When I joined, I had no background experience in brand, recruitment or even general admin roles. From both the academic side of college with City Gateway and the hands on experience in my role I really sharpened my IT skills, communication and general knowledge on how an accountancy firm runs successfully.
Something I think we all take for granted now is the flatness of the firm’s hierarchy. Starting as an Apprentice I assumed my role would be note taking and tea boy – I was very wrong. With the support of my manager and team, my role grew naturally as I juggled weekly tasks, building clear goals to work towards, stretching further than my one year apprenticeship.
For a firm who focus on inclusion, I definitely felt included. My opinions were heard, my challenges listened to and my leadership respected. Despite being a ‘newbie’ the team saw me as an expert at my job, once I settled in of course. This really helped my confidence and helped me bounce back from those mistakes everyone makes in their first job. I have now been in the firm for three years and am progressing as an employer brand coordinator, looking to grow further in my role and extend my knowledge.
Darren
