Whether it’s what next in terms of training and development, considering a career change, or considering your first career opportunities.
It’s important to view this question as a positive. A driver towards moving you on to the next stage of a fulfilling and rewarding career.
I’ve said before that it’s unlikely we will find ourselves in our perfect career from the moment we step into our working lives. There are many routes and options out there, and finding your way is part of that journey.
Some roles perfectly fill a stopgap, others expose us to new opportunities and experiences, tapping into a new interest or passion and leading us down unexpected paths.
My advice is to roll with it. Take the opportunities in front of you for the positive outcomes they could bring. It’s often a case of right job, right time – and that’s OK.
But as you learn more about yourself, your skills, your interests, and your strengths, you gain experience and begin to refine your interests, ultimately landing on the career path you want to pursue.
Of course, if you have a career destiny from the outset, then embrace it. That’s a sure-fire way to progress and develop in your chosen field.
We don’t expect you to have all the technical skills which a job requires. We can teach you those. There are many roles where an employer will want to see that you can communicate well, that you are confident enough to speak to people, you work well as part of a team and that you have the motivation to crack on with the work you are asked to do. Other roles may require you to work more autonomously and play to other people’s strengths and preferences.
But building these skills is two-way process.
At JE we think carefully about our value proposition. I would encourage anyone looking for a first, or next, step on the career ladder, to look at the culture and environment of each organisation they are considering. Does that company look like a place where employees are encouraged to build skills and develop as individuals, or is it just somewhere that teaches the technical skills required to carry out a particular function?
At JE we foster an environment where there is a significant focus on developing personally and learning leadership behaviours, something which is vital both for your professional progression and your motivation and job satisfaction.
This is where it is important to remember that learning should never stop.
If you develop all the technical skills you need for a job but don’t consider your personal development, you probably won’t progress beyond a certain level. There is a symbiosis between technical skills and personal skills, and if you keep that open mindset, you will always find something new to learn, which will help you along your career path.
Caine Mundy
Role: Category Manager
Joined JE: Aug 2006
Career journey: Starting as a part-time sales advisor at the age of 16, I quickly mastered the retail systems and processes; this led to me being entrusted with establishing the first Customer Support Desk to improve Retail's customer experience significantly. In 2014 I was promoted to Sales Supervisor where I managed daily shop operations, conducted interviews and appraisals, organised training sessions, and drove our sales targets. In 2018, I transitioned to the role of Sales and Marketing Officer, and subsequently, to my current position as Category Manager. In this capacity, I oversee product ranging, marketing initiatives, vendor relationships, internal communications, website administration, pricing strategies, margin maintenance, profit enhancement, and sales data analysis.
Career advice: Focus on your strengths to build competence and excel. Integrate your passions to ensure long-term fulfilment and motivation. This combination boosts your chances of sustained career success and satisfaction.
Jake Dupre
Role: Technology Infrastructure Engineer
Joined JE: September 2020
Career journey: I started at JE during Year 13, working part time within the Powerhouse Support Team. Quickly, I discovered I was talented with technology.
In October 2021, there was a secondment opportunity to join the Technology Helpdesk team. Possessing no formal qualifications or experience in IT, it was a gamble, but I secured the role and within two months I was offered a permanent contract.
I worked within the Helpdesk team, building my knowledge and experience, until I joined the Technology Infrastructure team in February 2024. My current role is focused on network, cybersecurity and second line support. I'm also working towards my first IT qualification.
Career advice: Gain experience and learn as much as you can, when you work hard opportunities will come your way. If there’s something you want to do, go for it! Don't wait because you miss 100% of the chances you don't take.
Lucie Sicard
Role: Associate Product Manager
Joined JE: March 2024
Career journey: Originally from Brittany, I got my HND Personal Assistant in Rennes and left for Cardiff University to pass my Bachelor of Event Management. I then came to Jersey to work for an international online ticketing agency for tourist attractions, starting as a translator and progressing to the French Product Manager. For the last three years, I have been working at Jersey Post as the Operations Manager of Fetch.je, an online marketplace to help local businesses sell their goods and services online. I have now joined Jersey Electricity as an Associate Product Manager in our Technology Team focusing on eMobility and electric vehicle charging, a new world for me with a lot to learn but an exciting role in a really good company.
Career advice: It's never too late to try something new, stop wondering and just go for it!
Callum Mooney
Role: Trainee Metering Engineer
Joined JE: May 2023
Career journey: I completed my GCSEs and went on to A levels, unfortunately leaving education earlier than expected due to personal circumstances. I soon joined the work force, having varied roles across different sectors including retail, e-commerce and care/support work with some others in the mix. Throughout these roles I found ways to play to my strengths and engage in my work. I started with JE as an administrator on a temporary contract, soon realising this was the place for me. A role became available that would let me pursue my interests in physics/engineering so I successfully applied, I’m now working my way toward a Bachelors degree (and hopefully beyond).
Career advice: Keep pursuing the things that you are interested in. If you aren’t sure, try as many things as you can and you’ll never know what you discover.
Dawn Hodgson
Role: Skills Development Business Partner
Joined JE: August 2021
Career journey: After obtaining my GCSEs I then started college, which it wasn’t for me, so I started working for Yorkshire Bank and worked my way through from tea making to branch manager. After being offered and taking redundancy, I then retrained as a teaching assistant. I then moved to Jersey, worked in St Peter’s School, became an assessor for Childcare at Highlands College then completed teacher training and became a lecturer. I was promoted to Coordinator of Part Time Provision for Childcare whilst also teaching foundation degree students and CMI level 3. I started JE in 2021 and now utilise ‘people’ skills to help others to pursue their career aspirations!
Career advice: Seek feedback and reflect on strengths, development areas, interests, motivations and values; set goals, then seek learning opportunities to help achieve your goal(s) whilst considering the true work-life balance, AND be courageous – stepping outside your comfort zone leads to growth and new opportunities!
Michelle Crawford
Role: Customer Experience Delivery Partner
Joined JE: April 2024
Career journey: I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations but have spent most of my career in account management and customer-facing roles. Providing best-in-class customer experiences has been a common thread nearly everywhere I’ve worked from planning and executing corporate meetings and events, to loyalty and affinity product management and even retail store management.
Career advice: I think defining your common thread is the key to finding new roles or working in new industries. The products and services might change, but the principles of creating positive customer experiences are often the same. At JE, there is so much to learn and so many different customers and customer interactions – there is something new to learn every day.
Tom Wilson
Role: Product Developer
Joined JE: October 2023.
Career journey: After graduating from Cambridge with a Masters in Manufacturing Engineering, I briefly worked in London for a data-based strategy consultancy. I returned to Jersey after this was disrupted by Covid and found work for a small but global engineering firm providing products and consulting services to operating and maintenance contractors in the oil and gas production industry. My time was split between Jersey, Southampton, and Perth (Australia) offices.
I more recently chose to challenge myself with something new by applying for a role in the Product team at JE. Although I knew the work would differ from my previous experience, I had a lot of relevant transferable skills and knowledge through my studies, and I haven’t looked back!
Career advice: I would advise anyone currently thinking ‘What Next?’ to have confidence in yourself and your strengths, and not to be afraid of trying something a little different!
Ross Murphy
Role: Technology Operations Manager
Joined JE: June 2007
What was your journey from education through to your current role at JE? Joining the JE in June 2007 has been a blend of growth and learning. I started as a Powerhouse Technician, where I laid my technical groundwork with CompTIA A+ and Network+ courses. Progressing to an IT Help Desk Administrator, I deepened my IT support skills with different Microsoft certifications. My drive for growth led me to a more technical role, achieving MCSA: Windows Server and Server Virtualization certifications. Recently, I broadened my scope into marketing and leadership, securing Level 6 Diplomas in both areas. Currently, as JE's Technology Operations Manager, I'm advancing my expertise by studying for a BSc in Computer Science at the University of Exeter.
What one piece of advice would you offer people considering ‘what’s next?’ for them? Reflecting on my journey, embrace the ethos of continuous learning and adaptability. It's crucial to evolve your skillset in response to the rapid advancements in technology to remain relevant and competitive.
Jimilee Caldwell
Role: Construction Team Leader
Joined JE: 2007
Career journey: I joined JE (JEBS Department) as a qualified electrician who was employed to install various heating systems and assist the maintenance team on various contracts to maintain commercial property's, (JEBS 2007-2010)
I jointed the metering team as a meter technician, this involved a wide range of activities including assisting external electrical contractors with various regulations and legislation on the electrical industry, after a couple of years I became the senior technician within the metering department, this was a role that included training the other technicians on all METERology wiring systems and techniques, METERology automatically logs energy consumption from a wide variety of meters and stores profile data for analysis and reporting to our large commercial customers and all our domestic households. I was in the metering department for 13 years and found myself doing a lot more office-based projects, so this is why I applied for my current role. (Metering 2010-2023)
I have been in my current role as Service Delivery Team Leader for 1 year, and it's been by far my biggest challenge to date, I'm now helping orchestrate our HV and LV network jointing crews and overhead linesman. Making sure all our 26 crew members, which are combined with 7 apprentices, have all proper instructions, tools, and materials for their daily tasks. I’m predominantly office based but I get out to visit the guys and engage with them on the tasks ahead which I really enjoy. (Team Leader 2023-Present)
My journey from education to my current role is, leaving school then moving to Jersey when I was 19, I started at college as an apprentice electrician, I completed 5 years at highland then I went on to become an approved electrician by doing some further exams, I have now been enrolled at Teesside university doing an HNC in electrical and electronic engineering, so I look to be furthering my career as much as possible.
What one piece of advice would you offer people considering ‘what’s next?’ for them? Advice I would offer people considering what’s next for them, is evaluate your current role and ask yourself if your being challenged and is their opportunity to advance in that current role, it's important to further your education also, and it's never too late to learn.
Kayleigh Wells
Role: Digital Marketing Lead
Joined JE: May 2020
What was your journey from education through to your current role at JE? I studied media and art at Highlands College before deciding that University wasn’t for me. Instead, I chose to go into employment whilst working towards additional qualifications. After a brief stint in Finance and gaining my STEP certificate, I landed my first marketing assistant role at a law firm. Eight years and three marketing qualifications later, I moved to Jersey Finance as their digital marketing officer and five years after that brought me to where I am today at JE. I’ve gained a lot of new skills, had fun, and made some great friends along the way.
What one piece of advice would you offer people considering ‘what’s next?’ for them? Find what you love doing, believe in yourself, and go for it. It’s never too late to learn new skills or change careers. The reward will far outweigh the fear.
