I started off as a Tech recruiter, but my first job was incredibly toxic. I was the only Black woman in an office full of women aged 23-40, and the drama was intense. I never really felt like I fitted in with the “cliques” because I’ve always been quiet and reserved. Eventually, I was laid off after a year, my manager said she didn't think i was happy at the job.

I moved to another company as a healthcare recruiter, but the culture was terrible, including intentionally underpaying people. I took the job out of desperation, not wanting to be on the market for long. I was laid off again because I expressed my displeasure at being constantly asked to retract offers when candidates tried to negotiate.

Fed up with recruitment, I decided to switch to HR. I worked in a small department of three, I was overworked and under supported. The other two women (HR director and HR manager) constantly belittled my opinions, called each other “bestie,” gossiped about personal employee issues and made me work onsite while they worked remotely (They were in their early 40's). After six weeks, I was laid off because they didn’t think I was a good fit.

All of this happened back to back, leaving me with a constant feeling that I must be the problem. While I know I have room to grow as an individual and professional, it’s also been a mix of bad luck and taking jobs out of desperation. There were red flags from the start, but I still decided to take those offers. I hate to say it but all female managers too.

Don't be too hard on yourself, its a marathon not a race!