I joined oneninefive as an Email Marketing Executive in December 2020 and after completing my first couple of months, I thought I would share my experience.
Starting a new job at any point in your career can often be daunting but doing so in the middle of a global pandemic only heightens those feelings. oneninefive made me feel welcome from the get-go – my work laptop and other necessities for working from home were sent to me a few days before my start date so I could set everything up in advance. I was also contacted by phone before I started to check in and to run through my first day, which put me at ease.
Joining during lockdown
Joining oneninefive during lockdown had its challenges such as not being able to meet work colleagues face-to-face or experience the office environment, but it has been a positive experience.
I managed to get into the office on my first day to meet my manager, Rosie, Head of Marketing, and team member Fintan, Senior Digital Marketing Executive. We ran through the company history, values, structure, my role, had a lovely welcome lunch, and got stuck into training. Shortly after my commute home that day London went into Tier 4. I was informed everyone would be working from home until further notice under the new government guidelines and that the rest of my training was to take place remotely. Despite the disappointment, I was excited to get started!
First week
I continued training at home with support from my team. Individual virtual meetings were set up on teams where I could put a face to a name, get to know everyone, ask any questions, and schedule additional meetings. Morning catch-ups were also scheduled with my team every day, these were a great way to start the day and a virtual way to get to know the team better.
Before I knew it, it was week two, then three, and I was getting stuck into my role but this time I had 1000 more questions!
First six months
Completely new to the industry, having previously worked in corporate marketing, there was a lot to learn and there still is…
Through the course of my first five months, I learnt the following:
- Be adaptable - It is important to be flexible and adapt quickly to the demands of the job.
- Learning matters – You must be willing to learn and put the effort into practice.
- Ask questions and ask for help when you need it - Even though it may be difficult to do this virtually, it does not mean you should not ask.
Experiencing the company culture
oneninefive has established a very positive working environment that is transparent, encouraging and fun.
There are also so many opportunities to get involved with social committees and other interests. I helped organise a company event back in January on Blue Monday (rumoured to be the most depressing day of the entire year) where we planned some energising, team building activities throughout the day to battle the blues. This turned into a day of action: morning chair yoga, a pasta masterclass then lunch, and an awards party. Everyone in the business took part and we also had some time in between the day to have some time to ourselves and take a bit of a break.
The one thing that I value the most about working at oneninefive is how much they care about employee wellbeing – the whole event on Blue Monday all began after one of us shared an idea about acknowledging it. Then it turned into a whole day of fun activities!
Now
Six months later, lockdown is over, the office is officially open, and more people are joining the company… I am looking forward to seeing what unfolds in my next chapter at oneninefive.