As Deputy Director of the Careers Service, Richard is responsible for the operational running of the service and the development and implementation of strategy. He line manages a team of career consultants who assist in enhancing the employability and professional development of students across all levels of study and for up to three years after graduation. The team deliver central events and projects on an annual basis and each consultant is aligned to several academic departments.
I completed the Imperial College and Corndel Executive Development Programme (Level 7) because I wanted to upskill and enhance my leadership capabilities to ensure I was as effective as possible in my current role. I also wanted to explore potential blind spots and develop skills that would help me in my future career.
Unsurprisingly, I gained leadership skills, but more specifically, I developed insights into better stakeholder engagement, innovative thinking, and strategies to view challenges as opportunities.
The apprenticeship has given me the confidence to present ideas with greater impact and to respectfully challenge the status quo when needed.
The final assignment required submitting a mock strategic business plan. We were guided through the process and received feedback from our tutor, which was incredibly helpful. The business plan is designed to help structure your thoughts and rationale, and it helped me develop a more impactful narrative. Interestingly, the mock business plan later served as the basis for two real-world proposals in my role, both of which gained backing and are currently being implemented.
One of the most interesting concepts I learned was about psychological safety in the workplace, which has been invaluable. Developing strategies for engaging stakeholders has also been particularly beneficial. Additionally, the concept of high-performance teams was engaging and has been very useful as we adapt to new working patterns and embrace change.
The initial months were tough in terms of motivation. Settling into a period of prolonged self-study was quite taxing and took some adjusting to, especially after nearly 15 years without formal study or learning.
Consider the long-term benefits before you start and find ways to protect your diary to stay on track with the course content. Some of the earlier material may feel familiar, especially if you've already covered similar topics in other short courses. However, this ensures that everyone begins with a solid foundation. As the course progresses, the content becomes even more engaging and directly relevant to your professional development.
The world of work is constantly changing, and I believe it’s important to develop new skills, knowledge, and abilities to stay flexible and adaptive. Apprenticeships cost nothing to you as an individual, yet they offer an excellent opportunity to learn through a combination of e-learning, tutorials, coursework assessment, and on-the-job learning. The implementation of these skills in real work settings makes it a truly effective way to develop professionally.
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"Apprenticeships cost nothing to you as an individual, yet they offer an excellent opportunity to learn through a combination of e-learning, tutorials, coursework assessment, and on-the-job learning."
