Insiders

I was once told your network is not everyone you know but instead everyone you have helped as these are the people who are likely to help you when need be. This was excellent advice. Always help others when you have the capacity to do so, of course your day job still must be done also which is where this can get challenging but also doable! It is often tasks outside of my job description I find rewarding. On top of this it is great for both personal and career development to work across different functions when given the opportunity.

Keep an eye out for any opportunities to do different things - I threw my hat in for every project going just so I could explore the different things that I could potentially be doing. You may find that your current role just isn't working for you, or you want a new challenge, and honestly the opportunities are there, you just have to be willing to go for it. Keep an ear to the ground for anything that crops up and, if something takes your fancy, put your name forward. If you have doubts about whether or not you're 'qualified', then reach out! I've found that having some time with a project lead or a hiring manager before committing can really help you determine whether or not you go all in!

I understand this isn't for everyone but we're in a business and company which thrives on change so we should be accustomed to it. Change is good for your career progression and also ties in with personal challenge which helps with development. You don't know whether your good at something until you've tried it and you'll be surprised how the skills gained in one role can be translated and enhanced in another.

Throughout my career I have taken risks - I quit a role with no job lined up and more recently left a permanent position to join Phoenix on a 12-month fixed term contract, three years on I am still here (after securing a permanent position!). I appreciate not everyone is in a position to do this but those risks have truly paid off in shaping my career.

When I left university I didn't have a career plan like say a Lawyer or a Doctor and if I am being honest was a little unsure of what direction I wanted to take. What did stand me in good stead was not accepting staying in a role if I wasn't feeling fulfilled and taking the opportunities to move when they presented themselves to me. In each role I have had since university I have taken something which I have used in the next role so whilst I may not have followed a traditional graduate career path I can point to transferable skills I have gained in each of my positions including diverse ones such as call centre handler and IT recruitment consultant. A lot of the stakeholder management skills I use today came from those positions. The take away I would give people based on my experience is continue to seek learning opportunities to stretch yourself and be open to change.

Have go......what have you got to lose!

If you love doing something but don't have the 'typical' experience for the role, try it anyway or find a company who will give you the opportunity to. At Phoenix and in my previous roles I have tried new things either side-of-desk or via trying a new job and I've learned a lot by doing that. I think ultimately trying different things has led me to be really happy in my current job as I've figured out my strengths and what I genuinely enjoy doing. I appreciate that you need the right environment for that and I've been fortunate enough to work for a couple of organisations who have focused on internal talent and development opportunities. This year I'm doing work in areas that I didn't know much about 12 months ago, and learning about more complex topics and processes which may not outwardly be directly associated with my day-to-day job but will help me when I'm considering what's next!

I started as a Pensions Administrator when I first joined the company. Since then, I have worked in Finance, Mortgages, Testing and then onto Analysis where I became a Lead managing others to develop in their role. The company is large, and opportunities are presented regularly to allow you to try out jobs you may have an interest in until you find the right job for you. The company also supports staff in life changing events allowing me to go part time and then when the kids are older to increase my hours to ensure I have the right work life balance.

My recruitment journey was a rollercoaster. When I was in my final year of university, I was so certain that I wanted a job lined up for when I leave university. Therefore, I began applying 8 months in advance. Although it sounds like I was prepared, I wasn't prepared for rejection. I used to apply to roles whereby all the duties and responsibilities would fit perfectly, but the reality is that the employee market is so competitive. I received hundreds of rejections where I put my heart and soul into job applications. My advice is therefore simple, never take rejection seriously. Go with the flow, take feedback on board. This enhances your interview skills. You develop as an individual. Through constant rejection, you will land your dream role. Most importantly, do not undermine yourself throughout the recruitment process. Keep going with utmost motivation.