Personal / professional development

[C1234567]

Name changed as I’m weirdly embarrassed to be asking this!

I am mid 40s and been doing a fairly low level job for years. Company has been taken over and they have offered me a fantastic new opportunity starting a new role with the view to complete the required courses in this department. It’s a department I’ve wanted to work in for years but would never have been able to afford the training / time out of work. I feel so lucky to have been offered this opportunity.

However, I lack confidence and want to give this opportunity 110%. My question is what can I do in terms of personal and professional development? Any tips? Any stories of going from a low level job to more of a career role?

Starting the job in the new year and really want to go for it!

That sounds great. Embrace the opportunity and don't overthink it.

So they're going to train you?

They didn't offer you the role because you're lucky. They offered you the role because you're amazing and it's in their best interests. Stop overthinking this. They aren't doing it for you, they are doing it for themselves.

They are going to pay for me to do my training it’s a certification to be able to do the role.

What a lovely thing to say xx

I was going to say exactly the same, you’re not lucky, they’ve offered to pay for this training because they believe that you have what it takes and that you’re worth investing in.

I got a fast track promotion a few years ago, skipping a couple of levels. I think the point I really started to feel I belonged was about six months in when someone junior to me, who previously would have been senior to me, asked me to mentor them on a project and I was able to usefully advise them. So my advice would be: have confidence in yourself, but also recognise that it can take a while to feel that you’re in the right place, and that’s ok. It’s good to remind yourself how far you’ve come.

You attitude here shows dedication that they saw in you as well. I'd say use this opportunity to learn, ask lots of questions!

They wouldn't be offering it if they weren't convinced you'll smash it.
Well done you!

Wow thanks everyone I need to start believing this myself!

They believe in you.

I would like to get some opinions on theoretical perspectives in relation to professional development and I would like to discuss the importance of reflection in professional development and the outcome of this approach.

@Childcarepractitioner , you'd probably be better off starting your own thread

Believe in yourself as much as others believe in you. They wouldn’t offer to spend money on training you if you didn’t have what they needed!

Hi thanks, new to the site and don’t know how to start a new thread?