This
month Angie Bourke, 38, associate director of CMG UK, payroll division,
explains why staff development is central to her job and how she encourages
people to achieve their potential at the global ICT company
How
long have you been in this job?
Since 1 September 2000.
How
long have you been with your company?
Since 23 April 1997
What
does your role involve?
I am responsible for support in Manchester and Prestatyn, covering
production, administration and quality assurance, and contributing to the overall
development of CMG’s northern payroll business.
What’s
the best thing about your job?
We have different programmes available depending on which career path
consultants wish to take, although what is important is for each individual to “own”
his or her career. I enjoy the hands-on approach and the satisfaction of seeing
someone achieve their aspirations.
What
is your current major project or strategic push?
I hold regular meetings with my consultants to ensure their ongoing
effectiveness and satisfaction. Topics for discussion include, but are not
restricted to, personal training, job satisfaction and career progression. CMG
Prestatyn looks to obtain ISO9000 certification in 2001, and my role as QA
manager will be to ensure this is successful. Another major objective is to
identify an individual with the potential to become a manager and also produce
appropriate development plans for them.
Preferred
terminology – training, development, education, learning, performance improvement?
Personal development.
Favourite
buzzword?
KPIs (key performance indicators).
Where
do you want your career to be in five years’ time?
I’d like to be managing director.
What
was the most useful course you ever went on?
Associate directors (AD) undertake a management development programme that
consists of the different elements that have been proven to make an effective
AD; these include sales, recruitment and selection, legal aspects including
contracts, and project planning. The ultimate aim is to work towards what we
lovingly know as a pre-management training course (PMTC). This is a three-day
course of continual assessments through role play. The course is given to
internal and external candidates and is exceptional.
What
was the worst course you ever went on?
None, I ensure the course objectives are what I am looking for.
What
did you want to do for a living when you were at school?
I wanted to be a police officer.
What
was your first job?
I worked for the Civil Service – Equal Opportunities Commission.
What
was the worst career decision you ever made?
None. All decisions I’ve made have been right at the time, albeit some have
been “life experiences”!
Which
of your qualifications do you most value and why?
I obtained the IPPM diploma (Institute of Payroll and Personnel) in 1996. I
worked extremely hard for many long hours, and my youngest son was only two at
the time. The satisfaction I got when I received my results was great,
considering the fact that I had not studied properly since leaving school. In
1999, I passed the IPPM Supervisory & Team Leader Certificate, which proved
that I had been doing things correctly. The fact I was the first person in CMG
to obtain this particular certificate, was even better.
What
do you think the core skills for your job will be in the future?
Staff development.
How
do you network?
A colleague said that she thought I was extremely good at networking, and I
have to admit that I find it quite easy. I am a people person and take every
opportunity to sell myself to others.
If
you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
I have no particular preference for a job but whatever I do, I want to be
able to reap the rewards – not just financial and not just achieving my own
goals, but being part of the development of others. I enjoy seeing them grow. I
also wish to continue to make my family proud of me and to mould my children.
What
is your motto?
I can and I will!
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Describe
your management style in three words or less
Approachable and fair.
How
would you like to be remembered by your colleagues?
Reliable, trustworthy, humorous, friendly. Some say I am an excellent
communicator (others that I talk a lot!). Mostly, I would like to be remembered
as a person who knew what she wanted and worked hard to achieve it.
