Icenian Interview – Henry D

Henry D was at Langley between 2004 and 2011, a fantastic rugby player and captain, who studied Media, Psychology and Physical Education before joining the corporate world. Here, we found out more about Henry’s experiences.

Did you know what career you wanted to follow when you were at Langley?

I was dead set on becoming a professional rugby player, however my overall goal now is to work for myself one day, once I have learned the lessons from corporate life.

In which extra-curricular activities and sports teams were you involved?

I was captain for the rugby 1st team from when I started until I left Langley, which I loved as we had a great year of sportsmen and women. Once moving into Sixth Form I also became a house prefect for Mancroft.

Do you think these activities have been useful within your career and given you transferable skills?

Absolutely. Being involved in a team environment has helped in my career because a lot of what I do now involves team work. When companies hire new people they want to know: will the individual fit into a team environment and can we work with this person for 40 hours a week and still want to go for a drink after work on a Friday? If the answer is ‘yes’ then your chances are very high. Sure, being a good student is important, but being able to work with other people is paramount in most careers.

Did you go to university?

No. I got into 4 of my 5 choices following my results, however this was all I needed to prove. From school I travelled for six months and then went straight into the working world and built my career up from there without any student debt.

How did your career begin?

In recruitment/ head hunting. A good first job, where I learnt lots of lessons, but it wasn’t something I wanted to stay in long term.

Where are you now in your career and what have been the highlights?

I now work in Business Development for a SaaS company (Software as a Service) called Showpad based in Soho, London. Highlights have been achieving performance awards and having the ability to travel a lot with work.

Did your time at Langley School help inform your career choices and your attitude to your career progression?

Yes, without Langley my attitude would be different to what it is today, and at Langley they teach you to work hard. All I would say is that, for some, university is a must for a career or just learning life lessons, but it is not for everyone and it will not guarantee you a great career. Once you finish education you still have to work hard and should never expect to just be given something.

Is there any advice you would like to give to students currently considering their career choices?

Not many of you will know exactly what you want to do now, even though you think you do, and that’s fine. This can continue into your 20s as it did with many of my friends. Don’t be afraid to try new things, move around and use any contacts that you have to leverage your career.

Is there any advice you would like to give to students currently choosing their A-levels?

Ignore people who judge your choices, just shrug it off.

Is there any advice you would like to give to students currently considering joining Langley?

Do it.