I was disappointed to read Steve Huxham’s comments on the Institute of Recruitment Professionals (“IRP: tweaking or enhancing,” 8 July 2009). As Chairman of the Recruitment Society, I would have hoped that he would see the potential of such a move: the launch of the IRP is the first step towards Chartered status - CIRP would put our profession on an equal standing with other chartered professions such as HR, Marketing and Accountancy.

Undoubtedly it will be a long journey to reach Chartered status - the bar is set high, and it could take us 10 years - but the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll get there.

With any change you can either sit back and complain that you liked the old way better, or you can proactively get involved in the new way, champion its strengths, and work to change things for the better where it genuinely still does need improvement. I tend to find life an awful lot more positive by taking the latter approach.

• Sarah H Gordon, MIRP (formerly MREC), Associate