At Situations, we fully support continuing professional development for all our staff and encourage them to gain relevant professional qualifications.
Our two staff members’ are currently undertaking some professional studies, read below to see how they are juggling their lifestyles and studies.
Lisa Reynolds
Having initially been employed by Situations on a contract basis, it was only when I was offered a permanent role that the subject of study arose. I was aware that the other Consultants were all REC qualified and asked whether I would be expected to complete an appropriate qualification. The answer was - yes please!
The last time I studied was in 2000 when I completed my CPP by distance learning. The challenge I found at the time was with creating my own structure and deadlines, which is something I sometimes find difficult. The easiest way for me to study my Recruitment Certificate was also distance learning so (recalling my previous experience) I knew this was an area I would need to be careful with. I was therefore very determined to put together a framework right from the outset so that I could keep myself on track throughout the 12 week study period. Unfortunately, despite my best intentions, I let the first 2 or 3 weeks of my course slip by without this happening. A very polite prompt from my study coach spurred me into action and I set to work. Part of the study course is to answer questions on each of the 6 modules which are then marked by the study coach. I set deadlines for all of these, which were all earlier than they needed to be handed in and (ingeniously I thought) I gave all of these deadlines to my study coach. No getting out of this now, I had to knuckle down and get working.
Home life is pretty busy for me so I found the best way to get some quiet time was to go into work an hour early each day and sit at the large board room table in the Situations office. The windows of this room overlook the town church and islands so it was a particularly nice place to sit each morning, the sun shining in. I carefully read through all of the modules and then started answering the questions in the coursework. I made sure I met all of the deadlines I set myself meaning that I had everything in for marking in very good time. I was pleased with my results on these papers, however I was able to copy straight from the book so there really was no excuse!
I now have around 10 days before my exam and I am spending my time revising the modules, for me the best way for information to stick in my brain is for me to write it down once I am certain that I understand it. I am mostly using A5 cards so that I can easily look back and review my work. This also works well for trying to remember abbreviations as other family members can use the cards to test my knowledge. I have had a couple of scheduled chats with my study coach and was advised to 'try to know a little bit about everything', so that is what I am trying to do.
So, I have 4 working days left at work before I start my 2 week holiday. My exam is on the first Thursday of my first week off which actually works very well for me. Four days left at work, 2 fun days in London with my husband, 4 days study at home, then exam day. Then 10 days of doing exactly what I want to before returning to work, bright eyed and bushy tailed - and waiting for my results.
Wish me luck!
Becky Corbin
I have recently had the fantastic opportunity to undertake study to gain a CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing (Level 4) qualification, in order to assist me in my role as Social Media Administrator here at Situations Recruitment. I am undertaking my study with Professional Academy which allows to me to do long distance learning; therefore I can fit studying around my lifestyle, which is great.
However to begin with I struggled to find a healthy balance between work, home and studying. The first week was very overwhelming, to say the least. So I decided the only way I could fit in the suggested 7-10 hours per week of studying that I had to do, was to create a weekly planner! This might sound unusual to some but it helped tremendously with balancing it all out and putting my mind at rest.
I set myself 1½ hours each night to purely study. I have even fitted in a cheeky 30 minutes study in the morning whilst I am sitting in my car. And at the weekends I wake up early on a Saturday and get another 2 hours in, then I am free for the rest of the weekend to catch up with family and the dreaded housework. This seems to be working for me, however, you have to be really motivated to put the hours in as there are many distractions at home. The worst being the internet - you can say to yourself just this one panda video then next thing you know you’ve wasted 30 mins on YouTube alone! Knowing this might be the case with me I have a no internet policy during studies.
I am only two months into my studying and I am feeling very positive about my decision to undertake a professionally recognised qualification. It has already started to help me in my role. I am though very nervous about writing my essays as I haven’t had to write anything similar since leaving college. But I am very lucky to have a supportive husband who keeps my outlook positive and keeps me on the straight and narrow when it comes to me not skipping any of my planned study time.
I am excited to have my first professional qualification under my belt once I have completed the course, and all the studying will be worth it
Comments
Leave yours below.