Excellent post, Natasha!

Though you are giving your personal experience and thoughts they are absolutely spot on. The most important aspect is probably the attitude, having a plan on how to get from where you are now to where you want to be (having a timescale attached just makes it even better). I would particularly endorse the recommendation to talk to a PRA. However I would further add that the PRAs are all volunteers and are not all-knowing, so don't assume that the PRA will understand your business without you explaining things - I say this from experience from the other side as I am a PRA and I did not really fully understand consultancy until I started working for an engineering consultancy. The explanations to the PRA will have a double benefit as they also help to refine the application and interview responses to ensure the interviewers understand how you are working, and they are the ones who have to be convinced.

One more comment for Ben.

I note that Ben (Harvey) is working for an employer who is an Industrial Partner of the IET. There are a number of benefits available that this gives including an arrangement called the Company Based Registration Scheme, where the IET come in and, after doing the initial sales pitch, they bring in PRAs to do one-to-one sessions with individual to help them towards registration through recommendations/application advice. It may be worth Ben asking internally to see if any such sessions are planned in the near future.

Also with an employer being an Industrial Partner it is probable that there is a network of Mentors within the company so asking your line manager about having a mentor assigned would be helpful, though it is worth remembering that if there are no mentors familiar with the IET processes it may be worth taking Natasha's advice and requesting a mentor from the IET either instead of or additionally to the work based mentor.

Alasdair

Excellent post, Natasha!

Though you are giving your personal experience and thoughts they are absolutely spot on. The most important aspect is probably the attitude, having a plan on how to get from where you are now to where you want to be (having a timescale attached just makes it even better). I would particularly endorse the recommendation to talk to a PRA. However I would further add that the PRAs are all volunteers and are not all-knowing, so don't assume that the PRA will understand your business without you explaining things - I say this from experience from the other side as I am a PRA and I did not really fully understand consultancy until I started working for an engineering consultancy. The explanations to the PRA will have a double benefit as they also help to refine the application and interview responses to ensure the interviewers understand how you are working, and they are the ones who have to be convinced.

One more comment for Ben.

I note that Ben (Harvey) is working for an employer who is an Industrial Partner of the IET. There are a number of benefits available that this gives including an arrangement called the Company Based Registration Scheme, where the IET come in and, after doing the initial sales pitch, they bring in PRAs to do one-to-one sessions with individual to help them towards registration through recommendations/application advice. It may be worth Ben asking internally to see if any such sessions are planned in the near future.

Also with an employer being an Industrial Partner it is probable that there is a network of Mentors within the company so asking your line manager about having a mentor assigned would be helpful, though it is worth remembering that if there are no mentors familiar with the IET processes it may be worth taking Natasha's advice and requesting a mentor from the IET either instead of or additionally to the work based mentor.

Alasdair