Tauranga man Peter Bulford has been given the chance at a new career after a hard-fought battle to find work.
The 50-year-old had been looking for a job for more than six months and had applied for more than 30 jobs when the Bay of Plenty Times published a story about him in December last year.
He was excited about his new position with A One Switchboard which he started last Wednesday.
Mr Bulford said he had approached the company last year with his CV, then when he saw an apprenticeship advertised with them, he applied.
"After the 90-day trial I will hopefully have an apprenticeship out of it and then knock it out within a couple of years.