Maddy is aiming for the top in HR at just 22!
Our latest success story Maddy Beck shows just what can be achieved when you put your mind to it…
Although Maddy Beck is relatively new to HR, she is determined to take her career in the people profession to the top. Not only did she complete her CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management in just seven months, but she has already enrolled on her Level 7 qualification which she also aims to complete in record breaking time! Maddy is an outstanding student but what makes her achievement even more impressive is she is just 22 years old! Here, she tells her story.
The Challenge
With a degree in psychology and a Masters in management, it seemed a natural step for Maddy to pursue a career in Human Resources. She enjoyed working with people and was sure her interest in psychology alongside her knowledge of how organisations work would stand her in good stead for a future in HR.
As she had just finished university, Maddy didn’t have a lot of practical work experience so jumped at the opportunity to join a boutique HR consultancy as an HR Assistant. The job offer came with the promise of a funded CIPD Level 5 qualification which Maddy was keen to gain both to improve her skills in the role and to boost her future career prospects.
The Solution
After reviewing several CIPD centres, Maddy opted for Reed Learning’s 100% online Associate Diploma course.
“Having spent most of my university life studying remotely because of the pandemic, I felt very comfortable learning online. I researched different providers but kept returning to Reed Learning. I liked the fact that there were so many different study options to choose from and the customer reviews were very positive. Everyone I spoke to was so friendly and happy to go through the information about the course. That’s really what sold it to me.”
All Reed Learning CIPD students and apprentices are supported throughout their qualification by a personal tutor. Maddy was assigned to Lorraine Bartlett, an experienced HR generalist with over 24 years in retail management.
“I honestly can’t say enough good things about my advisor Lorraine who was so helpful throughout my studies. The partnership with Lorraine made all the difference. I was never worried about asking her anything and she was always able to help. I think she gained a good understanding of me early on in the process and knew that as soon I had finished one assignment, I would be straight on to the next. As a result, she was always quick to get back to me and we would keep each other in the loop.”
Studying online, Maddy was also able to take full advantage of Reed Learning’s wealth of resources, study guides and materials, all of which she found useful.
“The study guides were brilliant. They had all the information in one place and there were so many resources on the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). If I was slightly unsure about a question, I knew there were lots of resources available to read through. Everything was in one place so you don’t waste loads of time searching the internet.”
The Results
After studying for just seven months, Maddy was delighted to achieve her diploma and become an Associate Member of the CIPD. At work, she has been given more exposure to different areas of HR because of her increased knowledge and confidence. She has advised on employee relations cases and assisted a client with a complete review and reform of their GDPR processes.
“Having the qualification has really opened my eyes to understand the whole structure and the processes involved in HR. I don’t have a huge amount of HR experience so studying for my CIPD has developed my understanding of organisations from a people perspective which will be very helpful going forward.”
“My overall learning experience has been really positive. My advisor was amazing and has been a definite highlight but everyone at Reed Learning was supportive and even when Lorraine was away, there was always someone who was willing to help and advise me so I could complete my assignment quickly.”
Maddy has already started her Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management and is hoping to progress quickly through the programme.
“I want to achieve my Advanced Diploma and be able to present myself as fully CIPD qualified. I am conscious that it will support my career progression and open more doors. Now I am in the swing of studying for my CIPD I don’t think it makes sense to stop just yet!”
Lorraine Bartlett, Maddy’s personal advisor, says:
“Maddy was a pleasure to support and an outstanding student. Communication on both sides was key to the progress made throughout her programme. Maddy set her study plan with very determined deadlines and stuck to that throughout. Her commitment and resilience to completing her qualification was unwavering. Although Maddy’s academic background was exceptional, I was aware that her practical experience, whilst building, was limited. I adjusted my support by sharing experiences that could help and by advising on how to seek out further information in her own organisation. I wish Maddy the very best of luck in completing her CIPD Advanced Diploma.”
