I'm Hannah Merson, I'm a charted member of the CIPD. I'm a transformation lead,
working at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.

So, for me, when I was thinking about joining the CIPD, this was due to wanting to join the HR profession. What prompted me was when I was looking at my qualification, that one of them was endorsed by the CIPD and followed the CIPD structure and followed the CIPD competencies. So, for me, that was something really important when I was looking at that. So, I decided to pursue a chartered membership.

I felt it was a natural step after undertaking my Masters. I feel like I got a lot of theory from from that qualification and actually being able to put that into practice and show that I'm working at a more strategic level was really important to me.

So, my main reason to choose to upgrade was to receive that recognition at a higher level. I saw it as something that I wanted to achieve for an achievement for myself. But, also for the organization to be able to have chartered membership and to be working at more of a strategic level.

There was a little bit of nervousness at the beginning about what I would expect and receiving the information. The sort of detailed guidance really helped me to
understand more about what was expected of me. As well, I was upgrading I learned quite a lot about myself, actually, when I was looking at the Profession Map; and the levels that were expected of me in the stage that I'm at. So, that was really helpful for me, to kind of baseline where I'm currently at and actually where I'd like to get to.

The process of upgrading, I would say it was quite simple. I wouldn't say it was easy because if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. And actually sometimes more of a challenge means that you get more of an achievement at the end. So, for me, the most enjoyable part of upgrading was getting my results. I was really proud - really pleased it was something that I didn't expect to have gotten. 

I think when you sometimes when you go into work you just feel like you're doing your day job and it's kind of what you're used to doing. So, to get that recognition that actually I've been working at quite a high in strategic level. And it was great for me,

So, looking back at what I'd achieved throughout my career, when I was upgrading was a massive confidence boost. I don't think people very often take the time to sit and pause and actually reflect on where they've come from and where they're going to next.

So, for me, having that overview of what I've done was - 'yeah. it's really great, what a confidence boost'. I do think that by upgrading it has opened up lots of
different doors for different opportunities. I do think it gives you access to maybe more of the senior roles within the HR profession as well. 

So, I've recently moved out of what I would call a traditional HR role into one that's around transformation. I do feel that CIPD already has played a big part in that. So, the skills that I've learned are already really transferable. And it helps me actually be able to coach and mentor others around me, within the skills I've learned.