I’ve always been passionate about being the best possible version of myself. I want to be able to look back in the future and be proud of what I’ve achieved. For that reason I knew I wanted a job that would really challenge me.
I had worked previously in retail doing various roles which left me feeling unfulfilled. I wanted to throw myself into a completely different and more challenging environment. I saw several roles advertised at L&G; I knew it was a respectable company and that there would be lots of opportunities to build a career, so I applied to become a sales consultant. I didn’t have any previous experience in sales, but thankfully the interview went really well, and I started working for the company in September 2018 as a Grade 1 sales consultant. Since then I’ve been promoted to Grade 3 and have taken on a lot more responsibility.
Outside of work I love socialising and eating out (2020 was pretty tough!) I also love working out in the gym. It makes me feel great mentally and, as a massive foodie, it means I can eat my favourite meals without feeling guilty.
As a sales consultant in LGI’s direct sales team, I’m responsible for helping to set our customers up with life insurance and critical illness cover policies. This role usually involves speaking to people who call us directly to find out more about the products we offer; but I’ve recently started a new outbound role working on ‘non-converters’ from our company website. Now I call customers who have already got a quote from our website but would prefer to speak directly to someone to get the policy set up. I’ve loved my time in the sales team so far and I find the work really rewarding. I’m hoping that, by the end of 2021, I’ll be in a position to apply for a team manager role.
The highlight of my career at L&G so far was being given an award by the leadership team for single-handedly organising a charity fundraising day at the office for Comic Relief. We managed to raise £200! Last year I was also nominated for the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award at the Welsh Contact Centre Awards. There were two other nominations for our department as well as mine: one for our Operations Manager, Tracey Hutchinson and one for the whole department.
Although I didn’t win the award, I’m honoured to have been nominated, as I think recognition is a massive part of driving motivation to be successful. Even just some simple positive feedback can change a person’s mindset, as you never really know how their day or week is going. The sales team won the award for Small In-House Contact Centre of the Year, which is fantastic because we all worked extremely hard last year, and for that to be recognised was brilliant.
I always think it’s amazing that a company as successful as L&G actually focuses on the customer and not just on the business they bring. I remember being told that all our insurance claims handlers complete a Samaritan’s training course to help them deal with vulnerable people more effectively. What a huge benefit that is for any customer who chooses L&G. (You can tell I work in Sales)! It just goes to show what a great company this is. I also think the opportunities are endless at L&G, as you aren’t restricted when choosing which role you want to take on. It’s a great place to build a career so I would definitely recommend working here. The employee benefits are pretty good too!
