Stevan Rolls explains his career path which led to him becoming National Director of Resourcing at Ernst & Young.

All the previous career profiles can also be seen in the special How Did I Get Here? page.

Current job title

National Director of Resourcing

Describe your initial training within the profession

Masters and PhD in Applied psychology plus various on the job experiences.

What positions have you held?

Managing consultant at Psychometric Test publishers ASE
Head of Occupational Psychology and Organisational Development Ford of Europe
Head of Audit Recruitment Arthur Andersen
Director of Recruitment Arthur Andersen.

Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?

I suppose I really have to say the collapse of Andersen – I had a great time at the firm but the last six months provided and incredible insight into some of the most challenging HR and employee communications issues imaginable. It also afforded me the opportunity of joining Ernst and Young.

What has been your greatest achievement?

Completing my PhD at Cranfield through part-time study.

Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?

When I first left school I took up an apprenticeship with the local electricity board. One day a colleague asked: “How do you like your job? because you’ll be doing it for the next 40 years!”. Although this prospect didn’t appeal greatly, it did prompt me to get some A levels at night school and subsequently go to University, thus completely changing my career.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?

It really is possible to do the things you want. If you are prepared to put the time and effort in you can change direction and carve out a unique path to your end goal. Doing so can also provide some interesting experiences along the way.

Have you got any useful insights or cautionary tales that could provide useful pointers to aspiring HR managers? If you’d like to contribute to the ‘How Did I Get Here’ feature please email our employment correspondent: Dawn-Marie Dart

Previous How Did I Get Here? features:
Susan Stevens, Toshiba Information Systems
Irene Burwin, HMG Paint
Trevor Lakin, IPPM
Alison Clarke, Quantica
Laurence Collins, Ceridian HR Consulting
Paul Kearns, PWL
Fiona Knight, KPMG
Adrian Glynn, Wilkins Kennedy
Joanne Darling, Cooper Parry
Sue Matthews, Coventry City Council
Nichola Nair, European HR Strategic Programmes Manager for Xerox
Alison Lewis, Corporate Learning & Development Manager, Oxfam
Jessica Diggins, HR Manager, Chartered Management Institute
Linda Klassen-Brown, Group HR Manager, The Logic Group
Keith Hanlon, HR Manager, Quantum Business Media
Andrew Mayo, frequent speaker and writer on HR issues
Jim Brooks, HR Manager for ServiRail Ltd
Jean-Bertrand de Lartigue, Chairman of HR2all
Karen Caddick, Head of HR, Channel Five
Madeleine Tate
Keith Luxon, HR Policy and Reward Director, The Laurel Pub Company
Jeremy Thorn, Chairman and Director of QED Consulting
Roger Pattison, HR – Training & Management Development Consultant
Verity McVarish, HR Manager for Sift Media
Rus Slater
David Kelly, Head of Development and Training for Aventis
Jenny Kevan, UK HR Manager for Abbott Laboratories
William Martin, HR Manager, Telewest Broadband
Craig Truter, HR Manager, The Body Shop
Martin Stockton, HR Transformation Leader, Towers Perrin
Nick Heap, Consultant, New Directions
Crispin Garden-Webster, HR Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Sandra Walsh, HR Delivers
Carole Leslie, Director, IT Learning Ltd
Shaun Dunphy, Project and Process Manager, EMEA HR Service Centre for MCI
Debra Artlett, HR Officer, NGJ
Dianne Miles, HR Manager, Rollalong Ltd
Jacqui Mann, HR Manager, Integra NeuroSciences
Isabella Montgomery, Human Resources Officer at The new Housing Association
Iain Young, Head of HR for Cofathec Heatsave

Have you got any useful insights or cautionary tales regarding your career? If you would like to contribute to the ‘How Did I Get Here’ feature please email our employment correspondent: Dawn-Marie Dart

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