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 have asked Felicity Edmead, our Regional Consultant based in Kent, for her advice on achieving that all important CIPD qualification along with what she loves most about her job.
Felicity’s top tips for CIPD success:
Ensure you choose the correct CIPD qualification to suit your level and experience by discussing your options with an adviser first. Take advantage of the free personal diagnostic session which Reed Learning offers to all potential candidates. Studying for a professional qualification is such a big decision, it’s important to get it right from the start.
Dedicate a regular time to study every week and tell friends, family, and work colleagues you are working towards a qualification so they are aware you may be studying in your free time
When studying independently join networking groups either on Linkedin or Facebook to connect with other learners or work colleagues for additional support in addition to your personal adviser at Reed Learning.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are no ‘silly’ questions when you are studying and there will always be someone who has asked something similar!
Split your studying into manageable chunks so you don’t feel overwhelmed. And remember, if you are struggling, speak to your adviser. They might not be able to remove the problem, but they may be able to relieve some of the pressure to help you get back on track.
About Felicity
When it comes to supporting CIPD candidates, Felicity is well-placed to understand what it takes to achieve success. Not only did she complete her Advanced CIPD qualification recently, but she studied with Reed Learning so there is very little she doesn’t know about our learning methods! She is now putting this expertise to good use as she guides Foundation and Associate students through their CIPD learning journey.
Felicity has over 15 years’ experience as an HR generalist in the public and charitable sectors. After graduating with a BSc Honours in Psychology, she started her career as an HR Assistant with Kent Fire and Rescue. Promotion soon followed and she became involved in both service delivery and policy development. She later joined the Charities Aid Foundation as an HR Business Partner where her wide-ranging responsibilities included employee relations, performance management, recruitment and talent management, and business restructures. Here, she completed her Level 7 qualification under the guidance of Marissa Bryan, now Chief Operating Officer at Reed Learning.
Wanting to give something back to the profession, Felicity decided to turn her hand to developing others and no better place to start was Reed Learning, the company which helped her to become CIPD qualified, in the adviser role she loves.
While Felicity enjoys sharing her knowledge and professional experience, she also knows what it is like to juggle work and studying, so can pass on lots of hints and tips to the candidates she supports. Her one major piece of advice, however, is that anything can be achieved with dedication, commitment and enthusiasm, a mantra she certainly follows herself.
Just over ten years ago, Felicity began learning ballroom and Latin dancing socially. Today, she is part of the UK’s top ranked Latin Formation Dance team which competes both nationally and internationally and will be representing England at the upcoming World Formation Dance Championships in Germany. Which just goes to show the success that can be achieved if you want to learn and progress!
