Claris Bell

Hello, my name is Claris and I am a trainee at Forsters. I was diagnosed with dyslexia and Crohn’s Disease (a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (‘IBD’)) in my twenties.

Crohn’s Disease is a lifelong condition whereby parts of the digestive system become inflamed. The inflammation can prevent food from being digested effectively, which can cause severe abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. In the worst cases, Crohn’s can lead to life-threatening complications. ‘Flare ups’ (times in which the condition is active and symptomatic) are common occurrences for Crohn’s sufferers. There is currently no cure for Crohn’s, but certain treatments can reduce symptoms. When symptoms are under control, periods of long-term remission are possible.

My experience throughout the recruitment process to secure a training contract was somewhat challenging, as I was on a very strict diet for months after my diagnosis. When attending the Assessment Centre with Forsters, I had just completed a 6-week liquid diet and was only able to eat soft foods. This meant I had to supply all my own food and eat under certain conditions (I had to be seated to eat and remain seated for around 15 minutes after eating to aid digestion). I was concerned how these restrictions would work practically in an assessment context, when lunch breaks were typically utilised as opportunities to stand and mingle with others. Thankfully, I found everyone to be supportive of my requirements, despite my initial concerns.

Ultimately, I believe my condition enables me to demonstrate my strengths. For one, managing Crohn’s requires a lot of organisation – eating at the right times, meal preparation and constant research. Further, applying for training contracts while recovering from an illness took a great deal of resilience, which was something I pointed to when interviewing for the role.

I found my dyslexia easier to manage within the recruitment process. For instance, I was able to request additional time for the written exam aspect of my training contract applications. Happily, I believe the increased awareness of dyslexia and neurodiversity is leading to a steady reduction of stigma surrounding it and better availability for support in the workplace.

My advice to other candidates would be to speak to those around you, be it HR, interviewers or trainees at the firm you are interested in and (if you feel comfortable) talk with them about your concerns and/or needs when it comes to the recruitment process. I found that when I communicated my needs, people were often happy to help.