I was conflicted about a big career decision. Empower Work helped me take the next steps.

I reached out to Empower Work about 1.5 years ago. At the time, I was applying to so many different places, but not really getting any responses. The process of getting a job already felt so frustrating on its own. Eventually, I finally got a job offer. I was torn because it was with an organization I wanted to work at, but for a different role than I had applied for—one I had already done and outgrown. I felt conflicted on whether to accept the position or to take on a new challenge. 

I hadn’t heard of Empower Work until I got a flyer from somewhere. I thought it couldn’t hurt to text them and ask about my situation, “I’m torn between two decisions.” My peer counselor helped me realize that I needed to take the next challenge and that something else would come along. I just needed to hold out a little longer, which I did. I ended up getting my current job which is actually something I enjoy doing more, with a better salary, and with better benefits. Overall, it was better that I waited. 

When I reached out, my peer counselor asked me to reflect on my own thought process to help me make a decision. I felt understood, I felt heard, and I felt that the questions were good enough to help me decide the next steps. In the end, it was the best decision. I felt relieved. Before speaking with a peer counselor, I was overwhelmed with a lot of questions. I didn’t know what to do. Afterwards, I felt more at peace with my decision.

After I ended the chat with my peer counselor, I rejected the original offer and kept applying to jobs. I reapplied to my current position because I saw it before, but it had already expired on LinkedIn. I thought, “I really do like the description of this job.” So, I went on their website and saw that it was still open. It had only expired on LinkedIn. I applied, they reached out to me, and the rest is history. 

Before my experience with Empower Work, I did speak to people who know me and had context of my situation. But they weren’t sure what the right decision was for me, even after I made a decision. People like to be polite and are afraid to cut you off from a route to wherever you’re going.  I wanted to speak to someone who didn’t know me. I’m a very straightforward person and just needed an answer. My peer counselor helped me get a clear answer because they weren’t biased. 

If you’re thinking about reaching out to Empower Work, I’d say to give it a try! You don’t waste anything by sending a text message and checking it out. 

I hear a lot of fellow colleagues in different industries who are really frustrated, especially women of color and Latinx people in environments that don’t support them. I hear a lot of people saying, “I don’t feel heard, I don’t feel listened to, I don’t feel valued, I don’t feel respected, I don’t feel appreciated, I want to speak to HR, I want to quit my job.” I would tell them to reach out and maybe that impartial person with training will give you light into some of the concerns that you have. 


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