From a career in the education sector to a specialist in early careers
The first member of my family to go to university, I graduated with a 2:1 degree in Psychology back in 2003 and got a job in the Information Centre of a local college (in Lewes, East Sussex) as I was keen to give something back. My focus was on admissions initially, but it wasn’t long before I moved to become a Personal Tutor, supporting a cohort of ‘A’ Level students with their pastoral needs and university applications.
Fast forward a few years and, after taking voluntary redundancy and trying my hand in the recruitment industry for 18 months, I found myself back in a college environment, this time at Crawley College as a Skills Adviser. My role involved travelling around Sussex, analysing employers’ training needs and making recommendations on various solutions (some funded, some commercial). I LOVED this job! I spent 10 years at Crawley College in total and was promoted a few times, ending up as Workforce and Business Development Manager leading the Skills Adviser team, the Apprenticeship recruitment team and the short course Business Development Adviser team.
In late 2017 my life changed forever when I became Mum to my twin daughters and, for various reasons, I decided not to return to my role at the College at the end of my maternity leave. When my girls were young, I worked one day a week for the NHS coordinating a training academy and became self-employed alongside this writing funding bids for a local Community Interest Company (CIC).
I wasn’t looking for a job when I saw the role of Early Careers Specialist advertised at First Central, but I did know the company and it seemed too good a match not to apply. The rest, as they say, is history!
Growing and promoting First Central’s Early Careers opportunities
I work with leaders and managers across the business to identify Early Careers opportunities at First Central, including Graduate and Apprenticeship schemes. Where possible I align these prospects with approved Apprenticeship standards. I therefore have sound knowledge of Apprenticeship funding and eligibility rules (as well as knowing where to find information about the standards available) and manage First Central’s Levy account. We’ve also recently started to look at opportunities for university sandwich-year placements and internships, T Level placements for college students, and work experience for school age students in the areas local to our offices.
Once Early Careers opportunities have been identified and approved, I lead on the recruitment process for the roles. Alongside our normal advertising channels, I work closely with universities, colleges and schools to promote our opportunities to their exiting students. I attend lots of careers’ fairs and events throughout the year to help attract the best candidates to our Early Careers vacancies, and to fly the First Central flag generally!
Helping people at the start of their careers to find their dream job!
It’s so rewarding when we match an ambitious person just starting out on their chosen career with a role that will let them make real inroads into where they want to get to... particularly when the role is aligned with a structured development programme where they’ll gain industry-recognised professional qualifications along the way.
Skills are demonstrated in all aspects of life... not just at work!
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!
Introducing Early Careers roles into 8 new business areas in 18 months
Since I joined First Central in October 2021, I’ve worked with business leaders to continue the great Early Careers work that was already going on. I’m also delighted to have introduced new Graduate or Apprenticeship roles to several teams that weren’t previously offering any such opportunities (including Data & Analytics, Technical Support, Data Operations, Data Science, Procurement & Supplier Management, Legal, Risk and Compliance and Finance). I’ve also just agreed our first ever undergraduate sandwich placements for this year (in Underwriting and Claims & Fraud).
