Happy three months, Kari.

Our newest addition, Kari, is celebrating her three months anniversary at AvantGarde Search. I was lucky enough to catch her on one of her short breaks and talk to her about her start and future goals at AvantGarde.

Kari, looking back into it, how was your transition into starting at AvantGarde Search right after the summer holiday?

Transitioning was not difficult at all - I only was really excited to start. I was finishing my studies and it was during COVID, so I was looking forward to work together with people and have a community to stay and work.

Is working with people in an interactive environment something you enjoy in general, because you are quite a chippy and outgoing person?

I really enjoy working with people. For example, when I studied during Covid, I spent most of my time in cafés just to surround myself with people. This does not necessarily mean that I have to engage with them, but I enjoy the fuzz and buzz.

When applying as an AvnatGarder was this something you looked into, to be in an engaging environment?

Yes, but I looked into a lot of other different factors.

I really enjoy the freedom of being able to choose where to work. I am a person that enjoys being responsible. It is super important to me to be able to choose from where I work and where and when I can concentrate the most.

So, you went into this job with more or less set expectations, how different is working here now compared to the expectations you had?

I did not expect it to be so hands on and to be involved in this number of sales. It was not something I planned to do, but I saw someone do it and I wanted to learn. But I love that we do everything, the whole bit – from A to Z.

But is there something that has taken you by surprise, something that you would have not expected? 

I am not quite sure, haha. I entered the job with an open mind, I am a person that takes on everything as it comes along.

But I don`t really have an answer to that now.

All good, it is not like I have built the whole remaining interview on that question.

But maybe we should stick to an easier question now. You are here now for three months, are you ready for the next three?

Yes, I am very eager to learn everything. I am a very curious person and that’s why I am really looking forward to work closely with my colleagues and cool new Start-ups and Scale-ups.

It is a whole new field for me so it will take some time to understand everything, but I am all here for it.

You were just mentioning that it is a completely new market for you, and it is interesting to see what lies in the future. What is it that you expect from you and the company in the time to come?

I am a huge service person, so I want to make people happy with the work I do and deliver something that they maybe don’t expect, in a positive way of course.

Basically, just giving that little extra on every hire. My thesis in my bachelors was a lot about onboarding of new hires and I want to make sure to not only hire the right person, but help them settling in.

You were just talking a lot about impacting people, but how has the job impacted you?

Very positively! You have to go outside of your comfort zone many times and engage with people you have never imagined you were going to talk to – really inspiring people.

Also, here at AvantGarde everyone is so talented! We all do basically the same, but everyone has different backgrounds and therefore you always learn something from everyone.

And I really want to catch a bit from everything that everyone does and make it into my own way.

Well, are there already some habits you have been taking on?

Yes, I am trying to be tougher and take initiative in taking the first step towards people to develop connections and relationships.

But I see a huge change and a continuous evolvement in getting tougher being out there.

That was a good one! But you are now here for three months, so basically part of the old crew. Are you happy?

Yes, I am very happy!