Hear Karl's story
As a Facilities Manager, Karl noticed he enjoyed project work in his role and was curious about a change. In 2017, Karl got in contact with Learning People as he wanted to learn more about Project Management.
9 years on, Karl now works as an Associate Director for Jacobs, has worked abroad and has gained his Project Management Chartership. We invited him to our UK headquarters to share his inspirational story.
I'm really happy with my life. Got a great career, an awesome organisation I work for, great work colleagues.
When I set off 9 years ago, you know, those are the kind of aspirations I wanted for myself. And if it wasn't for making that change when I did, I wouldn't be where I am now. So yeah, it's definitely worth the investment."
Tell us about yourself
My name is Carl Buxton, and I'm an associate director at Jacobs.
When did you enrol with Learning People?
About 9 years ago now, through one of your consultants, Jenny.
Why did you first reach out to Learning People?
I was at a crossroads in my career. I was working in a facilities management role. Was looking to make a change. wanted to work in a project program environment.
How long did it take to land your first role, and what was it?
I don't know; within maybe two months of completing my qualifications, I got my first paid opportunity, and what they used to do was specialise in reshaping office space for companies and helping them utilise their footprint better, and I was project managing the design delivery of those new workspaces.
How has enrolling with Learning People supported your career development?
Oh, it's made a massive difference to my career prospects. My the opportunity to earn better salary working with world-class colleagues in amazing projects and the company I work for are involved in project delivery all over the world. The past nine years have gone quickly. I've put a lot of work in but I've been very focused and um I come back to it.
The program I did at the outset really helped give me clarity and set my my way. I wanted to elevate myself in the organisation I'm in and become more of a senior leader. I'm now in an Associate Director role. There was no way, to my mind, I'd get the opportunity to be in the environment I'm in now if it wasn't for taking that decision 9 years ago to do the studying I did and give me those first steps on the road to becoming a chartered project professional, which I am today.
What does the future look like for you?
So, I'd like to keep climbing the ladder in the organisation I'm in, which is excellent. I love it. They're international. So, that might be something I'd like to look at at some point in the future. Helping others on their journey to become chartered. There is a dedicated area of the business that helps in my organisation; it helps people become chartered. So, I think I can pay back the support I was given.
Project management is an innovative space. So it's is always important to keep learning and um want to be the best project professional I can be. Get bigger programs, bigger budgets, bigger responsibility, and move up within the organisation I'm in.
What advice do you have for someone considering enrolling?
Most people in life get to pivot points, and I reached one many nine years ago. And if you're going to make a change, you've got to feel comfortable with the first step in that change. It's really important you get clarity on what you want to do. So you have to really strip back what you're doing at that point in in life if you want to make a change. Look at the things you might be good at and try to leverage those. And then if you get that experience and you manage to have a qualification that underpins that experience, your career can really accelerate.
Was it worth the investment?
It was; at the time, it was a considerable sum of money for me to put down. It was a big investment, but it's paid back multiple multiple times. worked in the project management profession now almost a decade. I made thousands and thousands and thousands off the back of that initial I think £2,000 investment. I'm really happy with my life. Got a great career, an awesome organisation I work for, great work colleagues. When I set off 9 years ago, you know, those are the kind of aspirations I wanted for myself. And um if it wasn't for making that change when I did, I wouldn't be where I am now. So yeah, it's definitely worth the investment.
Would you recommend Learning People to those looking to make a career change?
The experience I had was excellent. Truly excellent. I mean, it's a testimony to the product and the people that, 9 years after a phone call with one of the consultants, I'm in the offices in Brighton saying hello in person to someone and thanking them for the help it's had in my career and for getting me to this point I'm at now. So, um, yeah, it's been terrific and I can't thank you guys enough.
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