Human Resources Student Stories:
CIPD Student Stories: Patricia Noon | CIPD Level 5 Review

After a tough go due to the pandemic, Patricia decided she wanted to change her career and thus took on a CIPD Level 5 Diploma in People Management with us. Find out more about her inspiring story below. 

I've had a 16-year career in retail management, a career that I am immensely proud of. I worked my way up from a sales assistant through to store manager but have faced redundancy on a few occasions.

The pandemic hit retail hard and on March 23rd, 2020 I closed the doors of my store for the last time, completely unknown to me that I would never trade out of that store again. I spent much of 2020 supporting other departments within our business and my colleagues through a troubling time.

Working with people has always been the best part of my job and I have always held a passion for HR. The changing environment of retail made me realise that I could not sustain a career in retail any longer and so this gave me a push to look into a career change. 

ICS Learn was my first call. I had heard great things about them after speaking to various friends who had all studied later in life. I was extremely nervous to become a student again and quite frankly I didn’t know what to expect.

In late 2020 I submitted the forms online to enquire and the guidance that followed was unprecedented. I was blown away by how supportive the team was. All of my questions were answered, there was no pressure and I got lots of open and honest advice about courses and financial options.

At the beginning of 2021, I finally took the plunge and enrolled to complete a CIPD Level 5 Diploma. Having never gone to university and having not been in education since 2005, I cannot begin to describe the nervousness I felt. What if I couldn’t do it? What if I failed? What if I couldn’t find the time to study? After all, I was still working full time and had a young daughter to take care of.

The great thing about online studying is that you can fit it in around your lifestyle, an hour or two on an evening or a day off while my daughter was at school.

The support of the ICS community has been great, lots of other students all feeling the same apprehensions as me offering each other advice and sharing concerns. The tutors are always very responsive and help in every way they can.

I have had a few problems along the way, shortly after beginning my journey I was made redundant. A massive blow to me but I felt safe in the knowledge that I had put myself in the best possible place to succeed with a new career, maybe just sooner than I had expected.

I paused my studies for a short time while I began the process of destocking my store and the consultation process for my staff. It was a very difficult time but the knowledge I had already learned from ICS Learn was put to great use.

There were no issues in taking a small break from my studying, that’s the great thing about no official deadlines. With my knowledge of HR and the beginning of my studies and support of CIPD, I was able to secure my first step on the HR ladder within the NHS. 

I have found the information provided through the CIPD to be really engaging and helpful throughout my first 6 months in HR and the ICS community has been so supportive. I look forward to the future and the completion of my course.

I would highly recommend studying with ICS Learn, due to the flexibility of learning and the supportiveness of everyone involved, tutors and students alike.

Inspired by Patricia's story? Develop your HR career with a professional CIPD qualification that you can complete from home. Download your free CIPD course guide.