Since starting her new role just over a year ago, Saty has seen a great improvement in her work/life balance....

What were you looking for when you were seeking a new role?

"Prior to starting at Thermo Fisher Scientific, I was working as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in London. As much as I enjoyed this role and making my return to Science, I was not enjoying the job anymore. I wanted more stability and I wanted to be in a position where I could benefit from career progression. The only way to see that in academia was by applying for fellowships and working towards becoming a Principal Investigator. Fellowship applications are very competitive and I just felt like I was running out of time. I knew I was ready to start something new and that is when I contacted Zenopa to help me find roles that would fit my skills and experience.

Throughout my scientific career, I always liked meeting sales representatives but I never knew how I could transition into that role. It turns out that my skills are transferable. Now I am one year in my role as a Key Account Manager and I have never looked back."

What benefits have you had since securing your role i.e. achieving a personal goal, contributed to you buying a house, provided more support for your family, given you more confidence etc.

"Since securing my role I have gained confidence to speak to customers on a daily basis regarding their research and research interests. I am able to provide solutions for any life science problems/queries. I am able to learn about cutting edge technology and how it can benefit cutting edge research. I have been able to resume my travelling and work towards purchasing a house. This would have been impossible if I was still renting in London."

How did you find the recruitment process?

"The recruitment process was simple and easy. After sending my CV to Zenopa, they got in touch with me whenever a job meeting my requirements and skills came up. They would prepare my application and inform me how the application process was going. The team helped me prepare PowerPoint slides and gave me pointers on the sort of questions that could be asked during my interview. For my current role, the interview was divided into two stages: a face-to-face interview and an over the phone interview, both requiring different forms of preparation. After one month of signing up to Zenopa, I was informed that I had secured the position of a Key Account Manager." 

How has your work/life balance improved?

"My work/life balance has improved considerably. I have time to do the things I enjoy and even get my weekends to myself. This year alone I have completed the Great Wall of China Challenge in May and I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in November. I am also training to be a yoga teacher and I have enough time to go out running. This was virtually impossible in my previous role. There are times where work is more hectic and demanding but with good organization and time-management, I always get the work done."

How did you find the service provided to you by Zenopa?

"The service provided by Zenopa was great. They supported me throughout the application process and I cannot thank them enough for helping me secure my current position. Not only can I benefit from career progression but also maintain a healthy work/life balance. I would recommend this service to anyone looking for a career transition."