My Journey at FindHotel

In October 2021 I chose to leave my job of 5 years. I had security, a good position, but I no longer felt there was room for me to grow. As an expat, whose Dutch leaves much to be desired, this was not an easy decision. I was leaving behind a steady paycheck and certainty. But I couldn’t ignore the fact that I was no longer happy. I felt stifled like my spark was slowly going out. So I left.

I sent out some applications to various companies and started the interview process. Everyone had the same screening test. A series of IQ questions that involved number sequences, equations, memory tests. I hated every single one of them. What did this have to do with the actual role that I’d be performing? It seemed like a cold, impersonal approach and my heart sank. I didn’t want to jump from one corporation that was detached from its workforce to another.

Then an email arrived from a start-up I had sent in an application for on a whim, FindHotel. I’d worked in the hotel industry when I was in my late teens. I remembered the connection I’d built with guests, people from all over the world with different backgrounds and stories. For the first time in my job search, I felt the stirrings of excitement…

I completed the assessment which, thankfully, was not another IQ test but was made up of situations that I would actually have to resolve to work within customer service — and received a response that evening. They wanted to meet with me! I felt trepidation at first, I’d never heard of FindHotel before — would I have any security or personal success in a start-up? Did I even have what it took to contribute to a new company’s growth? I had so many doubts.

Cut to the interview with the Head of Operations and Head of Customer Service. I was completely blown away! Enthusiasm and passion for FindHotel came off these people in waves. They were so open, they discussed my CV, my experience in such detail, I really felt seen for the first time, professionally, in years. I was won over, I took the leap and joined the customer service team.

The following four months after the initial interview have been some of the most exciting I’ve had in my professional life. I visited the beautiful head office in the heart of Amsterdam, had coffee with the CEO, played bowling with software engineers, and even witnessed the CTO riding a mechanical camel on a staff party. Within two weeks I felt right at home.

I have been lucky enough to progress from CS agent to Team Leader to Quality Manager in less than 6 months of working for this incredible company. I had been promised room and encouragement to grow, a welcoming inclusive working culture, a team orientated all-hands on deck approach and good lord, all of this was delivered and more!! I’ve watched our team take off with lightning speed within these past few months. Welcoming new colleagues, new internal specialist positions, thousands more bookings every day. It’s incredible.

These days I wake up at 6 am on the dot. I fix myself a coffee, go upstairs to my home office, sit at my new desk (thanks for the equipment budget Oz!), and sign in, excited to see where the day will take me. Thank you, for taking the chance on me FindHotel, I’ll never regret taking a chance on you!