What’s it like to work at Habitus?
3-minute read
Hi! My name is Sara, and I am a Research Coordinator at Habitus Collective.
What’s it like to work at Habitus? Well, my role tends to be quite varied, and no two weeks are the same (if you’ve ever worked at a consultancy, you’ll know what I mean). You could be interviewing mums to produce an evaluation on their essential support programme or developing a training manual for jurors who have experienced trauma during court cases in Canada. I don’t think you can find a more fun consultancy to work at!
The team at Habitus is small, which means you’ll get to know everyone quite quickly. Everyone is very friendly and down to earth, and they will constantly goof with you (Callum always has an intriguing story for everything!). Settling down into a new role is already stressful enough - however with the right people/team the whole process becomes much easier. And for those of you concerned about whether your degree is relevant enough or if you’re too quirky to join - Habitus seriously thrives off new ideas and different personalities. Habitus really appreciates past experiences and lived experiences more than it does a degree. My first degree is clinical based, but they valued the additional skills, opinions, and curiosity I would bring to the role.
When I started, I had minimal understanding of how a consultancy works, and didn’t know much about the key concepts that are so integral to Habitus’ work such as Recovery and Peer Support. However, the team and my supervisor (Lisa) in particular, made sure to give me enough time to read up on the clients/current projects, do my own personal research, and provided plenty of time to discuss what I had read and deepen and challenge my understanding. At the start I received daily check-ins with my supervisor. These were primarily focused on my development rather than a list of tasks to complete – this was invaluable. It can feel a bit confusing starting a new role – learning all the lingo, so these check-ins really helped. Eventually this turned into once a week check-ins and then once a fortnight, which I currently have now and are never missed for something ‘more important’.
One of my first tasks involved working closely with another member of the team to develop a peer support training programme – something I was quite hesitant about to be honest. But the team believed in me when I didn’t, and I am glad they did – the project has gone really well, and I am able to say that this is one of my greatest achievements I’ve had while working here.
Looking back, I can definitely say that I have improved so much – not just in terms of my own skillset, but also in the sense that I now feel more confident undertaking any task that comes my way. I definitely owe this to my supervisor who has been incredibly patient, so supportive and understanding.
Why would I recommend Habitus?
The company is incredibly flexible - not feeling your productive self? dealing with an extremely hot day? No problem - take a break and make up the rest of your working day at another time (check in with your supervisor first, though!)
The skills and knowledge you’re going to build will look amazing on your CV – you’ll find that you get to be involved in a majority of the decisions the company makes. Your feedback is always taken into consideration, which is always a positive sign – it is a good indication that the company actually values not only your opinion, but you as a person!
You can be you. You’ll also find that you will develop a genuine rapport and relationship with everyone there (did I mention this already?). I really do mean this!
Got an interview coming up for Habitus? Here is how you can prep:
Research, research, research... Habitus’ clients tend to be quite varied - some are charities, some are NHS organisations and others are private companies based here in the UK and overseas. All with different company structures, goals, and objectives. It would be a good idea to research some of the ongoing and completed projects Habitus has (you can click here to find them). This would give you a better idea of what to expect from your role and potentially help develop some of the answers you will be giving in your interview.
Ask lots of questions – before, during, or after the interview. The team at Habitus love questions! A job description can never capture all of what a role is in two pages – so the more you can ask about what you will be doing, the better idea you’ll have to see if it is the right fit for you.
Habitus is always looking for curious, value-driven people who have a desire to work with communities in an impactful way.
Check out our vacancies to see the roles we are currently recruiting for here.