Choosing your own path

“My first job at RELX was a policy analyst in the European Government Affairs team in London where I started in 2014. Prior to that I worked in Brussels for the European Parliament. Now I work as a software engineer for the data platform team in Elsevier - RELX’s biggest business.”

Making the switch

“I switched careers during 2019, but the discussion to start this transition started the year before. I joined a coding bootcamp in March 2019 and by June that year I was finished and started with Elsevier the same month.”

“I wanted to begin a career in software development and be more involved in building the solutions I was so frequently talking about as a policy analyst. With that in mind, when one of my colleagues asked me in 2018 where did I see my career going, it acted as a catalyst to start my career change and to fully commit to programming.”

“I chose the path of an external coding bootcamp. However, this is not the only way to switch careers into technology nor the golden ticket towards a software engineering career. I discovered early on during the course that some previous programming knowledge goes a long way in a bootcamp, giving you the chance to experiment and learn things which go beyond the basics. The course was structured into 12 intensive, full-time weeks of working in teams and learning, at an accelerated pace, what’s needed to be job-ready as a junior developer.”

Doing work that matters to society

“The work I now do at Elsevier drives the delivery of new data-enabled features to our users, based on their needs. In my area, this helps researchers stay ahead in their fields, be more effective in their job, increase productivity and enable the discovery of previously unknown trends. This work is highly valuable to our end-users in the global research community and it has a positive and measurable impact in helping society. That’s a good reason to come to work and it’s important to me that what I do makes a difference like this.”

Having a clear goal

“I was very lucky to have the full support of RELX and my whole team before, during and after my career change. It helped that I had a clear goal in mind and I think this was essential in my career switch as it focused my attention during the retraining months.”

“With my manager’s help, I secured a three-month sabbatical to do the retraining. I was also fortunate to have a team that had my back in case everything went belly-up during this transition. This helped remove some of the pressure, allowing me to focus on learning. I am grateful to have had such a supportive team. They were like a family to me and I am happy that we still keep in touch.”

“These would be my strongest recommendations to anyone thinking of doing what I did - have a clear end in sight and get support from your team.”

Why RELX?

“In my spare time if I’m not snowboarding, kite surfing, hiking or trying out new foods, then I am probably at my computer at home working on a personal software development project and learning new technologies.”

“RELX suits me because I like the people. Everyone I work with is extremely competent, approachable and a pleasure to work with. I also have opportunities to learn new technologies, acquire new skills and further develop my career.”

“My journey has taken me from being a nurse, to a tech support and now a talent sourcing and corporate communications specialist.”

My journey

“My career story starts way back when I was little. When people asked me ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’, I always envisioned myself wearing a white robe, a stethoscope around my neck and working in hospitals.”

“Yes, I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to save lives. But life got in the way and I soon realised that studying medicine was not affordable for my family. So, the next best thing that my family could afford was nursing.”

“I studied hard and qualified. But right after graduation, I realised that nursing wasn’t really what I wanted to do. Times change and so did I.”

“I made plans to study law. But once again my circumstances changed and I needed to earn money, so I took a job for two years at a business process outsourcer as a technical support representative. It was far from what I had studied, but I knew I just had to make it work.”

“Then in 2014 I joined RELX (REPH) in the Philippines. My role was supporting LexisNexis Legal & Professional in PCLaw, Lexis Advance and other Lexis web products. After three years, I was promoted to a senior technical support representative. Shortly after that, I was promoted again as a customer systems engineer for PCLaw. This is where I learnt a whole raft of new, enhanced technical support skills.”

“The final leg of my journey was to transition into corporate communications back in January 2019.”

“Graphic design has always been my passion since high school. But I never saw myself doing it professionally since I always wanted to become a doctor or a lawyer. When the opportunity arose I applied, thinking that when your passion turns into your profession, it’s just a perfect combination. I haven’t looked back.”

Feeling supported

“RELX has given me the freedom to exercise my creativity and ensure that I am equipped with the tools that I need to be effective.”

“The goal is for me to aid REPH in becoming the employer of choice in the Philippines by building and maintaining a strong brand identity that will be known by different professionals across the country.”

“Since I started, it has been such a great learning experience. I love being with RELX and my new team makes me feel very much at home. My talents have been greatly valued. I still feel butterflies in my stomach every time I see my designs and ideas come to life. I still have a lot to learn but I’m really excited to take on new challenges.”

Never be afraid

“My advice to others who might be thinking of changing course in their career is never be afraid to step up and show people what you’re capable of doing. Because that might just be the start of something amazing. Find your passion. Because when passion meets your profession, it will be a perfect combination. Your calling, even.”

Why RELX?

“RELX embodies a fun, engaged and professional culture perfectly with leaders who respect your creative inputs. It strikes a perfect balance between allowing you to handle responsibilities while ensuring that you are still being guided. Being with RELX makes me feel that employees are working hard not only because they feel valued but also because they are ensuring that our business is geared towards success.”

“My journey with RELX started in 2007 when I joined as a finance manager. I’m now doing something very different, but where my skills have proved really valuable.”

The nine-year itch

“After nine years with the business I felt I was being really successful. I had achieved a lot going from manager to director. Then, something altogether unexpected presented itself. Like these things often do. I gave it a great deal of thought and sounded out a few people to see what they thought too. Perhaps this new opportunity would be a role where I could apply my skills to help grow the business in a different way. I threw my hat into the ring.”

“So, I transitioned to my current role as senior director of programme management within the technology organisation of Risk & Business Analytics.”

“By providing meaningful insight into the technology project portfolio, we help drive management decisions around capital investments and workforce planning. This translates into product development that helps protect consumers and society as a whole, against fraud and crime. Good reasons to come to work.”

Challenging myself

“I decided to make the move to challenge myself further. It was an opportunity to use my existing set of skills to help grow our business in another way. I didn’t take specific training courses per se, but when I started in this new role, I spent time talking to my business partners to get an understanding of how my team and I could support them and their businesses. That feedback helped me better align my prior experience with the new position and create an outline for areas of focus.”

“I have found that the people at RELX are a great support network, and I also really appreciate the company taking a chance on me moving into a new area. Before I applied for my current position, I spoke to some colleagues familiar with the role to get a better understanding of the group and the job, and I also talked to my mentors about the opportunity. Everyone was incredibly generous with their time and candid with their feedback. Their input and guidance made all the difference.”

Take a chance

“What advice would I give to others thinking of changing their career direction with RELX? Take a chance on yourself. Especially if it involves an area about which you are passionate. Making a change can be intimidating, especially if you have been in a position for a while, but try not to let the fear of the unknown stop you from exploring opportunities, or from challenging yourself to learn or do something new. I also think it’s important to build a network and share your goals and questions with that support system. I cannot think of anyone in the organisation that wouldn’t be happy to take time to share their knowledge and perspective with someone looking to better themselves.”

Why RELX?

“There are so many talented people in the company that bring a tremendous amount through their intelligence and different viewpoints. I am proud to work here, it’s a diverse, ethical and community-oriented organisation.”

“It seems unbelievable to me now, but I started with RELX 23 years ago. I remember attending 20 and 30 year work anniversary events with colleagues when I was younger and thinking, never me. But here I am…”

Accidentally in love

“I think I kind of fell in love with working here by accident - developing strong brands, working with great people, adapting to ever-changing business landscapes, chances to develop professionally, learn new skills and meet new challenges. I really like my job.”

“Maybe this is post-rationalisation, but I see my career path as rather progressive and coherent even though, or maybe because, I had the chance to change roles regularly. My passion has always been to launch and develop products and services that best answer business needs. And my career path reflects that.”

Always looking to create something new

“I actually wanted to work in the music business when I was younger. I studied marketing in a business school and then did a Master’s degree in management of cultural enterprises and whenever I had to do an internship, I would choose to do it within a music company. Music is a real passion of mine.”

“My first job was for a concert production company. I was hired as a label manager to launch a whole new recording and music publishing activity to serve the artists they were producing - which was unique and innovative for a live music company at the time. A first launch.”

“This production company was also organising all the concerts of MIDEM, the world’s leading music market organised by Reed MIDEM, a subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions. And so, I would give the team a hand to produce the MIDEM concerts before and at the show.”

“Along the way a MIDEM programme director put me forward me for the job of programme manager to launch a new event. I never thought I would work for a tradeshow, but I accepted as I thought it would be an interesting adventure. And it was.”

“Since those early days I have had a number of roles across the business - launching shows, leading teams, working internationally, developing new products and growing the business. But in all the transitions I have made, I looked for chances to learn and develop professionally and also opportunities of creating something interesting and new.”

“So, bringing my journey with Reed Exhibitions right up to date, last year I decided to transition back to a strategy and new developments role, but with enlarged responsibilities on the strategy of our whole entertainment portfolio.”

Stand out

“Through all of this I have never really had an end goal and I still don’t. The more I advanced professionally, the more I learned and became aware about what I liked, what I am best at and how I can contribute to the company’s goals. And during all this, I had the chance to build trust and gain support from my managers, senior management and also with many other people in the organisation who supported me and helped me in every job transition.”

“It’s really gratifying to see how we can, by adapting or launching new events and products, have an impact and contribute to helping the industries and professionals we serve grow, transform and shape their future. From helping the music industry navigate the digitalisation of its business to helping the nascent esports sector grow, are great examples.”

“To others I would say identify and grow your strengths. Build trust with the people around you in the organisation, stand out, seize opportunities and volunteer for projects, big or small. And a little self branding always helps.”

Why RELX?

“It’s a rich, international working environment with high calibre people and great diversity. We work for leading brands where teamwork is strong. For me, the RELX experience is all very rewarding.”