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. 

If you’re worried or uncertain how to get the support you need in your workplace, free, confidential support is just a text away: 510-674-1414.