Marky’s
Story
Marky’s Journey: From Uncertainty to Confidence
Marky, a 23-year-old referred to the Youth Employment Service (YES) by the Department of Work and Pensions, came to us with unique experience in proofreading, fact-checking, and copywriting. Their work with AI chatbots—refining prompts, ensuring appropriate tone, evaluating responses, and safeguarding outputs—revealed a clear passion for language and precision. When we began working together, it was evident that Marky wanted to pursue opportunities aligned with these skills, and thus their journey began.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Direction
When Marky first met with YES coach Laura, they were feeling uneasy, having recently lost their job and wanting to re-enter the workforce quickly. Together, they explored Marky’s qualifications, career goals, and long-term aspirations. Copywriting, proofreading, and editing stood out as areas of interest, and the focus shifted to building the skills and qualifications necessary for a successful future.
One critical step was assessing Marky’s foundational skills. Marky shared:
“English has always been my safest subject, while Maths is my least favourite. But I’ve now come to terms with the fact that I do know maths and can understand it. Multiply has been teaching me better ways to solve problems like percentages, and the support has been invaluable.”
Marky was nervous about their maths and English assessments but exceeded their own expectations, gaining a clear understanding of their current abilities:
“I never sat my GCSEs and had no idea where I stood. I thought I was okay at English and not good at maths, but it turned out I was actually pretty good at maths and even better at English!”
Building Skills and Confidence
With support from YES, Marky began working on their CV and exploring college and university pathways. Marky also reflected on the qualifications and skills needed in their desired field and set the goal of earning GCSEs in maths and English. Through referral to the Multiply program, Marky is receiving tailored support to strengthen these core skills.
“YES helped me look at long-term career options, industry pathways, and viable job opportunities. Laura would go through job listings with me to see if they were realistic options and helped me plan the next steps. Now, I’m working on getting my GCSEs to open up more career and educational opportunities.”
A Positive Outlook on the Future
Marky found the guidance and encouragement they needed to take steps they once thought impossible:
“I always saw college as a huge thing that seemed unattainable, but now it feels doable and achievable—something I actually look forward to exploring. Laura made me feel very safe in our meetings and helped me work out what to do next. She also put things into perspective for me, which was incredibly helpful.”
Proud Moments
As Marky’s YES coach, Laura shares:
“I’m so proud of the progress Marky has made during our time together. From building confidence to taking actionable steps toward their goals, they’ve grown so much. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things they’ll achieve in the future.”
Marky’s journey is a testament to the power of support, perseverance, and belief in one’s abilities. We’re excited to see where their next steps lead them.