Beth has known from a young age that hospitality was where she belonged, all starting with a leap of faith one summer:
“I ran away and I did a season in Majorca. I was working at a cocktail bar and clubs and I just fell in love with the industry. I fell in love with night life, getting to know people.”
That first season changed everything. It gave her purpose, a community, and the feeling of belonging that shapes so many hospitality careers.
🪜 Climbing the Hospitality ladder
When she returned to the UK, she committed fully to the industry.
“I started off in Flight Club. They nurtured me and I worked my way up from bartender to manager. I’m really passionate about making sure that the guests have amazing experiences. I love developing my staff and really getting to know them, know what motivates them. I was ready to take the next step and become AGM, but there just wasn’t the space for me there.”
So, she moved across regions – Birmingham, Gloucester, Cheltenham – continuing to build her reputation. She became known for her work, her leadership style, and the energy she brought to a venue. Finding a new role when the time was right was never an issue.
“I found it easy to get a new job because you already know the people.”
Then she moved again, out of the big cities and back home.
💔 When the job hunt hits the wall
Moving back to Southend was a completely different experience when it came to job hunting.
“I probably applied for about 150 different jobs. I probably only got about 10 interviews. I actually interviewed for one job…they sent me an offer letter. I signed it and then they said ‘Sorry we’ve promoted someone in house…”
Beth, Deputy Manager @ McManus Pubs
In previous cities, the industry had been so connected that doors opened naturally. The contrast was painful:
“Every previous interview that I’d had, I always got the job or was offered the job. So from that to being rejected or just not even hearing back… I was really upset for a while.”
She needed something different – a platform that didn’t depend on connections, CVs or assumptions.
✨ Discovering Candid: A fairer way to be seen
In her search for alternatives, she found Candid.
“I came across Candid and I love it. I’m not going to lie. I love it.”
Beth, Deputy Manager @ McManus Pubs
“It’s kind of like Bumble or Tinder. It’s like a dating app, but for a job.”
And more importantly – the anonymity. “I really loved that it was anonymous. Sometimes it’s quite hard for women in the industry… they can be overlooked for manager jobs. I am quite young as well… people overlook my age and also your gender.”
Candid levelled the playing field in a way traditional applications never had.
📝 A CV free platform
For the first time, she could talk like a person – not a bullet list. “On a CV, you sound like a robot and it’s no personality whatsoever.” Instead of dissecting her past, the conversation moved toward real scenarios:
“Tom said to me like okay this is a problem we’re having. How would you face this?… It was kind of like what I would do in the future which I really liked.”
Signing up to Candid was effortless: “I think I signed up within like 10 minutes. Super easy. I had no issues whatsoever.”
“I matched with Tom straight away… we were talking that day and then I had the interview the next day.”
After months of silence, this momentum felt unreal. Her personality and values shone through, and the match was made.
🤝 Meeting McManus
The role that sparked everything wasn’t about a flashy brand or a big-city name. It was about the person behind it.
“It wasn’t so much the brand, it was speaking with Tom that kind of got me. He was so open minded and so just lovely and warm. “Speaking with people about an interview, they can be very very hard and cold. So getting on with someone from day one was really really nice.”
Beth, Deputy Manager @ McManus Pubs
The feeling continued when she met the team: “It was the same as when I met Martin, the GM here.” Beth didn’t just find a manager. She found advocates.
☘️ A fresh start
Her new role at The Oakley gave her something she hadn’t felt in a long time – space to grow.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to grow… everyone kind of takes my opinions on board and there is so much that we can do.”
Beth, Deputy Manager @ McManus Pubs
And the support from leadership has been transformative:
“He’s really pushing and advocating for me to do what I want to do. It’s really nice that I’m being listened to from the get go and I’m kind of allowed to be creative, which is nice.”
The difference between her old job hunt and her new reality is night and day.
🧡 From 150 dead ends to one perfect match
Beth’s story captures the heart of what Candid is built to solve. Traditional hiring left her feeling invisible.
Candid helped her feel seen. Traditional platforms judged her on age, gender and assumptions. Candid judged her on potential, personality and conversation.
Her whole journey can be summed up in one moment of clarity:
“I came across Candid and I love it. I’m not going to lie. I love it.”
Beth, Deputy Manager @ McManus Pubs
👋 Want to find your perfect match?
If you’re tired of rejections, bias or being overlooked, find your next role the Candid way.
