I began working at First National 11 years ago. It was my first job out of university. My initial role was in the underwriting department, and then I made the move to Implementation Services. As Senior Manager, I oversee a team that performs quality assurance testing for all applications at First National. I am very happy in my career and feel fortunate for all of the opportunities and support that I have received to progress in my role and grow within the organization.

How I grew:

There is a strong “promote within” culture here. Managers focus on helping people stay, progress and grow within the company. It’s a very supportive environment. It has been great to grow with First National as the company has grown. There has been a lot of positive change within the past 11 years.

The support I received:

Much of my training was on the job. My managers also encouraged me to pursue continuing education as well. I took several courses at the University of Toronto for business analysis, which contributed to my growth in my role. Our work in Implementation Services is very project based. So I also learn a lot as I go along from working with third parties. I have always been very clear on my career goals and aspirations. That clarity motivated me to dig deep and learn about different roles, the industry and how First National operates.

The First National difference:

My role and division of IT are very collaborative. We work with all of the other departments across First National, which gives me a chance to get to know the staff and managers. The environment and people at First National are friendly. It’s great to come to work every day. My friends and family are often surprised at how long I’ve stayed at First National. But the culture and ongoing opportunities to take the next steps have allowed me to build a great career.

My advice and perspective:

I think it’s important to always be learning and try to go beyond your role. There are a lot of internal opportunities at First National. Take time to really know your role, but also get to know the company better. Gaining that knowledge will allow you to constantly add value. Be a sponge and take in everything around you. Guaranteed you will learn and grow from that.