Unemployed Ben Martin takes to the streets of Faversham with a sandwich board - and meets local shop manager Ron Brown

by Lauren Fruen

Unemployed graduate Ben Martin has come up with his own novel way of securing a job – taking to the streets of Faversham wearing a sandwich board.

The inventive 26-year-old dreamed up the way of promoting his talents after finding himself unemployed at the end of last year.

After unsuccessfully applying for countless positions, Ben, who lives with his parents in Buttermere in the town, had had enough and decided to promote himself via the sandwich board.

Ben, who graduated from the University of Greenwich in 2008, believes marketing yourself is the key.

"the reaction from the town has been really positive. i have had a few people coming up to me and being really supportive" – ben martin

He said: “I studied marketing at university and you can’t keep doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result so I thought I would try something different.

“I’ve struggled to find work really since last September.

“The reaction from the town has been really positive. I have had a few people coming up to me and being really supportive.”

Before being made redundant from his bar job the grafter had built up nearly a decade of management experience, leading teams in both retail and hospitality jobs.

The jobseeker said that before two years ago he had not struggled to find a job but has found the last couple of years difficult. Most recently he held a Christmas temp job at Boots.

But the former Abbey School pupil has now found himself back at home with his parents after his two former housemates also lost their jobs.

He said: “You can survive for a couple of months OK on benefits but after that it becomes a real struggle. I want to work. I will do this until I get a job.”

Mr Martin advertised himself as hardworking and experienced and ready for an immediate start.

What lengths have you gone to in search of a job? Leave a comment below.