Personal development
Diary of a student…
Did the fact that the CIPP is Chartered or recognised within the industry influence your decision to enrol with the CIPP? And were there any particular modules which were of interest prior to enrolling? The fact that the CIPP is a Chartered body did make the qualification more appealing. I was particularly interested in the first written assignment in year one ‘working in a team’ as I have studied psychology at AS level and team working theories appeal to me. The ‘leading the team’ module in year two further expanded my research into leadership characteristics and personality traits through which I gained useful people skills and insight into different personalities which I can apply to both working life and everyday life. I have always enjoyed writing creatively but have not had much experience with academic writing. I found this new style of writing challenging and was pleased with how my skills progressed throughout the course as I gained more experience and confidence in report writing. For someone who is thinking about studying for a CIPP qualification, what would your advice be to them? I would encourage anyone who is thinking about studying for the Foundation Degree to go for it. The course has been tough and very challenging at times, but this made it all the more rewarding to pass and to graduate. I have gained so many different skills and met so many new people at the module review and study days, many of whom have supported and inspired me. I am proud of my achievements. n
Anna JacksonMCIPPdip Senior payroll administrator, Emmanuel College Cambridge
Can you give us a brief background into your life?
the prospect of three years of study extremely daunting, but after speaking with my CIPP qualified colleagues I was assured the tutors help you through each step and the knowledge and confidence gained through achieving the qualification is well worth the hard work. How important is this degree in relation to your career? The Foundation Degree has been so important in providing me with the knowledge and skills required for my job role and has helped me progress from a trainee to a senior payroll administrator. It has given me confidence with so many aspects of my work and transferable skills such as communication and report writing. How did you cope with the work-life balance and your study? I found the coursework quite easy to manage during the first year as four of the modules are taken as exams so did not require as much time spent writing up and checking assignments. I also did not have a large number of responsibilities at work as a trainee and found quieter times useful to revise for exams. From year two onwards, I did find the workload slightly harder to manage around working and home life – especially after moving into my new home during year three and trying to fit in decorating and studying. I often found it better to take a day off work to dedicate to studying so I could still enjoy my weekends off.
I grew up in Cambridge and bought my first home just inside the Suffolk border in 2016, where I live with my partner Paul and our cat Maxie. Outside of work, I enjoy keeping fit by going to various types of exercise classes, participating in running races and visiting local park runs. I relax by reading, eating out and socialising with friends. Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? I had no idea what I wanted to do after leaving school and spent several years working in shops and restaurants until I decided I wanted to get a ‘proper job’ with more sociable hours, i.e. no more late nights and weekends. I began to look for office work, and after taking a secretarial course to brush up on my typing and computer skills, I found a job as a receptionist at a payroll bureau. The job led to me being offered a position in the payroll office as a trainee payroll administrator and studying for the CIPP’s Foundation Degree in Payroll Management alongside my new role. Why did you choose to study the Foundation Degree? The organisation I worked for was accredited by the CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme, and many of the payroll team are CIPP qualified, so the Foundation Degree was a natural choice for my training and career progression. I found
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 58 | March 2020
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