Case study Rebecca Senior – Trainer and assessor in work based learning
Information and Advice Service Email: advice@lluk.org www.lluk.org
Many people become a learning professional through inspiration from others. Rebecca used her skills and experience to forge a career with endless possibilities. Education to employment After leaving school with a desire to travel the world, Rebecca took a position in an outbound call centre for a travel agent. During her time at the call centre, Rebecca worked alongside an internal assessor. “This was a real eye opener for me – it showed me what delivering training was all about and the job satisfaction it can bring. I also found out that my personality was better suited to working with people face to face, rather than just over the phone.”
To fulfil her ambitions Rebecca left the travel agent and went to work for a media company, first as a telesales advisor, later becoming a business development manager. Here she got first hand experience at training other people, as part of her role involved training agents from other companies how to sell her companies product. “I enjoyed this, but thankfully someone who I was working with at the time inspired me to go into work based learning. Once I understood what was involved I never looked back.”
Finding her field
More for Rebecca, more for her learners
All of Rebecca’s business experience has meant she has competencies (competencies are the areas which you can assess on once you have achieved your assessors award) in customer service, call centre, business administration and team leading – everything she needed to qualify as an A1 assessor.
There are lots of benefits to the work Rebecca does. “I really enjoy being able to guide people through specific areas they want to develop. It means that what I’m training or assessing is always tailored to the needs of the individual not just the organisation.”
As a trainer and assessor for Elmfield Training, Rebecca works with people of all ages and backgrounds, in businesses ranging from call centres through to research consultancies.
“My role is so diverse, I provide training to those who are not so confident, enabling them to do their jobs better.” Training is only one side of the job Rebecca does, the other side is assessing. “Assessing is so different to training. When you assess an individual, you look at what they’re already doing and assess them on that. This provides the recipient with recognised accreditation.”
Being able to relate to the people she works with is one of Rebecca’s biggest assets. “I was in the same position as them at one point so I am very empathetic to there needs. And it’s all the more worth it when someone turns round to you and says thank you.” As Rebecca is quite new to being a learning professional she has many aspirations for working in the lifelong learning sector. “I’m looking to move up the ladder and become an internal verifier or even get involved in programme management – the possibilities are endless.” Rebecca’s advice to anyone considering a career in work based learning:
“Just do it, organisations are always looking for people from different backgrounds, with different expertise that can be passed on to others.”
“I really enjoy being able to guide people through specific areas they want to develop. It means that what I’m training or assessing is always tailored to the needs of the individual not just the organisation.”
The information provided in this case study is not prescriptive or indicative of how to become a learning professional. For details on how to become a learning professional, please see the factsheet found on our website below. RW04/10/CS040
Contact Lifelong Learning UK Centurion House, 24 Monument Street, London, EC3R 8AQ
Information and Advice Service
Email: advice@lluk.org www.lluk.org/ias This information is available in alternative formats from Lifelong Learning UK
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