Our advisers are very special individuals with an abundance of industry experience and a genuine interest in the development of others. Each one of them works hard to support their CIPD candidates and apprentices throughout every step of their qualification and the feedback we receive on Coursecheck is testament to the superb advice they provide. Our advisers really do ensure our business retains that personal touch, something we know candidates greatly value. This regular feature publicly recognises their contribution to your CIPD success!
We asked Ally Weeks our Consultant who works with Level 7 candidates, for her advice on achieving that all important CIPD qualification along with what she loves most about her job.
Ally’s top tips for CIPD success…
Be organised to give you the best chance to succeed. I put everything in one central calendar, so all my deadlines are in the same place. It helps to keep on top of things.
Be disciplined. There is a lot of reading at Level 7 so it is a good idea to plan in advance to get through it. When I was doing my Level 7, I used to catch up on reading on public transport. I would also set aside one evening a week and Saturday and Sunday mornings for study. It can be challenging, but it pays off.
Don’t be shy and ask for help if you need it from your adviser or colleagues.
Join your local CIPD branch. It’s a great way of networking and potentially finding a mentor to help you through.
About Ally
Ally is already making a major contribution to our Level 7 candidates who appreciate her extensive HR and L&D expertise. A Coach, who has written and tutored on CIPD qualifications for both HR and L&D and has led many students to Associate and Chartered membership, Ally has a proven ability to develop people at all levels.
Ally began her career as an accountant but quickly changed tack with a move to a recruitment consultancy when she realised she preferred working with people to spreadsheets. The switch in professions proved successful and resulted in over 20 years’ HR resourcing, talent and learning experience across the board.
In 2011, Ally took up a position as an L&D Consultant with the CIPD and became a specialist in delivering qualifications and inhouse courses in HR and Learning. With her hands-on experience in both HR and L&D, she was regularly asked to write and contribute to CIPD research projects and guides on a range of topics including workforce planning, business ethics and labour market outlooks.
Ten years’ worth of knowledge and experience gained with the industry’s professional body set Ally on a new challenge and she established her own HR consultancy providing people solutions to business on generalist HR, talent management, assessments, coaching and qualifications.
They say variety is the spice of life and Ally loves combining her consultancy work with her role at Reed Learning believing that both jobs complement each other. She appreciates seeing her candidates grow and develop and take the skills and knowledge learnt back to the workplace. A firm believer in becoming CIPD qualified at any level equals career promotion, Ally also enjoys following the progression of her students as they climb the professional ladder.
