HR Professional Building Fruitful Career in UK Civil Service

Cylina Addai’s life has been shaped by different countries and cultures, contributing to her personal and professional development. Born to a Dutch mother and a Ghanaian father, Cylina spent her childhood in the Netherlands and her teenage years in Pakistan. After returning to Europe, she decided to further her education by studying for an IBA (International Bachelor of Administration) degree in Marketing and Communication Management at Wittenborg. 

“When I came back to the Netherlands, it was quite hard for me to slot back into the traditional Dutch education system because I had been abroad for a while. So, at first, I completed a secondary vocational education programme in international business studies, and I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to specialise in. That’s when I found out about Wittenborg. I was attracted to it because, in addition to being an international school, they were very clear that it would be possible to complete my bachelor's degree in two years.” 

Despite the possibility of graduating in less time, Cylina ended up completing her programme in four years because she was working while studying for her degree. According to the graduate, one of the most positive aspects of Wittenborg is that its curriculum requires students to deliver many presentations, which helped her develop her public speaking skills. “On top of that, we had a great cohort of lecturers, and I have fond memories of them. I miss my lecturers and the people I was close to, and I am still connected with many of them on LinkedIn.” 

She adds that she really enjoyed the variety of guest lecturers that Wittenborg invites for sessions. “These people weren't necessarily lecturers, but they were successful professionals in their field, and it was really great to hear them talk firsthand about their experiences. The way they taught certain sections of the modules was very different from the normal teaching sessions.” 

While studying at Wittenborg, Cylina faced challenges, including the need to work to pay her tuition fees. “This was a trade-off because by studying at Wittenborg I got the flexibility I was looking for. On top of that, I gained a lot of work experience alongside doing my bachelor’s, and that was very beneficial for my career,” the graduate highlights. 

At that time, she had the opportunity to work at different companies, primarily in the field of customer service. These experiences helped Cylina develop new skills and figure out the professional path she wanted to follow. “I realised that I have a clear interest and that is working with people. And very soon it became evident to me that my communication skills are something that I can focus on.” 

By doing a short internship at a recruitment agency, Cylina discovered that she greatly enjoys working in recruitment and attraction. “The only thing that I didn't quite enjoy was the sales aspect of it. But that was when I had an HR module at Wittenborg, and I learned that you don't have to work at a recruitment agency if you want to do recruitment. You can do it within a corporate setting as well. So, I decided that once I was done with my degree I was going to focus on applying for HR recruitment roles.” 

Starting a new life in the UK 

Shortly after graduating, Cylina got married and moved to London to live with her husband. Initially, her lack of previous work experience in the UK proved to be an obstacle to her career. For this reason, despite being a seasoned professional, she applied for an unpaid internship at a charity organisation. On her last day as an intern, she was offered a job in recruitment at a government department. This marked the beginning of her career in the UK civil service, and she has since held HR positions in various other institutions. 

Currently, Cylina is working as a Resourcing and Workforce Planning Lead for the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, a programme that evaluates the UK’s response to the pandemic. Among other tasks, she is responsible for hiring the right people at the right time, focusing on retention, and ensuring that the programme has suitable talent pools in place until its conclusion. 

Regarding her plans for the future, she would like to develop her knowledge and expertise in different areas of HR, to become a more well-rounded professional. “At some point, I would like to apply for a director role. Once you reach that level, you have a very broad scope of responsibilities. The plan is to stay in HR but broaden my knowledge a bit before I climb the ladder. Also, I'm a mom; my son turns six this year, and most of my decisions are currently influenced by how much time I can dedicate to work.” 

Cylina advises current Wittenborg students to gain work experience while studying, whether through a regular job, an internship or a volunteering role.  

“I think tangible experience really dictates how quickly you can get into the workforce or how quickly you can progress. Because although people do value a degree, it’s also important to have practical knowledge. Also, Wittenborg has plenty of contacts and networks, and students can take advantage of these connections and resources to find opportunities, while they have this support network around them,” she concludes.  

WUP 04/09/2024 
by Ulisses Sawczuk 
©WUAS Press