Frequently asked questions
Curious about how secondments work, what support you’ll get or how you can grow your career with us? Here are some of the questions we hear most often.
Sometimes we may already have a suitable secondment in mind, but the interview will not focus on a single opportunity. You’ll be joining Waterman Aspen as a colleague, so we’ll also take the time to understand your experience, how you work and your aspirations.
Our opportunities come through long-standing relationships with clients across our six core sectors, as well as the frameworks and projects we support throughout the UK.
We take the time to understand your experience and career goals before discussing suitable secondments with you. The aim is to find a role where your skills can make a difference and where you can continue to develop.
Yes, your Waterman Aspen manager will talk you through the secondment, the client and what to expect from the interview. They can also help you prepare by discussing likely questions and your experience most relevant to the role. This is the same for all secondment interviews, not just your first one.
You and your Waterman Aspen manager will agree how often to catch-up, based on what works best for you. You’ll usually speak more regularly during the first few months while you settle into your secondment. Outside of these catch-ups, your manager is a phone call, text message or email away.
You can also contact our Business Support Team with questions about HR, Training and Development, Mental Health and Wellbeing and more.
Whether you’re working towards chartership, looking to step into leadership or developing your skills in a new technical area, we’ll support your career goals.
From your first day, you’ll agree a Personal Progression Plan with your Waterman Aspen manager. This sets out what you want to achieve and the experience, training and support that can help you get there. You’ll review and update the plan regularly with your manager to make sure it continues to reflect your goals.
Alongside this, our secondments give you the opportunity to build experience across a range of projects and client teams.
Our people are our business, so professional development is never an afterthought. From your first day, we’ll talk to you about your career goals and agree a Personal Progression Plan that sets out the development and support you need.
Whether you want to work towards chartership, step into leadership or build confidence in a new technical area, we want to understand where you want to go and help you get there.
Yes, colleagues with relevant experience can support others who are working towards a professional qualification, particularly where they have already completed the same process themselves.
This could include helping someone prepare for a professional review interview, sharing practical advice and providing constructive feedback on their submission. You can speak to your Waterman Aspen manager about becoming a mentor.
There are also opportunities for you to be mentored yourself, either with a professional, academic or personal development goal in mind.
The nature of secondment means that there are always many opportunities for our colleagues to work on a wide variety of challenging and interesting projects.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of moving to an alternative secondment, please contact your Waterman Aspen manager. There is a list of current opportunities on the Waterman Aspen Hub to give you an idea of what is available.
Yes, we aim to be as flexible as possible. Any move will depend on the availability of suitable roles and the needs of your current secondment, but we’ll do our best to find an option that works for you. We have great relationships with our clients, and the nature of our business means that roles can often change.
We encourage you to speak with your Waterman Aspen manager about your goals and circumstances, they’ll help you explore opportunities that better match your interests and career plans.
