Decontee

Case Studies ❯ Decontee

Case Study - Decontee

Fundraising Officer

Decontee was a qualified hairdresser who had transitioned into a relatively unfulfilling customer service role at an energy company. As a Black man under 30 and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, the odds of quickly realising his ambition to pivot careers once again were stacked against him.

In the UK, young Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals face an unemployment rate of approximately 25%, compared to 12.5% for their white counterparts. Additionally, 35% of LGBTQIA+ people report discrimination and bias during recruitment processes, further complicating their job search.

Adding to this, Decontee wasn't sure what roles or disciplines he could transfer into, had a lacklustre CV, and lacked confidence in his abilities. It’s fair to say, he—and we—had our work cut out for us.

"The people at Radical really care about the wellbeing of their Radicals and delivering a quality service for their employer partners. My pre-work experience with Radical was seamless and equipped me with everything I need to slay my first – and only – interview and secure a new career in a sector I absolutely love. The post placement support was great too. I will be forever grateful for the support they offer me and others like me’’
 
We began by reviewing his CV to understand his previous work experience, skills, natural talents, and what he had achieved using them to add value in previous employment. After a few coaching sessions, we agreed to look for fundraising roles in the charity sector because we knew Decontee had the makings of an excellent advocate for any charitable cause and the skills to excel in fundraising.

Shortly after deciding to explore this avenue, we were approached by CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), who were looking for two members to join their fundraising team. We quickly tailored his CV to highlight his many achievements and transferable skills, ensuring they were front and centre for the recruiters. He was shortlisted, along with eight other candidates.

We prepared Decontee for his interview by teaching him how to navigate a competency-based interview and answer questions using the STAR+L framework. We also helped him become comfortable with discussing his achievements, or as we call it at Radical, 'Bragging Well'. Additionally, we conducted a couple of mock interviews ahead of the big day, allowing him to receive feedback on his strengths and areas for improvement.

Unsurprisingly, the interview went well, and he and one other candidate were offered a job. He stayed in this role for over two years and was promoted once during this time.

The charity sector is predominantly staffed by white women, making people with Decontee's skills and potential rare and valuable. Morven, the former Director of People, commented: "The campaign was a huge success, and we were more than pleased to hire two exceptionally talented people who also come from BAME backgrounds and identify as queer. The sector is crying out for diversity, and Radical made finding our new recruits easy."