Finding Your Place: A Job Search Guide for Marginalised Talent

Looking for a job can be tough. Looking for a job when you’re already carrying barriers – whether that’s race, disability, age, gender, criminal record, or background – can feel like climbing a mountain with weights on your shoulders. But here’s the truth: those weights can also be your strength. They’ve built resilience, determination, and grit – qualities that employers value more than you realise.

1. Own Your Story

Your journey hasn’t been easy, but that’s exactly what makes it powerful. Employers want people who can overcome challenges, think differently, and bring lived experience. Don’t hide your story – shape it. Practice a simple narrative: “Here’s where I’ve been, here’s what I’ve learned, and here’s where I’m going.”

2. Your Network = Your Net Worth

Did you know that over 70% of jobs are found through networks? That doesn’t mean knowing CEOs – it means telling people you trust what you’re looking for. Reach out to mentors, charities, old colleagues, or even local community groups. Every conversation is a chance to open a door.

3. Skills Over Labels

You are more than a CV. Make a list of skills you’ve gained in life – problem-solving, negotiation, teamwork, resilience. These are transferable, and they matter. Use them in your applications and interviews. Employers love real-world examples.

4. Keep Learning

Free online courses, workshops, or charity training programmes can give you a boost. Even one certificate shows employers you’re proactive. It’s not about having a long list of qualifications – it’s about showing you’re moving forward.

5. Walk in Like You Belong

Confidence doesn’t mean pretending to be perfect. It means believing that your presence has value. Walk into that interview (or log into that Zoom call) remembering this: employers need you as much as you need them. You’re not asking for a favour – you’re offering your skills, your determination, and your perspective.

6. Don’t Do It Alone

Many organisations are out there to support you – from CV help to coaching, from clothing banks to mentoring. Charities like Bounce Back, Key4Life, and Bridge of Hope Careers (to name a few) exist to connect you to employers who value overlooked talent. Use them.

Final Words: Being marginalised does not mean you are powerless. It means you have faced obstacles others haven’t – and that has given you resilience most people can’t imagine. Remember this: employers don’t just hire skills, they hire character. And your determination is your superpower.

The job is out there. Keep going. You are not defined by barriers – you are defined by the courage to break through them.