b'Member News November 2022 19Professional developmentNeurodiversity is no barrier to Professional Registration As an engineer with dyslexia and ADHD, Helen CummingThe support continued throughout the CEng had her concerns about the application process forinterview process, with her mentor running through some trial interviews Chartered Engineer (CEng). However, her interactions withto strengthen her confidence. Not the IET highlighted the support available to all engineers andlong after her official interview, Helen technicians interested in Professional Registration.got the call that shed been awarded CEng Professional Registration. Helens journey toIve met a Professional RegistrationThose PRAs and mentors are worth Chartered Engineer Advisor (PRA) who helped metheir weight in gold, she enthuses. with my application, she says. Its also great to meet and speak with As a student Helen had been madeCareer Manager has made theother neurodiverse engineers whove aware of Professional Registration. I wasachieved Professional Registration.told that its simply what you do as anapplication process much more engineer, and so I asked the institutionaccessible and easier to completeAdvice to fellow I was with at the time for a mentor.rather than all those paper sheets I Although there were many promiseshad to deal with the first time around. neurodiverse engineers over the years they never appeared,My advice to my neurodivergentshe said. So, I went for it alone, withpeers is if youre interested in no guidance, and unsurprisingly didntProfessional Registration just startget it. It was a horrible experience, soDuring my application I wasby speaking to people. I just left it behind and moved on.also diagnosed with ADHD, But Helen couldnt drop the idea ofand I believe the support IThey can help you translate the competencies into something you becoming Professionally Registered.had helped me navigate theunderstand and can offer support and She felt it was important to put aprocess in a way I could betterguidance. The best advice I had was stamp on her knowledge and haveunderstand. The PRA broketo approach your application like a her peers validate her skills. down each step, helped meproject. As engineers we understand that structure and it makes the whole Support available tounderstand how my skills relatedprocess more manageable if you break neurodiverse Professionalto each competency, while myit down.Registration applicantspeers kept me motivated andTake advantage of all the support the Helen was anxious about restartingfocused when I needed it. IET has to offer. The hardest thing can the process due to the challenges shebe asking for support, especially as may face as a person with dyslexia. many neurodivergent people spend I learnt to view the application likeyears masking their differences and Helen joined the IET, and was able toa project, breaking it down into smalltrying to pretend their brains work like quash some of her fears after becomingchunks and setting myself time eacheveryone elses. a member of the organisationsweek to sit down and do something Embrace your differences but neurodiversity focus group.even if just for five minutes. Its a understand that this support is available Its been fantastic, as a group wevegreat trick, especially for people withto everyone, not just the neurodivergent. been able to put forward new waysADHD, and helped me make good use If everyone else is taking advantage of the IET could support us. Through thisof my hyperfocus! it, why shouldnt you? For more information about Professional Registration, visit: theiet.org/profreg or to join the IET neurodiversity focus group, email: inclusion@theiet.org'