Careers are important to us, and we like to offer varied career paths and opportunities for all our colleagues at E&J. From Meat Hygiene Inspectors beginning their veterinary public health careers, to established team managers, we champion continuous progression, encouraging all our employees to keep improving their skills and providing them with opportunities to develop.
A great example of this progression is Aleksandra Wazna, who has recently taken on a role as an Area Manager after developing through numerous roles within the company, including Accommodation Coordinator, Resource Coordinator and Operations Manager. Starting as a Meat Hygiene Inspector almost eight years ago, Aleksandra has worked hard to expand her knowledge and experience to drive her career forward.
She said: “My managers supported me throughout my career, always letting me grow and expand my knowledge. Our Learning & Development Specialist, Heather, was by my side whenever I decided to change my role and within the process. I cannot thank my colleagues and my team enough for believing in me and motivating me to take the next steps. I believe we at E&J support each other and instead of cutting the wings, we help to grow them.”
Before starting at E&J, Aleksandra qualified as a veterinary technician in Poland, moving to the UK to further her career in veterinary public health. She had some experience working in veterinary clinics, along with a previous role as a Hotel and Restaurant Manager. Along with the knowledge gained through her years working at E&J, she also brings empathy to her role, balancing business and employee needs to be an effective manager.
When asked what she enjoys about her role, she said: “No two days are the same; you can never get bored. It’s also great to be supporting people and steering the boat toward company goals, within a company that meaningfully impacts public health.”
Aleksandra is part of the Operations Team, ensuring the delivery of objectives and providing an outstanding service to customers. She is responsible for area performance, making improvements to ways of working and communicating any updates to her team.
Based on her experience developing through numerous roles, we asked Aleksandra what advice she’d give to those hoping to progress within their careers: “Never give up. Getting my first management position took me a while, as it wasn’t the right time for me. I never let failure stop me from trying. If you are willing to improve and work on your weaknesses, your time will come.”
Aleksandra hopes to continue to be a successful Area Manager with a happy, well-performing team, and would love to see more colleagues making the most of their careers at E&J.
To find out more about our career opportunities, head to our Join the Team page.