As part of our Evenbreak Stories Series, our careers coach Rosa caught up with Monyia to talk about how coaching helped her build the resilience and confidence to decide her own path, on her own terms.
As a creative, articulate and undoubtedly talented professional, Monyia felt stuck in her previous role – it never occurred to her that she had the power to say no to roles that didn’t align with her values. But with the support of Evenbreak, she uncovered a hidden talent of advocating for her needs to be at her best in work. After all the hard work she put in with her coach Rosa, it comes as no surprise that Monyia is now thriving in a new role as an Employment Advisor supporting other disabled people on their career journeys.
For the full version of Monyia’s story and how, you, as a premium disabled candidate can be supported by Evenbreak, read on.
Rosa [I’ll start by asking] you to share your story with us today with regards to how you were feeling about your career and job search journey before you met with an Evenbreak coach?
Monyia: So, before I came into contact with an Evenbreak coach my self-confidence was at an all-time low I felt broken and I felt trapped in the current place in which I was working. Although I knew I had a lot to offer, I didn’t feel like it – I was at rock bottom feeling like I was trapped with no way out.
I’m usually a very confident person but my confidence was just lacking and I was wondering to myself how am I gonna get out of this environment?
I didn’t feel like I was growing, I didn’t feel like I was learning, I wasn’t doing the collaborative creative connecting that I loved so much and I just really needed somebody to guide me out.
Rosa: Thank you for that, subsequently you then got in touch with Evenbreak and had some coaching sessions. Tell us a little bit about the sessions you had and how they were helpful for you.
Monyia: From the first session, I felt that this is pulling me out of this dark tunnel. I started to feel optimistic, I started to feel excited about what was on the horizon. I was also starting to feel I can get out of here as the situation was not as hopeless as I thought it would be.
However, I understood from the first coaching session that it would require time, commitment and hard work on my part and making sure that I was doing all I needed to do. I knew that every single coaching session, I needed to invest and bring myself to it because it was something I was doing for my future. So the feeling I left with was, okay I can bear up with this difficult work environment where I am because there’s a way out, the light is brighter at the end of the tunnel.
Rosa: How else did you feel you were helped? In other words what skills or what strengths did you develop in the sessions?
Monyia: One of the really important things that I gained through the sessions was turning the lens into myself, so thinking about what I had to offer. I realized that I had a lot of skills, I had a lot of experience and even things that I didn’t realize that I had that I could bring forward. So, one of the things we did in our coaching sessions is exploring how do you like to live and work, what values are important to you and what are you looking for.
Prior to this, the thought had never occurred to me that I would say to an organization, actually you’re not a very good fit for me but it was really helping me to think about placing myself within an organization whose values aligned with mine, so I could bring my full self into work.
It was finding the words for that and being able to talk about it that made a really huge difference for me. It helped me to start seeing that yes, you’re interviewing me but I’m also interviewing you, so it was nice to have that power shift
Rosa: What have you learned about yourself?
Monyia: Oh, so much! I’ve learned that it’s okay to speak to people and prospective employers about what you want and what you’re looking for. Because ultimately what we want in work is to be able to retain our employment, and for it to be sustainable. We also want to enjoy the work we’re doing and be able to bring ourselves to work, and being able to start continue and maintain those really important conversations with managers about our condition is part of this.
If you have a disability or have an impairment, that it’s fine. It’s not a dirty, horrible thing that we need to hide away in the cupboard. Yes, I do have this impairment, I do have this disability, however, I can still so this. Starting to think this way, was very nice because, I guess before I was looking at it as all or nothing. But now I’ve got a great deal of pleasure from being able to self-advocate for myself and help even close friends who are having similar challenges to start and keep those conversations going with their employer about their disability so that they continue to work successfully.
Rosa: Okay so fast forward a number of months later, tell me where you are right now in your world of work?
Monyia: So, I definitely feel the wait was worth it, all the coaching sessions were worth it because it helped me get to a point in time where I could say to the employer from the very beginning this honest upfront conversation about who I was, what my condition was, how I work and my values, so we can find a way to work together. This means that early on in the interview recruitment process, I’m very clear about my condition, what it is and what it will mean for me in terms of how I work and what I need from you as an employer to support me on this journey to be my best.
Right now, at this point in time, I’m working for a really wonderful local authority as an employment advisor and helping other people on their journey to start shaping their conversation with prospective employers about how they need to work if they have a disability and impairment. I’m really enjoying myself and I’m so glad that I took up the coaching offer with Evenbreak. In all honesty, of all the organizations that are out there, I feel I’ve benefited the most from the coaching sessions I had with Evenbreak. It wasn’t just about getting you another job, it was about thinking about what is important to you, what are your values and what you bring. So, now in my mind I have a very clear idea of what my key skills are, what my strengths are, what I’m bringing to an organization and the value I’m adding to it by bringing myself, Monyia, to it
Rosa: So, Monyia what are your top tips to all those people out there that are just beginning the job search journey – Monyia’s top three tips?
Monyia: Okay, top three tips are: log into every session available on Evenbreak, the workshops that they do have so many useful tips that will help you in your journey so view it as part of something you’re doing to invest in yourself as is a gift you’re giving yourself.
Personal development is very important, I know sometimes people think it’s a luxury to say they’re going to talk about personal development because they really need to get a job. Yes, in many respects it’s very easy to get a job but will you be happy? So don’t always look at the end goal as: “I need to get a job”. Think about yourself and your values. Did you research the organisation: Do your values and the organisation’s value align? Are we a good match?
Also, don’t be afraid to turn an employer down if you feel you’re not going to be happy. It’s fine, there’s several doors that will always open. I would say always be honest and upfront about your condition but when you’re saying that, you’re not complaining. You’re saying to your prospective employer, yes this is my disability; this is my impairment, however, this is how I can work. So, think also about how your disability and your impairment make you unique and what you bring to the role. Those are my very, very top tips for success.
Rosa: Monyia, I want to say thank you very much for engaging in and showing up for all of your sessions. Your self-advocacy, your belief and the building of your confidence is a real testament to what is possible! Thank you very much.
About Evenbreak:
Evenbreak offers inclusive and accessible careers support and job listings for disabled candidates looking for new or better work, delivered by career coaches and professionals with lived experience of disability.
To get free Career Support, visit: https://hive.evenbreak.co.uk
To find the latest Inclusive Jobs, visit: https://www.evenbreak.co.uk
