Woman finds job after CBC listener reaches out

A Halifax woman who struggled to find work for a year after being downsized, only to be told that she no longer qualified for employment insurance when she applied, has found work after an entrepreneur heard her story on CBC's Information Morning.

Last July, Sandy Beagan was laid off from her job as an administrative assistant. With 20 years of experience and good computer skills, she thought she'd  be working again in no time.

But after applying for more than 60 jobs and a year of searching temp agencies and job hunting websites, Beagan was facing the end of her severance package.

She applied for employment insurance in May. By that time, she had only worked for 10 out of the last 52 weeks, and was told that she no longer qualified.

On July 12, Beagan appeared on Information Morning, speaking about the frustrations of navigating the social safety net.

Barry Oxner heard her story. By the end of the interview, he decided to offer her a job.

Oxner runs Total Fall Protection, a company he started in his garage 12 years ago after losing his own job.The company now works coast-to-coast.

"Her personality is what brought us to her, her resume stood up, and here we are today," he told host Don Connolly.

Oxner contacted Information Morning producer Diane Paquette who put him in touch with Beagan.

The same day that Oxner offered her a job, Beagan's EI was backdated and approved.

Now that she has a job she won't be claiming employment insurance, but says it's important that people know to apply immediately, instead of letting it wait.

Beagan started working in the Total Fall Protection office on Tuesday.