Traineeship: From Cowbells to the Hustle and Bustle of a Gigantic City

Hiya folks, I’m glad you’re interested in reading my blog posts as part of a nine to twelve months’ journey as Trainee Sales in SIGA. It’s my pleasure to share with you my experiences along this traineeship and keep you updated on my personal and professional growth. The objective of these posts is to introduce you to the International Trainee Sales Programme of SIGA and provide you with a profound notion of what this programme is all about. My stories are posted bi-weekly in the form of videos and blogs.

Basic Training at Ruswil

In my first ever vlog two weeks ago, you learnt that I’m yet in basic training (BAT). It’s not a lie to claim the BAT is tough! The days are long, the training modules are instructive, hands-on, and occasionally, you feel overwhelmed due to the heavy workload. Prior to every module, you’re expected to be best prepared, which requires studying, studying, and studying. Believe me, I frequently burned the midnight oil. Despite all that, it’s great fun, there’s a strong sense of togetherness, there are more than sufficient coffee breaks (absolutely important), and you get the chance to network all across the company! On the whole, starting a new job is never a walk in a park. It largely relies on your motivation and willpower, but also, on how comfortable you feel within your new environment.

Part of the family

SIGA have accommodated me incredibly well. I felt being a SIGA-family member before I’d even joined them. HR helped me settle and organise the relocation and always approached me proactively. Never have I ever experienced such support – a big shoutout to the team! Antony, my colleague, boss, and country manager of GB, was in touch with me daily. Whether he wanted that or not remains unknown. Poor him, he probably didn’t have a choice. Anyways, he provided me with the required information and offered aid in need (even on weekends!). Once I relocated to London, he invited me for leisure activities outside work too. SIGA honestly have a warm-hearted corporate culture, as I felt appreciated and welcome from day one. Their support has taken the pressure off me and eased my life incredibly.

All is new  

Indeed, my private life has experienced a change of scenery. Welcome to a new country and culture, hurrah! I’ve discovered that football is not a sport but a religion! On Fridays, you might not get anything else than fish & chips. The British humour is great and dry, not so, their weather! London offers everything and even more. I’ve taken great advantage as I visited museums, ate out in local restaurants, did some sightseeing, experienced the authentic British pub life. Also, Antony took me to the Spurs match, my first premier league experience ever. We’d a blast and a few pints. 

Life-learning lesson

Moving to another country involves sacrifices, and it can be rough, especially at the beginning. When I arrived at my new home for my very first night – somewhere in the Londoner neighbourhood of Camberwell – I was informed my bedroom window had been broken into over the weekend. On top of that, there weren’t any bed sheets, blankets, or pillows whatsoever. Yes, it was a long and cold night. The beauty of the story, it’s a life-learning lesson which I’ll never forget (even free of charge^^). It’s to say, though, that the advantages of my adventure outweigh these tiny, nerve-racking occurrences by far! The people you get to know, the city and different cultures you discover, etc., make it up without a doubt!  

In a nutshell, I feel delighted as well as honoured to be part of SIGA. Having the chance to contribute to a more sustainable world, and the fact that they believe in me and offered me this opportunity, is phenomenal! I cannot wait for the time to come, my first customer experience, and other fun stories. I’ll definitely keep you in the loop. Stay tuned and follow my journey!