Human Resources Student Stories:
CIPD Student Stories: Mariela Riquelme | CIPD Level 7 Review

Mariela was looking to elevate her career flexibly, which led to her study a CIPD Level 7 Qualification with us completely online.

I relocated to the UK in March 2020, just over a week before the first lockdown. Although I already had previous international experience in HR and managed to secure a role as HR Advisor, I wanted to enhance my knowledge and skills to advance my career and take on more responsibilities. After considering different options, I finally decided to take on CIPD Level 7 in Strategic HR Management at the start of 2021. 

I chose ICS Learn because my work colleagues recommended it to me, and I’m glad I followed their advice!

I remember I felt quite unsure at the beginning, especially regarding online learning and time management, as I was afraid I might not be able to keep on track with my learning on my own. However, ICS Learn were very supportive and professional, and reassured me that online learning doesn’t mean being on my own.

I later on found ICS Learn’s advisors and tutors to be incredibly supportive and caring, and they have helped me set my learning objectives to balance my studies, work and personal life, whilst becoming more autonomous and in control of my learning.

I am now half-way through the course and in this short time I have been promoted to HR Business Partner. I feel more confident giving advice and I feel I have the knowledge and skills to add value to my company. I was delighted to discover that online learning suits my lifestyle quite well, as I now have the flexibility to learn whenever I want, without following a rigid schedule. I find each module fascinating and I can clearly visualise how to apply it to my workplace, as theory and practice are intertwined. I enjoy listening to my tutors and the real-life examples they share with us, as well as interacting with other students, I feel like I'm always learning something new in each class.

I have no doubt I made the right choice when I enrolled with ICS Learn, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to progress in their career, develop their knowledge and skills and benefit from the flexibility that online learning provides.

Once I complete my current course, I’m planning to sign up for CIPD Level 7 in Learning & Development with ICS Learn.

Inspired by Mariela's story? Develop your HR career with a professional CIPD qualification that you can complete from home. Download your free CIPD course guide.