Tuesday 7th December; 10.00am to 11.15am
Virtual Breakfast Seminar
Applying for jobs is complex, challenging and time consuming for all applicants as they consider how to present themselves, what information to include and what examples to draw upon to demonstrate the required competencies / strengths.
However, for the 15% of students in UK Universities, this process becomes even more complicated since they often have further considerations that are associated with their disability or health condition. Understanding these is crucial for employers wishing to attract individuals with disabilities to your organization and provide appropriate support through the recruitment process.
To enable you to build your understanding, this Breakfast Seminar will provide you with the opportunity to speak with a number of students and recent graduates who will talk from lived experience about their disability and the impact it has had on their studies, extra-curricular activities and their thoughts regards applying for jobs and transitioning into employment.
This Breakfast Seminar will also remind employers of the abilities, skills and strengths that individuals often develop as they manage their disability on a day to day basis; attributes such as resilience, problem solving and flexibility that are an asset in the workplace.
Agenda:
o Disability in the workplace
Helen Cooke, Director, My Plus Consulting, will start the seminar by sharing some insights and observations
o First-hand experience
Individuals will share their personal experiences of having a disability and their thoughts and concerns about transitioning into the workplace.
o Discussion
This is the opportunity for delegates to discuss in more depth what they have heard and to consider the implications on how they attract, recruit, support and develop graduates with disabilities.
Speakers:
Cai Cherry
Cai is a law graduate from King's College London and currently studying the accelerated LPC/LLM at the University of Law, with a training contract secured at DLA Piper.
Cai developed Guillain Barre Syndrome, fibromyalgia, and a functional neurological disorder in his first year of university, and since then has launched Law According To A King (a legal blog and podcast, as well as an enrichment course for sixth formers), worked on international human rights research projects, and advocated for LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion.
Jessica Errington
Jessica is currently working as a Graduate Management Trainee with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Having read Sociology at the University of Winchester, she developed a greater passion for understanding societal inequalities as well as volunteering for the local council to further this understanding out into the wider community.
Jessica has dyspraxia with dyslexic tendencies. Prior to her diagnosis in 2018, she struggled greatly with basic learning such as times tables and telling the time, as well as a lack of special awareness and the ability to memorise. Due to her willingness to learn, this went unnoticed during her time in school and sixth-form, and it was not until she received her A-Level grades, that it was identified there was an underlying issue.
Jessica explained that until her diagnosis, she was constantly living in periods of frustration with the inability to complete basic tasks. Upon being asked by a stranger what the time was, she would freeze and experience intense moments of anxiety while she attempted to answer as anyone else would. While university seemed out of the question, she was extended an olive branch in the form of an unconditional offer from the University of Winchester, where she received her diagnosis early on in her first year, before graduating with a 2:1 in October 2021. As a result, she received the offer of employment with Enterprise in July 2021, where she explains she has never felt left behind or put on the spot, unlike prior to the diagnosis. Jessica explains that “my dyslexia and dyspraxia is not a learning difficulty, it’s a learning difference, I am no worse off than anyone else”.
India-Rose May
India studied English Literature at Durham before doing her GDL and LPC in London. She is now a newly qualified associate at Baker McKenzie LLP in the Corporate M&A team.
During India's first six months of her training contract with Baker McKenzie, India was diagnosed with moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears. Although the diagnosis came as a surprise, it is likely that India's hearing loss has been present since birth, which means that India faced some challenges in adjusting to her diagnosis and sharing the news with her friends and family. India looks forward to sharing with you the ways that she has adapted her working and personal life since her diagnosis and why it is so important to her that we raise awareness of invisible disabilities and create space for those with invisible disabilities to share their stories.
Since her diagnosis, India has become involved in Baker McKenzie's disability group, which aims to: (i) foster a people-centred, empowering culture where all persons with a disability feel comfortable; (ii) listen to employees to understand what we can do better to raise awareness and ensure our workspaces are disability-friendly; and (iii) ensure an environment in which people feel safe to disclose a disability, speak up and receive help.
Sonia Shah
Sonia is in her second year of a two year Graduate Corporate Analyst Development Program at JP Morgan. She is a Data Analyst, project manager, in the middle office Custody Team under Corporate Investment Banking. She recently graduated with a Bscs degree in Computer Science from University College London.
Sonia has been through a progressive sensorineural hearing loss which has recently leaded to being Hard of Hearing in the left ear and severely impaired in the right ear. She was born and brought up in Kenya where the awareness, support and technology available is not as accessible which brought out a fighter figure in her. She moved to the UK for university and since then has made it her personal mission to give back, raise awareness and support the youth for a brighter future.
She is currently in the Leadership team in the DHOH committee at JP Morgan where she is able to implement change and raise awareness. Alongside this, she is also an active speaker in various events that empower and guide incoming talent with disability through their first steps in their career journey.
Aisha Sobey
Aisha is a final year PhD Candidate in Architecture at the University of Cambridge. She is interested in systems of power, and started her academic career in the political economy but followed socio-technical development into exploring the urban condition. Her Ph.D. thesis is concerned with the influence of digital technologies in the Singaporean smart nation on the wellbeing of inhabitants.
Aisha has had Type one diabetes since the age of 1, and when starting university she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Having to manage and compensate for these invisible disabilities has given Aisha an insight into the multitude of systemic yet hidden barriers within higher education. While undertaking her Ph.D. she has been a student advocate, working with her college and her peers to improve the student experience, especially around student access and wellbeing.
In addition, she has also worked at the bank of England, at a women's arts charity in Beijing, conducted freelance research, volunteered with adults with disabilities, consulted on sustainability projects, and helped in outreach work for both her undergraduate and graduate universities.
Breakfast Seminars are exclusively for members of the Recruiters’ Club. They are ideal for anyone wishing to build their understanding of different types of disabilities and the impact it can have on the individual in their studies, extra-curricular activities and the workplace.
MyPlus Recruiters’ Club Platinum and Gold members are entitled to 2 complimentary places. Additional complimentary places may be available depending on room capacity, with priority being given to Platinum members.
MyPlus Recruiters’ Club Silver may purchase places at a reduced price of £50 + VAT
MyPlus Universities’ Club members are entitled to 2 complimentary places at any 2 Recruiters’ club events. Additional places may be purchased at a reduced rate of £50 + VAT
Contact lise@myplusconsulting.com to purchase places.
MyPlus run a variety of these types of events for employers. For details of the different types visit our events page. For details of forthcoming Recruiters’ Club events taking place visit our events calendar page.
