My first week at the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
Walking into a large, unfamiliar office complex alone is intimidating. It’s even more intimidating when there are a few hundred employees and you know none. However, having met some of the AAT employees at my interview I felt reassured that I would be welcomed.
On my first morning I met the other six interns in my team. The induction process was helpful as it helped us understand the culture of AAT and various practicalities such as how to request leave or who to go to when we had concerns. The induction also allowed me to meet members of the team from all the departments and it did not take long before I felt welcomed. It became clear that everyone was extremely friendly which made my first week enjoyable.
I was a member of the sales team and by the third day I already felt that I was a part of the team. I was doing work that was contributing to the overall objectives of the sales team which gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. I was trained in everything I had to know by my line manager and other colleagues which removed my fear of not being able to do something because I did not have the required knowledge.
One of the best parts of working at AAT is the diverse group of people I meet on a daily basis; I meet somebody new everyday which makes each day different. Getting to know my team and their collective interest in football and Love Island has helped me build up a rapport with them and get to know them better.
Every day the other interns and I meet up for lunch. It’s generally a nice break from work and we get to share our different experiences and learn more about each other. One of our favourite benefits is the free coffee and fruit we get on a daily basis.
by Amali, candidate of the City of London Business Traineeship programme.