For International Women’s Day, we asked each female employee of LHC International worldwide the same questions.
We wanted to better understand what challenges they faced as a woman during their career.
From Berlin to Bangkok via Mallorca, singles and partners, mothers in a part-time or full-time job, students in an internship at LHC International, from different countries, ages and religions.
This month, each week, we will publish the answers to 3 questions from each female employee.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your career?
Mook, Consultant - Bangkok
As a woman who works as a recruiter, fortunately, we are in very high demand in this industry, and more and more people recognise that.
However, in the real world, I think that it can be challenging when convincing or negotiating (about salary, job requirements, etc.) with clients and candidates.
If I talk about these topics with an unconfident voice or gestures, they might have the upper hand in the conversation. It can lead to an uncontrollable situation.
To overcome this, I must be confident and understand all the details of the information I receive, embrace the unexpected occurs, accept it, and be flexible, mature and handle it professionally. (I still need to practice more and develop myself on this part).
Valerie
Consultant - BerlinSo far, I have not faced any negative experiences as a woman in the professional world. I have been valued in every company and position so far, and my skills and knowledge have been in the foreground.
I also never had the feeling of being discriminated against because of my gender. However, in recruitment consulting, you quickly notice that companies continue to discriminate against applicants based on their gender. Especially, women around 30 are watched very closely and scrutinised during the probationary period. In this case, it is my job as a consultant to point out the AGG to the companies.
Leila
Consultant - BerlinI must say that I have not experienced any major hurdles so far.
However, what I find unfortunate and what I have also experienced in the past is that women in leadership positions often make very high demands on other women who are subordinate to them. We should stick together more and support each other.
Unfortunately, I have little respect for women with such behavior and have already changed jobs for this reason. I am all the happier that my current job has exactly the opposite situation.
New
Consultant - BangkokThe challenge that I face a lot is getting exploited and looked down upon for my kindness. The equality issue in the East is somehow more severe than in the West.
However, I have learned to be confident in my career and share this meaningful duty experience with the person whom I speak with.
Linda
Consultant - BerlinStudies, a year abroad, training. All that, and then a career change into an industry where no previous knowledge is necessary?
The decision to switch from a crisis-proof job to sales was not easy. My gut feeling decided and fortunately did not disappoint me.
Raha
Recruiter - BerlinAs a woman, I want to be successful professionally, but at the same time, my family and having children are important to me.
But balancing both is a bit difficult, especially considering I immigrated to Germany 3.5 years ago and by nature have a few things on my plate that I need to tackle first.
Stephanie
Consultant - BerlinEspecially as a mother, I have unfortunately often experienced injustice.
Of course, mothers need a little more flexibility – but so do fathers! – But the fact that we usually work more effectively and are better organised and structured is often overlooked.
You develop so many personal skills during parental leave, and unfortunately you often only see the “burden” of more flexibility and more sick days due to the children.
I once was refused a job on the grounds that “you as a young mother and the commuting involved – we don’t think it would work in the long run.” If I had been a man, would I have received the same rejection? Probably not.
Sofia
People & Culture - BerlinLooking back, as a woman, I almost never had problems in my career because, in 95% of my jobs, I always had women as bosses who saw my potential and developed me. They gave me opportunities to grow and advised me on how to do so.
After the birth of my 2 children, I had my first male boss, who also saw this quality and promoted me. Garry gave me the chance, now almost 2 years ago, to settle into my current new HR role completely from scratch and to grow up here. Thanks for that!
Nadine, Chief of Staff - Berlin
Oftentimes, I was the youngest, but luckily never the only female member of the management teams.
I was fortunate enough to always work for companies that appreciate diversity, however, especially in luxury hospitality, I realised that there were only a few if any female leader role models in top positions. And those who were oftentimes had the reputation to be very tough, cold-blooded, or ruthless.
I had a female role model and mentor who believed in me and taught me a lot about leadership and business rules, and soon I decided to become a successful female leader myself.
The trick is: don’t try to copy male behavior, this is a battle you can’t win. Instead, excel in being yourself, and surround yourself with like-minded people who support and challenge you. And learn to say “no”.
Nadja
Consultant - BerlinThe first time I really faced the gender issue in my career was when I planned my re-entry after parental leave.
Although I did a good job in my former position, I didn’t get the chance to do the same job part-time without any specific explanation. It was simply not in the mind of the company that it is possible to still be successful in a sales part-time job or to offer opportunities to the employee to make it possible. Although it was a great employer in general.
I decided to look for a new employer with success and was happy to find LHC. The question was rather asked here, what do the company have to offer to the employee to be successful in a part-time sales position, and the answer is quite simple: Trust, flexibility, and support!
Belle
Manager - BangkokI don’t see many challenges for women in the recruitment industry in Thailand.
As a recruitment consultant, being friendly and easy to get along with people is important, although in the process we need to make sharp communication and be direct.
I think that is an advantage to be a woman.
Lisa, Recruiter - Berlin
My professional career is not that long yet, but nevertheless, I perceive the well-known “two sides of the same coin” in the professional world.
On the one hand, the “shiny” side – which shows me as a young woman that we are being heard more and more often, that opportunities present themselves, and it seemed impossible a few years ago. But also – and unfortunately this is still the reality – that there are still far too many prejudices against women.
If you are self-confident as a woman, it is often interpreted as arrogant or “power-seeking”. If you are young, you don’t have a clue and are quickly labelled as a “doll” or XY’s assistant. If you speak your opinion, it is sometimes less noticed or heard than that of men.
I sometimes feel that I want to prove myself twice as much (as a man would do) although I am in the same position as someone else.
Mew
Consultant - BangkokSometimes, we are underestimated concerning our understanding of business compared with men.
We have to work hard, study hard, and be a professional as much as we can.
Jaqueline
Finance - MallorcaManaging work & motherhood in the best possible way.
Margaux, Marketing - Berlin
I was always lucky to have great managers in my career, and most of them were women. I love working with them, they have a different way of seeing and understanding our work-life balance and I have been learning so much from them.
Since I started working, I was most of the time heard and respected for my job. But it really depended on the nationality and age of the people I was working with.
In one of my former companies, I was working with directors and managers from different countries. Some of them behaved with me in ways they would never have if I had been a man… Sometimes, men allow themselves to behave or say very inappropriate things. I am not even sure they realise how rude and uncomfortable it can be for women.
It was also not always easy to be respected as a young marketing manager in a company managed mostly by men.
I also faced sexual harassment from one of my former managers. He was insulting all women from the team, and when we talked about it with the male CEO, he didn’t do anything.
But it was before #MeToo, I guess today his reaction would be different.
So, my challenges were never directly about my skills and experience, but mostly about the inappropriate behaviour of men.
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Not found what you were looking for?
Please send us your CV and contact details via email. We will get back to you asap.
Central Europe: info@lhc-international.com
Southern Europe: spain@lhc-international.com
LHC International is a leading executive search firm for the hospitality and operational real estate industry.
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