Top Tips For Personal Development and Gaining Professional Experience

Written by Joe Randlesome – Marketing Manager

When it comes to professional development, choosing your next career move or your enhancing your own personal branding on platforms such as LinkedIn – a lot can be said for authenticity and a willingness to learn.

Taking on a marketing role at Contract Personnel (recruitment agency) over the past 3 years has enabled me to speak with people on a daily basis about their career options, development and dreams.

I often speak to students and young professionals who are looking for their first break in their professional careers. Or I am asked for advice on how to gain experience, make friendships, where best to network or how to reach the right people.

My first piece of advice always tends to be around ‘a willingness to learn’. If you have this mindset, you will achieve success as you will show determination and hunger. As a former journalist, telling stories and finding the best in people is something I did on a daily basis.

And to achieve your ambitions and fulfil your potential, a lot depends on how willing you are to learn new things, be a bit quirky and showcase your talents.

Prior to working in recruitment, I have had marketing roles at the Marina Theatre, Desira and Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure. I have also covered large sporting events during my time at BBC Sport and completed complex investigative journalistic stories working at the EDP.

But something that underpins all of these roles is the person that I choose to be on a daily basis.

I love listening to people, hearing their stories, successes and showcasing them. Over the past 12 months, I have grown more into an events/partnership/Business Development type role, which has allowed me to regularly attend networking events and host some of my own.

In my opinion, there is nothing more powerful than meeting people and finding out more about them. At the end of the day, people buy from people. We learn from each other and can recommend each other.

My key tip over the past 6 months has been around video content, especially on LinkedIn. At a recent careers fair at the UEA, my key advice was to research the companies in the sector you are interested in – and start connecting with people who work there on LinkedIn.

My advice is to then show a willingness to learn – record a little video about yourself and your experiences. If you have no professional work experience, say that. It is not a negative. You can explain all of your other interests and skills which will make you a suitable candidate.

Someone who puts themselves out there and wants to learn, will shine brighter than everyone else. We now live in a ‘scrolling culture’, which makes it so easy for your content to be missed or scrolled past. So being different and adding a ‘hook’ to your posts, is now imperative.

Another thing which has worked well for some candidates is to offer to come in and shadow, or learn, from a person already at a particular company. This can be really effective to start gaining hands-on experience.

If you are looking for your next career break, another key tip is to meet with fellow professionals and learn from one another.

It is also about researching opportunities that are available and connecting with the relevant people.

Sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone can be one of the hardest things to try and do. Whenever I do a talk at a networking event, I now try and make it entertaining with a few jokes and one liners. People now come up to me and ask me when my next comedy routine will be taking place. Not that the jokes are any good, mind!

But this is because I have tried to be memorable and hopefully people can then see the real me, as a genuine fun person who brings something a little different to professional events.

At the end of the day, it is important to smile and have a laugh sometimes.

One of the hardest things on a CV, in my opinion, is the personal statement. As it is never easy to talk about yourself. But you should see this as an opportunity to showcase yourself and the type of person you are.

Recruitment can be a bit like match-making. Finding the best in a person and matching their skills to the most appropriate job role.

But for me, it is about being inspired and enjoying the work that you are taking on. It is crucial to have aspirations and dreams to try and achieve.

I have taken on a number of running challenges in 2025 – including a 5k run every day in January for charity. But this is because I am ambitious and want to challenge myself to achieve something I didn’t think I could do.

And this motto can be related to all types of professional situations. Set yourself a challenge which may see you leave your usual comfort zone. Whether that is attending a new networking event, recording a video for LinkedIn, writing something new for your personal statement or offering to volunteer your services, by having an ambition and putting yourself out there – you will hopefully reap the rewards.

I am really keen to meet people for a coffee (my treat), recently catching up with like-minded professionals and offering advice has been really rewarding for me.

Or even if I can link someone up with a key contact, help with CV writing or assist with what to say/how to record a video, I will try my best to help.

Ultimately, we should all be smiling and helping one another. Together we can achieve greatness and learn from each other.

Let’s make Norfolk a thriving place for collaboration. We are the future. Let’s embrace it.