Career development isn’t just about finding a job, it’s about shaping futures. Dr Gill Frigerio is at the forefront of training the professionals who make that happen. In this interview, jobs.ac.uk sits down with Dr Gill Frigerio, Associate Professor at the University of Warwick, to explore her work, her journey, and her passion for career development.
Dr Frigerio leads the University’s Centre qualifications in Career Studies and Coaching, playing a central role in the design, delivery, and management of teaching programmes. Her role is strongly teaching-focused, running a range of professional development programmes for practitioners in career development and coaching. These programmes support individuals working in diverse settings, including schools, universities, and organisations that assist adults entering or re-entering the job market.
In her interview, Dr. Gill Frigerio opens up about her experience working at Warwick, where she finds true joy in supporting students, not just academically, but in helping them apply what they’ve learned to build their own professional careers. She leads a passionate and dedicated teaching team, always striving to improve their programmes and collaborate more effectively. Her role also allows her to contribute to the wider field of career development on both national and international stages, including chairing a learned society and organising conferences.
Having worked in both professional services and academic roles, Dr. Frigerio reflects on the differences between academic and professional services roles in higher education, touching on career progression and the flexibility offered on both paths. As a mother, she shares her personal journey, from being supported during maternity leave to returning to a promoted role, highlighting the importance of balancing personal and professional commitments.
Dr. Frigerio is also a published author, having co-authored a textbook for those training to become career development practitioners. Her work champions the idea that career professionals must go beyond one-on-one sessions by advocating for clients, managing services, conducting research, and integrating theory into practice. She’s especially passionate about how we assess learning and teach theory in ways that resonate with the real-world experiences of practitioners.
After completing her doctorate, Dr. Frigerio’s research has focused on “calling” in career development, exploring how people find purpose through their work and how that understanding can be shared and applied on a broader scale.
Dr Gill Frigerio shows us that a career in higher education can be both meaningful and flexible. Want to hear more about her journey? Tune in to the full interview below to hear firsthand how Dr. Frigerio stays up to date with the latest research, combining her work, life, and passion to make a real difference.
*If you work in academia and would like to participate in jobs.ac.uk Academic Spotlight interviews, please contact us at paula@jobs.ac.uk
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