How I got a job as a Customer Services Assistant

Meet Emily

Emily, 18, has autism and a learning disability . She is currently in a paid job as a Customer Services Assistant at Booths Supermarket. We recently caught up with her to find out how she got her job.

How did you get your Customer Services Assistant job?

I did work experience for Booths for 8 months before I was offered a paid position and that massively helped me.

It was my mum who approached Booths – and it is very much down to finding a supportive boss, who sees the positive impact they can make on giving a person with a disability the chance to be in a paid job, to earn money and as importantly to feel ‘useful’.

Do you get support to do your job?

Yes – Booths have said my shift can be 4 hours rather than 4 hours and 15mins, so that I can keep to my routines of when I take a break and when I have my lunch. My routines are very important for me to keep calm, and Booths were very understanding of this.

Also, when I have to do my Induction Courses that covered a range of in-depth courses with some difficult language in them, they allowed my mum to be with me to help read through some of the more difficult topics, so I could choose the correct answers to the online tests and complete my Induction courses.

I can also ask for help when I am on the tills, and someone stands behind me. At the beginning I needed help with the money, but I don’t need that as much anymore.

What do you love most about your role?

Working on the tills and serving customers. I scan people's items through the till and then I ask them if they are paying by card or cash. I am good at my job because I am quick and thorough. I enjoy scanning.

I was very nervous on my first day, but I am not nervous at all now.

What would you say to anyone with a learning disability who’s thinking of getting a job?

Definitely volunteer first, so you can build up your skills and confidence before putting yourself under the pressure of a ‘paid’ job.

Every person needs to feel they can contribute to society and having a paid role really helps with that. Just be yourself. You have skills that other people might not have and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Do you think you have grown/changed since starting work?

Yes, I have definitely become more confident since starting work and my communication skills have improved when meeting new people. I feel more mature now. I also really like earning money that I can spend on things I want to – and also save some money.

What would you say to employers about hiring someone with a learning disability?

I have different skills to those of my colleagues. My brain works a bit differently, so I can do certain things my colleagues can’t – like keeping calm when the tills are busy and customers are getting stressed. Some of my colleagues can’t cope with that but I can.