The REEL Solution: On-the-Day, on-Site Job Fair Support across the region – Lowering Anxiety and Building Confidence, Before They Walk Through the Door
Based between Durham & Sunderland, I make career events and job fairs ‘Fairer.’ At the moment of most need, I help move neurodiverse and anxious candidates from staying home or ‘hovering at the door’ to walking into the room ready to land a job. Proven architecture for Job Fairs, Colleges, and Private Institutions.
You’ve organised the venue. You’ve recruited the employers. You’ve promoted the event. Then on the day, you watch it happen every time. The Eventbrite sign-up list never matches the numbers in the room. Why? Because some didn’t make it to the event at all, their nerves got the better of them before they even arrived.
Those who did turn up?
- They hover at the entrance – close enough to look in, not brave enough to walk through
- They want it, they need it, yet wander the room without engaging – picking up a brochure, avoiding eye contact, moving on with a mumble of thanks or without saying a word to a single employer
- Neurodiverse attendees freeze – overwhelmed by the noise, the crowd, the sensory overload “get me out of here”
- Those who were told to attend make no meaningful interaction – present in the room, but not interested in landing a job
Your event was a success on paper. But how many of those people actually walked away with an interview?
A Proposal for Job Fair & Employment Event Organisers
Group individual support – £250 per event day
What it is: Prior to the event, I provide targeted on-site engagement for individuals and small groups. This isn’t just “talk”; it’s a strategic preparation phase involving:
- Cognitive Rehearsal and re-patterning: Engaging ways to interrupt negative thought patterns and change them into positive actions. It’s not about saying “do this” it’s about tapping into each persons unique conscious and subconscious mind. So they can for engage and success.
- The Employer Perspective “My Inside Track”: Drawing on my background as a Revenue Protection Training Champion for South West Trains, I have the insights from the other side of the desk. Looking for the right candidate.
- Rapid Anxiety-Lowering Techniques: Practical, repeatable tools delegates can use in the minutes before they need to be their best.
ON-THE-DAY JOB FAIR SUPPORT – £250 per event day
What it is:
A dedicated, on-site Solution Focused Therapist providing rapid, neuroscience-based confidence interventions before and during they enter the event – right at the point of real need.
Based on proven results from the December DEC Job Fair:
“I helped turn those negative thoughts into positive actions for EVERY SINGLE PERSON I spoke to. Within minutes, they found the confidence to do what it was they came to do. For some to experience a job fair for the first time and for others to approach potential employers, present the best version of themselves.”
— Darren Finley, Solution Focused Therapist
What happens before they go into the room:
| Step | What It Does |
|---|---|
| The Clinical Chat | Quick conversation to identify the their challenge(s) – nerves, self-doubt, social anxiety, sensory overwhelm, imposter syndrome |
| The Soft Reset | A simple, proven techniques to break the anxiety loop – calming the primitive mind in seconds on the day |
| The Real Person Steps In | Some simple steps to draw upon THEIR genuine strengths that means, THEY can talk to employers with self belief |
Who this is specifically designed for:
✔️ Those who won’t walk through the door without support
✔️ Those who wander without engaging – present but invisible
✔️ Neurodiverse attendees – ADHD, autism, social anxiety — who need to access the positive, present-focused part of their brain to connect with employers
✔️ Those mandated to attend who are resistant or disengaged
✔️ Those with long employment gaps whose confidence has eroded
✔️ Anyone experiencing interview/social anxiety triggered by the environment
What the organiser gets:
- Darren on-site for the full event day
- Short clinical sessions with as many attendees as possible
- Immediate anxiety reduction at the point of need
- Measurable improvement in engagement rates – more people talking to employers
- End-of-day summary of support provided (anonymised)
- Complements your advisors and employers – we handle the mental switch, you handle the opportunity
Investment: £250 per event day
“Darren’s calm, empathetic nature makes him an indispensable asset in helping individuals reach their goals.”
— Tracy Carson, DEC Lead
THE 4–6 WEEK ‘REEL’ PROGRAMME
For those who need more than a day — they need a bridge.
Your advisors can see it: technically job-ready, but psychologically stuck. The CV is done. The skills are there. But the invisible barrier — anxiety, lost confidence, long-term inactivity, stress, neurodiversity — means they can’t engage with the practical support you’re providing.
The 4–6 Week Programme provides:
- Weekly solution-focused therapy sessions (in-person or online)
- Personalised MP3 audio language patterns for daily reinforcement between sessions
- Brain-based education – understanding the brain works specifically tailored to the individual
- Neuroplasticity in action – replacing negative thought patterns with long lasting, positive, confident, action-focused thinking
- Works to compliment and support Employment Advisors by opening the subconscious willingness to learn
- Support for neurodiverse individuals to develop their own strategies for professional engagement
The result:
Clients who return to your advisors ready to engage and open to the support offered.
“Unlike standard talking therapies, this approach is modern, brain-based, and designed for rapid results. Clients often report a subtle shifts within days.”
WHY CONTRACT THIS SERVICE?
The Gap Your Team Can’t Fill
Your job advisors are experts in employment. Your employers are experts in hiring. But nobody in the room is trained to address the psychological barrier that stops the two from connecting.
That’s the gap. That’s what this service fills.
The ROI is Clear
| Without On-Day Support | With On-Day Support |
|---|---|
| Attendees hover but don’t enter | Attendees walk in ready with confidence |
| Neurodiverse attendees disengage | Neurodiverse attendees engage in present-focused conversation |
| Mandated attendees resent being there | Mandated attendees find unexpected value |
| Low engagement = low placement rates | Higher engagement and more interviews secured |
| Your event underperforms its potential | Your event delivers on its investment |
It’s Already Proven
This isn’t a theory. This was delivered at the September DEC Job Fair and booked again for 30th April Spring Job Fair. Every person who engaged with the service left with:
- Reduced anxiety
- A specific technique to use on the day
- At least one identified strength to lead with
WHAT ORGANISERS SAY
“Darren’s calm, empathetic nature makes him an indispensable asset in helping individuals reach their goals.”
– Tracy Carson, DEC Lead
Contracting is simple:
- Contact Darren to discuss your next event
- Confirm the date – on-day support booked at £250 per day
- Pre event consultation and setup – an appropriate space is all that’s needed
- You see the difference on the day
📞 WhatsApp/Call: 07865246639
🌐 solutionfocusedtherapy.uk
📧 d@darrenfinley.co.uk
QUICK SUMMARY FOR DECISION MAKERS
| On-Day Support | 4–6 Week Programme | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Day of the event | Ongoing referral programme |
| Duration | upto 20 mins per person | 1-1 4–6 weekly sessions |
| Who | Any attendee who wants it | Those with referred to by you |
| Neurodiverse specific | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | £250 per event day | Contract rate |
| Outcome | Walk in, engage, interview | Workplace-ready, confidence restored |
| Proven | September 2025 DEC Job Fair | Multiple client case studies |
“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.” Lets give them the tools to not just land the job, but the confidence to stay there.
Building Self-Empowerment: Partnering with Durham Employment Connections (DEC)
My work within the local community is built on a foundation of proven results. Tracy Carson, former lead of Durham Employment Connections (Karbon Homes), describes the impact of my clinical approach:
“As an integral member of DEC, Darren leverages his background in clinical neuroscience and solution-focused hypnotherapy to provide candidates with vital stress management, confidence-building, and personalised MP3 recordings. Furthermore, he acts as a key architect of our support strategy, using his clinical expertise to shape DEC Job fairs and ensure our methods are truly effective for every delegate. His calm, empathetic nature and unwavering professionalism make him an indispensable asset, leaving a lasting legacy in how we empower individuals to overcome barriers and reach their career goals.”
Come and see me in action at the DEC Spring Job Fair 2026
I am proud to continue my long-standing partnership with Durham Employment Connections (DEC).
On Thursday, April 30th, 2026, I will be at Geoff Cooke Suite, Durham Cricket, Banks Homes Riverside as a “Key Architect” of the support strategy for the Spring Job Fair. My role is to ensure that every delegate not only walks into the event cool, calm and collected. They are in a positive mindset to showcase themselves.
Would you like to discuss a pilot program to see how this 4–6 week “Light Switch On” can increase your successful placement rates?
Partnering with County Durham’s Support Network
