This document provides guidance and support for FDM consultants who have completed their training and secured a placement with a client. It outlines expectations for success in the new role, available support networks, administrative responsibilities, career development resources, and options after 2 years. Consultants are encouraged to take control of their career using ME+ tools and regularly reflect on goals. The document aims to help consultants make the most of their experience and continued learning.
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Congratulations!
You have now completed your FDM training and have secured a placement with one of our clients.
You are about to experience a key career moment that you will remember for a large part of your
working life. So, as well as celebrating your success in completing your exams, get yourself prepared
for a successful start to your career.
This guide will help you to make the most of the support that is available to you whilst on site.
Enjoy!
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Snapshots of your journey with FDM
Your first day … will be a memorable moment. What will make it special?
Your first week What will you have achieved by the weekend?
Your first 3 months What will help you to settle in and be on top of the job?
Your first 6 months You are able to reflect on what you have learnt, you are on top of the job
and you are thinking about your future and what success looks like
Near your 2-year point Where am I?
I’ve got some worthwhile experience, I know what I enjoy and what I don’t
Where do I want to be?
I understand the opportunities in my field of interest
How am I going to get there?
I have developed my plan and have built a network of people who can
contribute to my success
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Preparing for success
Prior to taking your first step, your first day on site, get yourself prepared with:
Life on Site A short briefing delivered by members of the HR team.
This will give you the opportunity to understand what is expected of you and what
support is available. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
ME+® Your self-directed career toolkit.
To prepare yourself for success on site, complete your ME+® checkpoint and update
your career plan in ME+®. You may have had the opportunity at interview to share
this with your account manager, but if not, reflect on how the placement you are going
into might provide the opportunity for you to achieve your ambitions or
milestones.
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Your support network
Client Manager
Your day-to-day point of contact
Provides direction and guidance to the work
in hand
Expects performance in line with FDM and
client values & behaviours
Consultant Peer Support
Assistance to get settled
Knowledge of ‘how things work around here’
Buddy through early stages
Builds network (socially and professionally
with FDM community)
HR/Consultant Support
Manages ‘life on site’ briefing
Issues contract
Supports 6-month & 20-month career check-
in
A place to go for personal support if or when
you need it
Account Manager
Primary client interface
Understands clients business needs & how
FDM can support
Career coach within client community
Access to other FDMers
Mentor
Provides independent advice & support to
help you achieve your career ambitions
A sounding board, confidant, and when
needed, a critical friend
Finance Team
Make sure you get paid
Will receive your timesheet & manage
payroll
Need you to provide them with detail of
holidays & other absences
Marketing Team
Peers & Alumni
A community of people with similar client
experiences
A network from which to build relationships,
learn from and explore opportunities
Behaves in line with
values
Takes control of his career
Is accountable for own
performance & growth
Consultant Send out monthly staff newsletters to keep
you up to date with what is taking place
around the FDM world
Send out invitations to events and
networking opportunities
Recognise ‘Consultants of the Month’ and
reward length of service
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The admin bit
To fully understand your responsibilities as an employee of FDM whilst on site, please read the ‘Life
on Site Pack’ carefully.
One common question and emphasis on timesheets:
Q. When and how do I get paid?
A. Salary is paid monthly on the last working day of the month. Your day rate is paid in
arrears; please see the pay schedule attached at the end of the pack to see which
hours are paid when.
Q. The importance of timesheets
A. Whilst working on site with a Client, your timesheets must be completed each week
and signed off by your onsite manager. They must be clearly scanned and emailed to
the Timesheets team at timesheetsuk@fdmgroup.com or faxed to 0870 757 7634 no
later than Monday lunchtime to claim for the preceding week.
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Taking control of your career
Part of the reason you were recruited by FDM was because you showed ambition.
Through your time in training, we hope that you have learned to direct it towards your view of
success. Some of the structure and support that you have had to date will be more distant, so it is
important for you to take control.
What does success look like in your first 3 months?
Your first month?
Your first week?
Your first day?
With this in mind, what do you need to do to be as prepared as you
possibly can?
Continually reflect on and update your plan as you progress
through your placement
Stay in control and share your plan with those who can contribute
to your success
Make the most of the ME+® coaching tips available in the app
Plan for your success
using ME+®
Search for ME+ FDM
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Staying in touch
FDM will stay regularly in touch with you while you are working on site:
During your time at FDM, you will also be invited to attend:
Local client events/meetings, either professional or social that provide opportunities to
meet other FDMers or your account manager
FDM community events, held at one of the academies or at a client or partner’s site
FDM annual staff parties! An experience not to be missed!
After a few weeks 6 months 18/20 months
courtesy call/
survey
career check-in career check-in
Stay in touch with ME+® sharing functionality
Ensure you check your FDM email regularly and if your password expires, inform HR
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Supporting your ongoing learning and growth
Whilst you are on placement, you will be constantly learning on-the-job, putting to use the skills
and knowledge you have picked up in training.
❶ Think carefully about how you use what you have learned
Problems won’t be neatly packaged awaiting a solution directly from your training; you will
need to think deeper and apply your problem-solving skills.
❷ Don’t be afraid to work with others. Think about people in your network who might be able to
help. Keep in mind client confidentiality and information security though!
❸ To support on-the-job learning:
seek regular feedback from your manager and peers
continue to use ME+®
make the most of the FDM mentoring programme (as a mentee or a mentor)
take advantage of any client specific training relevant to your role
if there is any additional core technical training needed for you to do the role effectively or
to support your future roles, then discuss these with your consultant support during your
career check-ins
make the most of opportunities to support Careers Labs and other community initiatives
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Transitioning between assignments
The beach:
In the situation of a fixed-period assignment coming to an end , there may be a period between
assignments when you will return to the academy.
This is an opportunity for you to reflect, share learning, up-skill and prepare for future success.
A clear process to support you through this period is now in place but requires you to take control
and be clear what you want to gain from the experience on the ‘beach’.
Long duration assignment
Fixed-period assignment With extension
“Beach”Fixed-period assignment Subsequent assignment
Option1Option2Option3
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My options at the end of 2 years
Joining the client organisation that you are working for
At the 2-year point, many consultants have the opportunity to join the client organisation that they
are working for and if they decide this is what they want to do, FDM is here to make that transition
as smooth as possible. We will stay in touch with you through our alumni programme. A portal is
currently being developed. You will be also able to join our mentoring programme if not already
done.
Remaining as an FDM consultant
Some consultants enjoy the nature of the work being a consultant and the opportunity/potential to
work with other FDM clients, and we do have many who remain as FDM consultants into their
third year and beyond. We are developing a framework to support consultants ongoing career
development with FDM ensuring that they are recognised and rewarded for the increased value
they bring to their clients. If you were trained in either Europe or North America, you would have
the opportunity to be considered for an international placement in Asia.
Following your own career journey
We will stay in touch with you through our alumni programme and our mentoring programme,
so please make sure you provide HR with your most up-to-date personal email address.
Whichever option best fits with your career ambitions, we will support you to achieve it.
❶
❷
❸
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Contact list
Who can help me with this?
Timesheets team timesheetsuk@fdmgroup.com / fax 0870 757 7634
HR/Consultant support
ME+® app support
CPS
Account manager
Mentoring programme team
Payroll
Community event team
Expenses
Dedicated HR contact
Travel
Share your success with FDM marketing.department@fdmgroup.com
mentoring@fdmgroup.com
consultant.support@fdmgroup.com
travel@fdmgroup.com
expensesuk@fdmgroup.com
human.resources@fdmgroup.com
me-plus@fdmgroup.com
events@fdmgroup.com
payroll@fdmgroup.com