Moving to the corporate world after taking voluntary redundancy…

Can you tell us about your current role?
I am a consultant in the workplace proposition team at Phoenix Group. This involves developing and monitoring our pensions and retirement savings offer and how it is performing for employers and their employees, ensuring we remain competitive and provide the best offering for our workplace schemes. We do this by listening to our clients and the needs of their members.

Covid hit in 2020 and having had itchy feet and curiosity to life outside the airport, I saw this as an opportunity and the push came from the prospects in aviation becoming bleak due to the pandemic.

Where did your career path begin?
I was always interested in tourism and travel so after leaving school I completed a diploma in Business in Travel and Tourism. I then began working at Edinburgh airport in a customer service role. I enjoyed the variety of this role dealing face to face with customers however being a bit of an organiser and coordinator I progressed into more of an operational role which was more challenging technically. After doing this role I decided to take to the skies to see what all the fuss was about and became Cabin crew. This was great fun and allowed me to do a lot of travelling with work and personally due to the perks. I did discover that despite the fun, I missed having my feet on the ground. We were in a recession at the time therefore jobs were hard to come by however I managed to secure a part time position working on the ground in a customer facing role with British Airways. I was back where I belonged working for a worldwide airline who were one of the best employers in the industry. Eight years down the line the company outsourced the roles, and with this came my opportunity to gain the position I wanted back in operations. I was in this position for 18 years and it allowed me to work part time, doing what I loved and had the flexibility to raise my family. As my family grew and became more independent, I was then able to progress into management.

What made you decide to move in a different direction?
Covid hit in 2020 and having had itchy feet and curiosity to life outside the airport, I saw this as an opportunity and the push came from the prospects in aviation becoming bleak due to the pandemic. I was furloughed and then my company went through a restructure, and I had to apply for my own job again. It didn’t feel right so I decided to take redundancy.

I took baby steps by taking courses to learn about my brand and identified my skills and what would be transferrable

How did you go about it?
I felt it would be a mammoth task however I took baby steps by taking courses to learn about my brand and identified my skills and what would be transferrable. I spoke to family and friends to find out about their jobs and roles, updated on my CV, learned interview skills, methods for preparation and joined agencies.

I listened to motivational speaker podcasts such as Simon Sinek which helped me to believe in myself and I also completed a course with New Skills Academy through an Itison deal which helped; with the Microsoft office skills I didn’t have. By doing all this I began better understanding myself then identify and align my values.

How hard did you find to move into such a different role?
It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my career because; the language was different, the job was office based in a chair where previously I was always mobile, I was used to knowing my industry inside out as I had been well trained and here I knew nothing and I assumed everyone knew more than me which was a mistake to make. I was actually on furlough, so I was fortunate to be receiving a wage and having available time to allow me to invest time in myself. The upskilling and preparation were the easy bit, understanding what would interest me took longer. I had to understand my brand, my values and what motivates me. The uncertainty and then the learning in the new industry was what I found terrifying. Could I do it, was I capable of learning a new job, would everyone think I was stupid?

What led to you getting your current role?
I joined the company in an entry level operational role. As with aviation I assumed this would be the best way to understand the company and the way it operates. Once in I was soon recognised for my transferrable skills and secured a position as a team manager. I gained more knowledge and experience which helped me then to secure my current position.

What transferable skills did you find that you had?
I realised that I have a huge enthusiasm to learn, confidence to challenge and ask questions, the ability to problem solve and identify gaps and challenges. I also had many other transferable skills from previous roles such as stakeholder management, personable and organisational skills.

The pandemic gave me the motivation to leave which perhaps may not have happened as I was comfortable despite always wondering what life outside aviation would be like.

Were you nervous about making your career changes?
Extremely and at the time I did not realise but this was compounded by being perimenopausal. Some days my nerves were out of control. I would worry I was not good enough or not doing a good job. The pandemic gave me the motivation to leave which perhaps may not have happened as I was comfortable despite always wondering what life outside aviation would be like.

Did you get any support or advice?
I was given a huge amount of support from a family member who works in the financial sector. This helped me identify my skills and gave me a direction for jobs. Once joining the company I had support from my team, my managers and mentors.

I also completed a course with New Skills Academy through an It is on deal which helped; with the Microsoft office skills I didn’t have, to better understand myself and align my values.

What would you say to other people who are thinking of making a change?
I would say to learn and understand your brand and understand what motivates you, match your values with the values of the roles you are applying for. Treat barriers as challenges as I have been amazed by what I have achieved and overcome. Don’t fall for imposter syndrome yet it’s still something I struggle with, but it is important to try and have a can do attitude.