Personal development
Diary of a student…
events during these two years and I found it hard to study around the circumstances of my personal life. The course fell to the back of many priority list, which resulted in me graduating two years after I should have. However, I am still so proud of my achievement. I really was ready to give up on the course because of things going on around me. Although I couldn’t see an end to all the work that had to be done, I was encouraged not to give up and was able to delay certain modules to enable me to concentrate on them better. My tutor and the education team at CIPP were so supportive, which was a massive help. Eventually, I got my Foundation Degree. Did the fact that the CIPP is Chartered or recognised within the industry influence your decision to enrol with the CIPP? Yes. The opportunities that arise from studying with the CIPP are far greater than those that are available without. I had seen the CIPP courses as requirements in certain vacancy advertisements at the time and these days that requirement is growing. For someone who is thinking about studying with the CIPP, what would your advice be to them? Absolutely do it – don’t even hesitate. It will open so many doors for your career, and even if you don’t want to, do it just for your knowledge, I would highly recommend. The information packed into these courses is outstanding. It really is a huge eye-opener into the payroll world, and the support from tutors and administrators behind the course is second to none. They’re a really fantastic team at the CIPP. Good luck! n
Noeleen Green Payroll supervisor, Baldwin Holdings Limited
Can you give a brief background into your life? I am 28 years old and live in Birmingham though I chose to study years two and three in Manchester. I have no children but somehow seem to lack ‘free time’ as I always have a lot on. Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? I started my first role in payroll in March 2014 which fortunately I fell in to. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but knew I was fed up with the hours and lifestyle of working for a pub chain. Off the back of a conversation with one of my regulars I got an interview and was subsequently offered the role. At this point, I didn’t even know what a tax code was – but, luckily, they must have seen something in me. Since then, I have studied and completed the CIPP Payroll Technician Certificate and years one, two and three of the Foundation Degree. I’ve worked as a payroll administrator/clerk/officer completing weekly and monthly UK payrolls and also weekly and bi-weekly Canadian payrolls for a short time too. I then moved on to be a payroll project analyst for Poland and am now a payroll supervisor.
Foundation Degree in Payroll Management? The payroll director for the company I worked for at the time of starting my studies was on the board of the CIPP I believe, and with this person I’d attended a payroll update course which I found fascinating. It was suggested I take the course in order to help with my career, and after doing some research it was clear to see the CIPP were the best. How important is this certificate in relation to your career? Massively important as it has opened so many doors for me and given me the knowledge I needed in order to further my career and take on opportunities and challenges. Without the course, I genuinely wouldn’t have the knowledge that I now have. How did you cope with the work- life balance and your study? In the first year, I didn’t struggle too much. I am quite a last-minute person when it comes to revision, and it always sinks in better under pressure. Year two and especially year three did get harder with the assignments, and I couldn’t have qualified without my tutor Pete Statham in Manchester. The support he shows is phenomenal. I went through a series of unfortunate
Why did you choose to study the
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | June 2020 | Issue 61 18
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