Dale Foster is the face of unemployment in the Hunter.
He is 25 years old, lives in Gillieston Heights and desperately wants a job.
He has now been unemployed for five months and it is starting to take its toll.
“I moved back here from Wollongong and started to put my name down for jobs,” he said.
“I put my name down for everything, labour, fabrication, farming, work at supermarkets, but I haven’t got anything.
“It is a bit degrading.”
Mr Foster said he has applied for more than 500 jobs in the Hunter and even widened his scope as far as the Central Coast.
Out of all of those applications he has been to 25 interviews, but did not get any of the positions.
He also turned to social media and sharing sites such as Gumtree to spread his resume online, but again he had no luck.
“They don’t understand how much I have been doing,” he said.
“All I need is someone to give me a go.”
The young man said his lack of formal training and his appearance could be the reasons behind his status as unemployed.
He has a vision impairment in one eye and has hand tattoos, which he believes turns people off in interviews.
Behind the scenes Mr Foster is a father of one who wants to provide for his child and get a steady job.
“I want to get a mature-aged apprenticeship,” he said.
“I am a really hard worker and a quick learner
“I am good with tools and happy to travel for work.
“But I will take anything.”
The Mercury set Mr Foster up with the head of the Maitland Business Chamber, Craig McGregor, to help him boost his employment potential.
“I got some pretty good info on how to re-master my resume and cover letter to suit certain jobs,” he said.
“I hope it will give me a boost and we will see how it unfolds in the next week or two or three.”
If you want to help Mr Foster get a job email dalefozzyfoster1990@gmail.com
