Caroline Lindner
Caroline Lindner
Career Development and Employability - PGDip (Distance Learning)
Caroline is a graduate of the Postgraduate Diploma in Career Development. She studied the course to support her career transition from the legal sector to the careers sector, and credits the course for supporting her in securing her current role of Career Consultant at the University of Cambridge.
What attracted you to studying with the University of Huddersfield?
There were several things that attracted me to studying at Huddersfield: the quality of academic teaching, the profiles of the course tutors, the opportunity to start in January instead of during a busy Autumn period, and the inclusion of the QCD qualification, accredited by the Career Development Institute. The QCD is a major selling point for this course, and I am now on the register of qualified careers practitioners, which many employers require.
Why did you choose to study the Career Development and Employability course?
I was impressed by the balance of the core and optional modules on the course, which were very relevant to my role as a Careers Consultant in Higher Education. The core modules provided a solid, theoretical foundation to the profession and how individuals make career decisions.
The optional modules provided up-to-date information on educational policy and how Higher Education has evolved, as well as the practical frameworks to aid career guidance for individual and group work.
I enjoyed every teaching day because of the tutors and my fellow students – we managed to combine learning and fun, and shared individual expertise and experiences. I’ve made some lifelong friends and now have an extensive network of people working within schools, colleges and universities.
I graduated from my first degree in 2001, so I was nervous about studying again, particularly in an entirely online environment. However, through this course, I re-discovered my love of learning in an academic environment.
What were some of the key benefits of studying online for you?
Studying online provided both structure and flexibility. The regular online teaching days covered the curriculum, provided ample opportunities to discuss assignments and reading lists, and learn from peers.
I could also fit my assignments around my working pattern and personal life. It did require discipline, studying at weekends and keeping on top of a full-time job, but the online tools and resources really helped.
The course tutors are extremely credible, having each held roles within schools and universities, so they understand how to bring theoretical concepts to life in a meaningful way.
How would you describe the quality of teaching on your course?
The quality of teaching on the course was excellent. Huddersfield is known for the quality of its teaching, and I was impressed by our three tutors. They really care about the course, their students, and careers education. The tutors were also very accessible and I took the opportunity to book one-to-one meetings to discuss assignments, as well as my career goals.
Tell us about your current job role
I’m currently working at the University of Cambridge as a Careers Consultant. I work with students and graduates from all degree disciplines but have a particular focus on careers within the Green/Environmental sector. I also work closely with the School of Physical Sciences, and I am the Careers Service point of contact for two of the colleges.
How did you find attending graduation on campus?
As an online student, I had never visited the campus before, so graduation was a great opportunity to do that as well as meet my tutors and fellow students in person and celebrate together!
Would you recommend the course to other students?
I would absolutely recommend the Career Development course to prospective students. The course is stimulating, there is plenty of support from tutors, excellent online resources and you will meet some interesting people along the way.
