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Top Insider Advice
I’m a natural introvert and I don’t think anyone in my personal life would describe me as outgoing or confident! But, I’ve found in my career so far that the occasions where I’ve been brave - whether that’s deciding to move away from HR (even though I studied a Masters in the topic!) or saying yes to presenting in front of a crowd of senior leaders - have been the times where I’ve grown and developed the most. I’m at a point in my career where I’m eager to grow and progress, so being brave is something I try to make a conscious effort to do. It can be scary to say yes to things you might usually shy away from but, by getting more practice and exposure to these things, over time they naturally begin to feel a bit easier. Even if things don’t always go to plan, it’s all part of the journey.
Career path
Culture Lead
First Central
Started 03/2023 to PresentCulture & Engagement Officer
First Central
From 11/2021 to 03/2023HR Officer
Bailey & French
From 09/2019 to 11/2021Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
I really love my job and working on trying to improve colleagues’ experiences at work is something I genuinely am passionate about. We spend so much of our time at work so why shouldn’t we try and make it positive? I also enjoy that I tend to get instant feedback in this role, either from an event or piece of communication, and hearing about how an initiative may have helped a colleague receive some help for themselves is really rewarding. I also enjoy being creative and getting to write comms and blog posts, so thinking of new ways to engage with colleagues throughout the year is a fun challenge.
Greatest achievements
I'm most proud of developing our Wellbeing offering for colleagues, resulting in us placing 7th in the Super Large Category of Great Place to Work’s list of the UK’s Best Workplaces to work for Wellbeing. Before I joined the team, we already had a Wellbeing programme colleagues were aware of. When I came on board, we were able to dedicate a lot more time and resource to our Wellbeing Strategy and try things we’d never done before. Feedback throughout the year was positive from our colleagues and I was really pleased that we recently achieved a place in the top 10 Best UK Workplaces to Work for Wellbeing list, an initiative run by Great Places to Work. Being the only Insurance company in the top 10 is also a pretty nifty achievement. We receive fantastic internal feedback from our colleagues on Wellbeing so to have our efforts validated and recognised externally too was exciting! I’m proud and feel lucky to work in a company where a huge emphasis is placed on the colleague experience and colleagues’ Wellbeing too.
Lauren M
Top Insider Advice
If you’re applying for an Early Careers role such as a Graduate or Apprentice scheme, hiring managers won’t expect you to have a whole host of work experience to draw upon. They will, however, be looking to understand what kind of person you are, what skills you have, and what makes you tick! So don’t be afraid to talk about the sports team you play for or manage at the weekend, the examinations you’ve racked up for playing a musical instrument, your involvement in a community group or your passion for learning foreign languages!
James D
Fraud Team Leader
Top Insider Advice
The army taught me a lot about personal values and it’s something I always look back to. Apply them into everything you do and you’ll go far. Make it clear where you want to get to in the future and take opportunities to learn and grow to get there. Always reach out to people as you never know where this will take you. Most importantly, do things outside your comfort zone regularly and what was previously daunting or hard will become easy!
Ali C
Top Insider Advice
Volunteering in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Climate / Social Rights Groups can be an excellent way to get exposure to ESG and set yourself up for future career opportunities. Not only does it give you a chance to learn more about the issues at hand and the various approaches being taken to tackle them, but it also allows you to develop key skills such as leadership, project management, and communication - all of which are highly valued in the ESG space. By getting involved in ERGs and social groups, you can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how it intersects with ESG. You can also learn about the various ways in which companies are approaching sustainability, social responsibility, and governance, and gain valuable insights into how these approaches impact business performance and reputation. But perhaps most importantly, volunteering in ERGs and social groups is a great way to build connections and expand your network in the ESG space. By working alongside like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating a better world, you can forge relationships that may lead to future career opportunities or collaborations.