“The one who wants looks for a method; the one who does not want looks for a reason” – this aphorism by the Polish writer Stefan Żeromski perfectly reflects Emilia’s attitude to action! Emilia Guz started as an operational employee at our company, yet today she serves as a member of the Customer Service Board! In private life she is a mom. In a special interview, she reveals what personally helped her combine her career with family life and how the company supports its employees at different stages of their personal lives. Maybe you want to join the ProService Team?
Emilia, you have been with ProService Finteco basically since the beginning of your career. It is not often one hears stories like this. What is so special about ProService Finteco that makes an employee want to develop just with this company?
What I value most is the multi-tasking and the atmosphere. We work as a team, we support and help each other as there is no unhealthy rivalry in our organization. We all work for our clients, regardless of the position we hold. Each role is equally important. Each day our efforts contribute to a positive end of the operational day. The variety of tasks that can be encountered in our company provides a great opportunity for professional and personal development, shapes the character of young people and strengthens those already experienced.
Your career path is certainly an inspiration to many women. You started your adventure with ProService by taking a job in an operations position. Today you are a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Tell us more about how you have gained experience.
I started working as a very young person, looking for a career path for myself after high school graduation. I always knew that I wanted to work with people and create new solutions. Such an opportunity arose at ProService. I was interested in different tasks, so whenever there was an opportunity to take part in a new project, I immediately declared my readiness. I persevered to expand my knowledge of the processes and gain experience. I worked in the operations teams and next I asked to be transferred to a customer service related area. There I was ultimately entrusted with managing the Strategic Account Department.
I firmly believe that the realization of our dreams and plans depends on us and our willingness to use challenges as opportunities for growth. That is why Stefan Żeromski’s aphorism defines me so well: “The one who wants looks for a method; the one who does not want looks for a reason”. This is how I found my way to the Company’s Board of Directors, where I was originally responsible for the sales area, and now for the area of operations and customer relationships.
You perfectly combine your career with being a full-time mom. What is your recipe for success? Certainly it is due to your skills. However, I am curious whether you got support from the company?
My secret is just good organization. No training can teach us time management as well as children can do it 😉 The cycle of the day and adapting to the rhythm of our children are important. We look for solutions that will make it easier to care for our children and also allow us to pursue our passions.
When it comes to balancing work and family life, an employer’s understanding is invaluable here, and this is something I have experienced at ProService. I have also taken my kids to work many times. We have flexible starting hours – usually between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. , and we are often able to adjust the schedule upon employee’s request. In addition to flexible hours, ProService also offers many additional initiatives to support families. My girls love the Christmas gatherings at ProService where they get to meet other employees’ children. Depending on the season, we decorate Easter eggs or gingerbread together. Every year we have a Christmas card contest that the kids participate in. Each new offspring of our employees is welcomed with a gift and women, after child care leaves, can easily return to work on a part-time basis. More and more often we notice that parents share their care as part of a sick leave, and one of our daddies also decided to take more than one year of parental leave.
This is very good news! More than 50% of our employees are women. Our observations show that it is women who, more often than men, stay home with the child to care for them. What support can expect the employees who become mothers?
Our job postings alone also target moms. We are aware that they have many valuable competences and abilities that are important to the employer. We know that returning to the workforce is often not easy, which is why our company offers employment and conditions that will ensure a safe and friendly work environment. Many moms take advantage of flexible work schedules. It is also very much appreciated that we work Monday through Friday, so weekends are reserved for family only☺ Employees greatly appreciate our benefits package, including attractive medical care, the ability to join group insurance and discounts on dental services, and when all teeth are treated, these services are free of charge.
What other benefits are available to ProService Finteco employees?
ProService Finteco employees are provided with private medical care for them and their families with a guaranteed availability of dates and with access to specialists, home visits, as well as a 50% discount on dental services under the subscription. Some of them also benefit from group insurance. We offer co-financing for the card for sports and recreational activities for parents and children, co-financing for trips, sports shopping, as well as an additional fee for English classes, which take place at our offices.
Employees who become parents receive a company gift. We are also in regular touch with those employees who have decided to take a leave of absence to care for a child. Our company holds workshops, such as Health Days, where you can deepen your knowledge on prevention and health activities. We celebrate our holidays, such as ProCheesecake Day, when you can bake a cheesecake and treat your colleagues. Parents greatly appreciate the Days for the Family organized at our company. Throughout the year we try to organize competitions with prizes for employees and their children.
And it is precisely because of such support for employees that ProService Finteco is listed in the Mom Friendly Employer Database . This is a great honor! I would guess that in addition to specific competencies, you look for people who will fit into an already large team. Who do you invite to work with you? What qualities of candidates are important to you?
In our daily work we strongly emphasize our values: passion, development and focus on the client. We are PRO. We focus on a friendly atmosphere, mutual respect, sharing knowledge and ideas, and the opportunity to participate in the implementation of interesting projects. In our company there is a friendly, partner-like atmosphere. Regardless of seniority or position, we all are on a first-name basis. We focus on people who are committed, open, responsible, cooperative, proactive and innovative, who want to develop and engage in the life of our company and share their knowledge and experience with others. For most positions, we do not require English language skills.
So how do you look for employees? What recruitment channels do you use most often?
Our company continues to grow and focus on finding talents. Our offer can be attractive both for people who are just starting to build their careers, for professionals, and for people who have experience in team management. At ProService, we use two main recruitment paths: internal and external. The internal recruitment path gives our employees the opportunity not only to be promoted, but also to develop, enter new areas and take on new responsibilities. That is why in most recruitment processes we first rely on internal candidates and only then support ourselves with external recruitment.
We are also happy to use recommendations from our employees and their friends, and in selected recruitments we launch a special “Referred-Hired” program; if our employee refers a candidate who will be hired after the probationary period, the employee will receive a financial bonus. As for the external recruitment path, all of our job offers can be found on leading recruitment portals, including mamopracuj.pl.
What is the recruitment process like at ProService Finteco?
The recruitment process depends on the team to which we want to recruit an employee. After an initial screening of submitted applications and a telephone interview, the candidate is invited for a recruitment interview conducted by team managers or an HR officer. Recruitment interviews are based on behavioral and competency interviews. In most cases, candidates may be asked to take a content-based test verifying their level of knowledge and skills. Sometimes it takes a form of a case study or a test of knowledge of IT tools. In selected recruitments we use the Assessment Center method.
Can you tell us what the new hires can count on? How does the company ensure that a new employee can quickly find their way in a new professional environment? This is often a topic of great interest to our female readers.
Once the terms of employment are established, the new Employee is invited to Welcome Day, which consists of scheduled training. It helps new colleagues become more familiar with our company and its procedures. New employees are supported by the training team and/or by a dedicated person, the so-called Big Sister/Big Brother, namely their mentor, whose task is to ensure effective and friendly onboarding of the new employee. We focus on a friendly atmosphere, mutual respect, sharing knowledge and ideas, and the opportunity to participate in the implementation of interesting projects. Our company has a friendly, partner-like atmosphere and it allows people to learn a lot.
Is there any thought or information you would like to pass on to female readers – moms who would like to apply to ProService Finteco?
Definitely yes! Speaking the language of my 11-year-old daughter: ProService is cool because it’s a place where really cool people work☺ . If you would like to gain first experience in the financial area or consolidate your expertise, and additionally you like variety and challenges, you are welcome to join our company! I hope I will have the opportunity to meet some of the readers in person 😉
Thank you very much for the interview.
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