For us at Appraisd, 2019 has been a whirlwind of activity. Four new employees have joined the team already this year and we’ve had to expand our office space to accommodate all our new starters. There’s a real buzz about the place and the tea runs certainly take much longer!

The latest member of the team to join at the end of February is Rosalind Bygott, our new Customer Success Team Assistant. Rosalind has had a complete career change from her previous role, managing a coffee shop. Curious about what promoted this move and what her first few weeks at Appraisd have been like, we asked her a few questions.

What attracted you to the role and the company?

After a while in my previous role, I wanted to build on my customer service experience in a completely new field. One of the things I enjoyed most about working in the coffee shop was dealing with people. As an HR software company, Appraisd seemed to provide a good mix of working with customers and challenging me to improve my technical knowledge. I like working in a small team as you can really see the difference you make plus you get the chance to experience far more variety than you do in a larger organisation. I really enjoyed my interviews and Appraisd seemed like the kind of place where I’d feel at home.

What you think of the office and Kentish Town

It’s a lovely office, the vibe is very welcoming and it’s a great place to spend your time. I’m very impressed with their coffee machine too! Kentish Town is a part of London I’ve not spent much time in, so I’m looking forward to exploring it more. There seems plenty to do and I’ve already enjoyed the coffee at Saint Espresso, the falafel wraps at Phoenicia, the Thai food at The Pineapple and the new bao at the Lady Hamilton.

What's been different to what you expected?

I think I didn’t quite anticipate the number of things I’d have to learn. It’s so different from anything I’ve done before that I didn’t really know what to expect. At the moment, every day is throwing up new challenges, which is exciting and a little terrifying!

What have you most enjoyed?

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know how Appraisd works and the challenge of learning so many new things. One of the best things has been meeting everyone in the team. It’s always a little nerve-wracking starting somewhere new, but everyone’s been very welcoming. It’s great to feel part of something that’s growing and changing so rapidly.

What's been most challenging?

Definitely the technology! It’s been very testing trying to wrap my brain around so many new programmes and how the Appraisd software works. Also, sitting down all day is very different as I was on my feet all day in my last job. After a few weeks I’ll definitely feel the difference, so should probably join a gym!

Comment from Roly: "Rosalind, turn the handle under your desk and you can then stand all day if you prefer.... ;)"