Tom has congenital bilateral clubbed feet (new window), a condition which worsened over the years. Tom now uses crutches for mobility. During his younger days he was an ambulance attendant and eventually ended up working in call centres where he gained a lot of experience. He was referred to the Job Focus Program by a private recruiting company.

Tom and the Job Focus Employment Specialist spotted an advertisement for a telemarketer on Craigslist (new window), and applied for the position using a resume, cover letter, and a letter introducing the Job Focus Program. The employer called and was interested in Tom, and explained that his company manufactures, sells and services large industrial cranes for the worldwide market place. He needed someone to identify markets, call them, and schedule appointments for the engineering and sales teams to visit the site, thereby making multi-million dollar sales.

The owner called Tom in for an interview, as well as several other candidates. After the interview, Tom was given a test – to call the employer and leave a message on the answering machine that would highlight his best customer service skills. Tom won this competition hands down and continues to be employed by this company.

Congratulations, Tom!