Employee Spotlight: Svitlana’s Empowering Story — From Fleeing War to Inspiring Hope
“I am so happy that by doing my job, I can support my fellow citizens with employment. Every day, I help Ukrainian refugees settle in this kind and generous country, assimilate into society, and become successful residents of Buckinghamshire.”
In a world of uncertainty and turmoil, there are those who rise above adversity to make a difference in the lives of others, and Svitlana is one such individual. Her story is not just one of personal resilience and courage but also a shining example of how one person can impact the lives of many.
Before war broke out, Svitlana was a Development Director and Business Teacher for an education company in her home country, Ukraine. She would be responsible for the hiring and training of staff, the planning, marketing, budgeting and strategy of the business, and guiding young people towards their careers. In June 2022, she moved to the UK with her son and in October of the same year, she took on the role of Resourcing Advisor for Homes for Ukraine at Buckinghamshire Council. In this role, she helps Ukrainian refugees improve their employability and kickstart their careers at the council.
Despite being faced with the shock of war and distance from family, Svitlana held strong and made a seamless transfer of her skills and work experience to immediately get back on her feet. She uses this opportunity to come to the aid and make a difference in the lives of her fellow refugees so that they too can stay strong and go back to work, as she was able to.
Working at Buckinghamshire Council was my first choice of job in the UK.
I have a master’s degree in psychology and economics, and an MBA from Ukrainian universities. My expertise is in People Management, Human Resources, and Project Management. I have worked for an international audit firm, large banks, and a bank industry association in Ukraine, and I have experience in leading transformation projects and anti-crisis management.
I worked at an educational company as a development director and business teacher.
Additionally, I worked as a Career Consultant supporting Ukrainian teenagers in finding their first job, which involved testing their skills and professional preferences, and creating CVs for interview preparation.
When war broke out in Ukraine, there were missile strikes and threats of invasion, so I fled my home in Kyiv with my 15-year-old son. We came to the UK and were housed with a wonderful family near Aylesbury, under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. I have had to leave my husband, family, and friends which has been hard. Every evening after work, I message my family and check the news and social media to find out what is happening back home.
My main task is to support Ukrainian refugees who escaped from war and are settling in Buckinghamshire with an employment process.
My colleague Pippa and I organise employment events for Ukrainian job seekers to support them with applying for roles at Buckinghamshire Council, which involves creating CVs and cover letters, and preparing for their first job interview. We launched the Homes for Ukraine Talent Pool last December and have had almost one hundred talented and motivated Ukrainian professionals in the pool.
At Buckinghamshire Council there is a fair and inclusive corporate culture, and attention is paid to personal development, diversity, equality, and staff well-being.
I am proud to be a part of a fantastic Resourcing team, who won the PPMA Awards for ‘Best Candidate Experience’ in April 2023. I am so happy that by doing my job, I can support my citizens with employment. Every day, I help Ukrainian refugees settle in this kind and generous country, assimilate into society, and become successful residents of Buckinghamshire.
If you are thinking about starting a career with Buckinghamshire Council, be brave, open-minded, and enthusiastic, and never give up! Your dream job at Buckinghamshire Council is waiting for you.
