Talent & Change Coordinator Review

I support the Talent & Change function with Human Resources. I support the Early Careers team during peak season's including the recruitment, on-boarding, induction and continuous development of our school leaver/college leavers on our apprenticeship and traineeship programmes and our interns and graduates. I also support wider talent management in the business for all levels of employees including executive development and executive succession planning.

- Communication skills - in my role I have to communicate with stakeholders around the business in a variety of different roles, from our trainee cohort right up to our executive leaders. I have learnt how to adapt my communication style depending on who I'm speaking to and what the situation is. - Team work - I work in a fab team and we each have a role to play with certain responsibilities and deliverables. Over the last 2 years of being in the team, my responsibilities have expanded further than I could have imagined so early in my career and its through the great team work that we do that I'm now trusted with these responsibilities. Leadership - Over the course of the last year, I have taken on new projects and pushed myself out of my comfort zone in order to stretch my skillset. During the first few months of 2021, I have taken the lead on projects usually delivered by consultants in my team in order to grow professionally. I know have confidence to manage and deliver projects and tasks and can engage with the relevant stakeholders to meet deadlines.

I really enjoy my Graduate Apprenticeship. As I chose to complete an apprenticeship rather than go to university when leaving high school, I didn't think I'd ever get the opportunity to return to education while focussing on my career. My GA allows me the best of both worlds - I am employed in a full time role, expanding my skill set, meeting a variety of new people and growing my skillset while earning a wage above the living wage whilst also studying towards a full honors degree! My real life working experience helps contribute towards my studies and the network that I build whilst originally on my apprenticeship has helped me significantly while learning about other areas of the business for my degree. The generous 5 day study leave policy also enables me to manage my workload and studies and I am regularly given time during my working hours to focus on my studies.

The programme is very well structured, every week there is a new online lecture released along side a learning activity to complete. Activities can then be submitted online for feedback from the module lead. Each module runs for 10-12 weeks at a time and for every module there is an organised campus day at university (or online, more recently!) where the full cohort can get together with lecturers and go over key areas of the module and usually go over the assignment brief. Final assignments can either be an exam, report or written assessment that is submitted at the end of each module, for every assignment, feedback and a final grad is provided.

I receive great support from my employer, I am regularly given time out of my working hours to focus on my studies and a majority of my work-based activities are completed with the support of my work based mentor who i have a regular catch up with every fortnight. The company also offers 5 days study leave per qualification which allows me a full day near submission time to get my head down and focus on university.

RGU have been great throughout my Graduate Apprenticeship. The initial induction back in 2019 gave us insight into what working while studying full time looks like and how we can manage both which was very helpful. Throughout my time working towards my graduate apprenticeship, I've had brilliant lecturers who are very happy to answer questions and provide feedback throughout the course of modules. The course lead is in regular contact with us and has a workplace visit usually twice yearly to check in and ensure our workplace is supporting us sufficiently.

My qualification allows me to work on the skillset I use daily in my job including my team work and collaboration sills, my communication skills and my prioritisation skills. The work based learning aspect allows me to learn more about the business as well as the financial sector and expand my knowledge of how Standard Life Aberdeen works and how each different business area helps contribute towards the company's end goal.

Standard Life Aberdeen has a variety of internal company Networks ranging from the Young Person's Development Network to the Armed Forces Network. Any employee can sign up to as many networks as they like and each network reguarly sends out newsletters and organises events for members to attend. Recently, the Young Persons Development Network organised a volunteering day at an Edinburgh food bank (following government guidelines) and also hosted a Q&A with the new CEO.

Yes

Standard Life Aberdeen is a brilliant place to work, the company is accepting of people from all different backgrounds and never once have I ever felt unaccepted by a team or manager. The culture is very open and honest and each business area is committed to getting the best outcome fro our clients and customers. The company offers a very competitive benefits package including a salary paying above the living wage, a market leading maternity leave policy, 40 days per year of annual leave and access to Perks at Work which provides employee's with a variety of discounts and savings. During the pandemic, the company has ensured that employee's are set up to work from home properly and teams have been encouraged to collaborate in the new virtual setting to ensure that everyone feels part of their team.

Make sure that you carry out some research on the company before applying, the company is rather complex so no one expects you to understand everything, but some basic understanding of who we are and how we work always comes across well in an interview! Make sure you come prepared to each stage of your recruitment process and have some questions ready as this makes you appear engaged and interested in both the role and the company. If you are successful in securing a role at Standard Life Aberdeen, never be afraid to ask questions and make the most of every opportunity handed to you!