First to arrive, and first to succeed: Skylar finds sustainable employment through Rainbow WISE
When asked what mattered to her most when seeking employment, Skylar made it clear she was committed to landing a role within a workplace that would encourage her to wholeheartedly be herself.
A transgender woman who identifies as she/her, Skylar first approached WISE Employment in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then she first met Jake McDonald, Rainbow WISE’s Diversity Employment Consultant, who would be instrumental to her career success.
“Skylar was the very first person to join Rainbow WISE and was also the first to find employment through our program,” he says.
“And while she was already an existing WISE customer, it wasn’t until Skylar joined the Rainbow family that she truly lit up. It was clear how joyful, welcomed and accepted she felt, and that showed through a newfound motivation to find sustainable work.”
Rainbow WISE is a targeted program for LGBTQIA+ customers, proudly run by people of the very same community. Focusing on supporting those living with a disability, injury or illness, the program simultaneously strives to educate employers on the benefits of an inclusive workplace.
When approaching the employment process, at first, Skylar felt overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Through Rainbow WISE, she worked closely with Jake, who was able to help guide and support her through this time of uncertainty.
Faced with many challenges seeking employment before she started working with Rainbow WISE, Skylar said the biggest hurdle was navigating difficult questions.
“It was a relief not having to explain my situation because my employer already knew my story. WISE Employment has been very helpful in supporting me to have those challenging conversations.”
“Another challenge was not always having the right language to use when applying for jobs. They really helped me out with that a lot.”
It didn’t take long before Skylar was successfully placed in her current role with Havas Media. As an Assistant Office Manager, Skylar loves the responsibility that comes with her work, and better yet, she feels comfortable going to the office each and every day.
“Everyone is so warm and welcoming. I now know I can go to work and be exactly who I am, without hesitation,” Skylar says.
In total, the Rainbow WISE program is supporting more than 50 clients across three different WISE locations in Sydney (Chatswood, Darlinghurst and Marrickville), giving customers the confidence to be themselves and feel empowered.
“We want Rainbow WISE customers to go to work, be proud of who they are and what they do within their inclusive workplaces,” Jake says.
“Rainbow WISE is all about not hiding behind who you think you have to be. It’s about giving you the confidence to be yourself and feel empowered.”
If you’re a job seeker, register your interest as a WISE Employment job seeker today
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