Katie Jones

Having recently completed my CIPD Level 5 Diploma, I am striving to build on current HR experience, put into practice learnings from the CIPD L5, and build and strengthen my HR skillset. HR is something that has been a passion of mine for a long time, so I began studying for my CIPD Level in 2021.

Alongside my full-time role at Autotrader, I have taken various voluntary opportunities to gain valuable experience and insight into HR and build my skills.

I began at Autotrader on the Graduate scheme in 2019 as a Graduate Account Manager working with retailers in an Account management capacity. I spent time working with a variety of different sized retailers and learning how to: 

• Build positive relationships with customers to understand their business and objectives, identify opportunities for growth, manage, and mitigate any potential risks.
• Offer tailored solutions and opportunities using extensive understanding of our products and services. 
• Use established ROI and Insight models through existing systems to embed value, identify areas for improvement and choose the correct course of action that will bring mutual benefit to both the customer and Auto Trader.
• Communicate effectively to deliver customer progress and their forecast with an appropriate level of detail. 
• Use a variety of techniques to explain, influence, collaborate and negotiate with customers and internal key stakeholders. 

Upon finishing the graduate scheme, I moved into the Performance management team as a Performance Advisor, where I spent time successfully reaching targets set for the number of clients converted to new products, this involved:

• Helping clients understand the latest digital retailing products to maximise their performance – showcasing how to utilise these tools for best ROI and conversion to a fully digital car-buying journey.
• Leading new product demonstrations for clients and completing the onboarding process
• Maintaining strong business relationships with clients and continuing to embed the latest digital retailing capabilities.
• Collaborating with account managers to ensure successful end-to-end client journeys.

I then spent a year in the Trade marketing department as a Marketing Executive, my responsibilities here included:

• Responsible for successful production and delivery of retailer webinars.
• Co-ordinating the behind-the-scenes activities with a range of people across the business to promote the webinars through external and internal channels.
• Ensuring content is relevant, up to date and engaging.
• Managing postproduction duties
• Creating video content to accompany marketing campaigns for car retailers.
• Creating content/comms for various other marketing initiatives

Whilst completing my CIPD Level 5 Diploma, I was keen to build up some HR experience and put into practice my learnings from the CIPD L5 to strengthen my HR skillset. This has been a passion of mine for a long time, even before I began studying for my CIPD Level in 2021.

Whilst at Autotrader, I have taken on additional opportunities to learn and develop within the field of HR:

• I worked with the HR team in recruitment and selection for the Autotrader graduate 2022 cohort. This was thoroughly enjoyable as I was involved in the entire process - assessing ‘blind’ evaluations, first-stage telephone interviews, second stage in-person interviews, group assessment centres, and final interviews. Various issues occurred, e.g., candidates dropping out last minute and no-show interview candidates, but positively this enabled me to utilise my skills in problem solving, adaptability, time management and team work to ensure the process continued smoothly, efficiently and was completed on time.

• When COVID-19 began, I joined the internal ‘Wellbeing Guild’ to offer support and assistance to fellow colleagues during this time. and post-lockdown. Being an advocate for positive employee wellbeing is something I feel passionate about and will continue to champion in my future endeavours.

• I also spend some time working with the ‘Early Careers Network’ (2021/2022) where I took part in facilitating workshops for high school pupils that had to complete various tasks, such as building their own car-advert. This experience gave me a great introduction into learning and development initiatives that the business run and is something I hope to build on further in the future.

I graduated from the University of Chester in 2014 with a 2:1 in (BA)Hons Events Management.

I completed my CIPD Level 5 diploma in March 2023.