CAREER DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT
Diary of a student…
than a degree. I have learned how to plan; to lead; to question; how to really manage people (downwards and upwards); how to sell ideas and make them happen. Everything learned on the MSc can be applied in the real world. My confidence has really soared, and I’ve made new friends: my study group are a great bunch of people (our weekend tutorials were a lot of fun). My dissertation was very much linked to my workplace: ‘Assessing the effect of a narrow-banded pay structure on staff engagement and motivation’ looked at the perceived value of pay increases in terms of work engagement and conversely whether the lack of a pay rise demotivates employees. Since completing the MSc I have remained with my current employer but have been given a big new role with new responsibilities. I truly feel that the MSc has given me the tools I need to face this latest challenge and will continue to do so as I go through my career. For someone who is thinking about studying for a CIPP qualification, what would your advice be to them? Like any major part of life, the studying brought highs and lows: those moments when you’re so deep in thought and an idea finally clicks in your mind; or the frustration when you just don’t get it (the accounting module in my case). And there’s the occasional sacrifice of your social life – but made worthwhile when you get that good grade in your last assignment. If you’re thinking about doing it, just do it. Don’t be afraid – the CIPP trainers and tutors will get you through as long as you put the work in and take their advice. n
Ben HancockMSc FCIPPdip London School of Economics
Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? I left school with a few A-levels and went straight into work, learning payroll with Dune Shoes. After a year I moved to an investment bank, again in payroll. Two years later I moved into a supervisory role with the London School of Economics – and have been there now for sixteen years. How do you cope with work-life balance and study? Work-life balance is hard enough to achieve without studying. I had to get the buy-in of my family and set aside time for my studies which didn’t impinge on family time. Good time management and organisation are key, and these are skills you develop alongside the actual course of study itself. Why did you choose to study the MSc in Strategic Leadership? I had been considering the MSc for four years, before eventually taking the plunge. I’d been holding back due to various reasons, mainly because of the time commitment and how this would affect my work and family life. And, if I’m honest, there was a confidence issue, too: I hadn’t studied for ten years, and never dreamed of doing something at this level.
However, I wanted a real challenge, something that would push me and help me to advance my career. Finally, I realised that there would never be a ‘good time’ to embark on a two-and- a-half year degree, and so decided to just get on with it. With the course of study being so closely related to payroll, I felt I had a head start with several years’ experience in the profession. Actually, it turned out to be about so much more than payroll. It’s leadership, people management, business, strategy, reward. With module one completed of your course, how do you think you did and was it what you expected? When I received the results of my first module, it became clear to me that this was going to be a lot harder than I thought. You need to develop the skill of critical thinking and be prepared to question and argue against any theory no matter how established and accepted it might be. I also had marks dropped for referencing incorrectly. I can’t emphasise enough just how important it is to get into the habit of Harvard referencing. How important is the MSc in relation to your future career? I have come away with so much more
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | July/August 2019 | Issue 52 14
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