Every month we recognise colleagues who reach long service milestones with "Better Everyday" awards at Vanquis.
We caught up with Shakila, Employee Relations Advisor, who has recently celebrated 15 years with us! Here she shares her career story, from applying for her first role to now, and the why she continues to enjoy working here.
Tell us about your career journey at Vanquis…
I posted my CV after seeing an advert in the Kent Messenger. Royal Mail and newspaper adverts – how times have changed! There were lots of roles being advertised so I didn’t apply for any one specific role but I was attracted by what sounded like an exciting opportunity with a start up financial organisation. I wanted to get a foot in the door and find out what Vanquis was all about. I joined as the Customer Action Team Leader which is now known as Customer Experience. There were three of us in the team and we are all still here. It felt busy if we got more than 10 complaints a week and we knew many of the customers personally.
Part of the Team Leader role was to interview new recruits and it immediately became the part of the job that I enjoyed most so, when there was an internal vacancy for a Recruiter came up I jumped at it. Joining the HR Team opened up a new world to me and I began to really understand that the success of the Bank would be dictated by the people working for it and the culture we created for them. My current role as Employee Relations Advisor enables me to have an impact on that.
What stands out as your first impressions of Vanquis?
The energy, pride and passion of the people. It was exciting to be part of the start of something new.
What is the biggest difference between then and now?
Almost everything has changed for the business in terms of its customers and colleagues. However, what I see and feel at the moment is not a sole focus on the development of the business but a real appreciation of how we, the people delivering the work, impact that. The way that the business has adapted and supported colleagues, so that they in turn can support our customers, over recent months has made me really proud.
What’s made you stay here for 15 years?
The Bank has grown and changed so much and it will continue to do so as we adapt the way that we meet our customers needs and colleagues expectations. That keeps things interesting for me. Just when I think I’ve seen it all a new opportunity or challenge comes along and that gives me continual learning and development. I also work with fantastic people.
How have you made a difference in your time here?
I’ve seen people that I recruited as contact centre agents go on to have hugely successful careers whether you measure that in terms of management level or specialism. It gives me huge satisfaction to see people have those sorts of achievements particularly when I remember interviewing them and they were working in a supermarket or something at the time. I see, on a daily basis, the work that I do having an impact on people both at a personal and professional level. I am really proud to be part of a HR Team and organisation that genuinely wants to support people to become the best they can be, feel part of a community and play their part in the future success of the Bank.
What is your advice to new joiners joining us at the moment?
Get some regular 121 time booked with your Manager so that they can support and guide you as you find your feet and get to know your colleagues. The people here are great.
