Mollie Michalski
Study Type: Adult and Community
Study Location: Distance Learning
Subject Studied: Community Learning
Electoral services assistant Mollie returns to studying with DCG via distance learning
Mollie Michalski, an electoral services assistant with Derbyshire Dales District Council, loves her job and is keen to progress to supervisor level.
So, when Derby College Group got in touch about a free distance learning course in team leadership, she was quick to enrol.
Mollie, 24, originally got her job with the council after taking a Level 3 apprenticeship in business and administration there via DCG.
She said: “When my boss was off work for six months last year following an operation, I stepped up to a supervisor role and really enjoyed it.
“It got me thinking about taking more courses and adding to my CV, so when the college contacted me about the online course, I thought, why not? It looked like a good opportunity.”
And through her further study, Mollie also had the chance to reunite with lecturers she’d had a few years earlier while a DCG apprentice.
She added: “I had a call with my distance learning tutor every few weeks to see how I was getting on, and Jane, my former tutor on my apprenticeship, also checked in with me.
“One of the best parts of the online course was being provided with sources so I could research certain areas I hadn’t known about before.
“Doing the course confirmed to me that I definitely want to become a team leader or supervisor at some stage.”
Mollie’s online course takes between three to six months to complete, so she’s been fitting in her study during lunchtimes, weekends and evenings.
Currently awaiting her course mark, she intends to take another free DCG distance learning course soon, probably in mental health, as it’s an area managers and team leaders need to be familiar with.
As an electoral services assistant, Mollie’s work includes, among other duties, helping to maintain electoral records, assisting with preparations for elections and helping councillors get ready for committee meetings.
She got the chance to experience her role while moving between different departments during her apprenticeship, liked it, and applied for a permanent position as soon as one came up.
She said: “One of the best things about my role is the people I work with. They’re a great team.”
When the college contacted me about the online course, I thought, why not? It looked like a good opportunity.