within a week I was on a SKYPE interview to China.  The TEFL course was important but because I also had an MBA, CIMA and CIM qualifications, I got a job offer on the same day I posted my details online. The next morning I received a contract to teach Business in Schenzhen, China.

 

“If you would have told me 6 weeks ago this would happen I would never believe it.” - Dave.

 

New life, new career

 

The Suited for Success team wishes Dave all the best in his new life and career in China and we hope the suits we provided for him will help him to make a great first impression with confidence.