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Top Insider Advice
First impressions count, and you may not always know they are happening. Particularly in our industry, you will likely rub shoulders with numerous influential people throughout your career. These moments can be opportunities to make a lasting impression, so take advantage of that. People want to work with people that are pleasant, professional and trustworthy, so make sure you showcase those behaviours regularly with your interactions. The rest of your qualities, skills and experiences, you can evidence and build on while you make more meaningful connections, but the first three are the basics that will catch peoples' eye and help make an impression. There are plenty of opportunities to learn, but they usually require a bit of effort. If it is something you want, remember that investing in yourself with time and effort is to serve you in the long run, so why not take the opportunity? Network, speak to that person. Learn that new skill. Develop on that weakness. Don't be disheartened if you fail that one time, ask for constructive feedback, reflect and learn from it and try again.
Career path
Customer Service Training Manager, Great Western Railway
GWR
From 02/2021 to 05/2025Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
Being part a team who are passionate about encouraging people to be the best version of themselves is such a rewarding and satisfying role. I think it is so important, as it boosts confidence, morale, engagement and self worth, all of which contribute to overall business performance. It feels great knowing that you are enabling colleagues to do their jobs well, with the confidence, behaviours and skills needed to perform well. I believe in finding the balance between professional and personal development, as both are directly linked to how people perform and feel in their working lives. Personal development is specifically regarding a colleague/team member's personally identified and requested development. This should be something that the person would like to work on to aid their career or build on skills that will benefit that person in a way that is not necessarily linked to their role. Professional development is specifically regarding an identified gap/opportunity that will aid their current role and responsibilities. Professional development should be the priority when it comes to time and resource, but it is encouraged that personal development is also given space in your colleague’s diary and capacity.
Greatest achievements
Honestly, I am just proud of where I am and the resilience I have shown in getting here, through some rather significant challenges and changes. I am proud of the work we do, and our commitment to improving what we do and how we do it. In 2020 I was nominated for Young Rail Professionals', Young Person of the Year. This nomination meant the world to me. I have also been award three gold awards and I was invited to attend the Step Forwards programme, a programme for women on GWR’s Talent Wheel. To think back to the young girl in her mid-twenties, who walked into a HQ job barely being able to turn on a laptop, I am pretty proud of myself.
Libby S
Top Insider Advice
Try to figure out what you want and then make decision makers for those roles aware of your aspirations and why you think it would be good for both FirstGroup and you. I kept in touch with the network I established regularly – both to understand what was happening across the division but also to get an understanding of opportunities that might be available. I got my Greyhound role by repeatedly nudging the then Chief Financial Officer that it would be great for development and knowledge sharing if we could do more overseas secondments.
Christopher G
Top Insider Advice
Experiencing new things will broaden your horizon and give you things to talk about. This is really useful for life experiences and for discussions at interviews when the time is right to move on. Seek out new opportunities to meet new people and take part in exciting and innovative new projects. Want to try something different from your day job and see if you like it first? Why not do some shadowing or grab the opportunity to go on secondment within the business you're working in? With a secondment this is ideal as it means your original position will be waiting for you if, and when, you decide to return. You never know, a secondment may lead to new doors opening that you never thought about previously!
Alice O
Top Insider Advice
The only way to learn how to do a job is to ask questions from those around you. No question is a silly question. Also putting yourself out there asking questions, getting your voice heard helps establish your presence within an organisation and can help you progress your career further
