Olivia: Sales Assistant at Brady

Can you present your professional background?

After passing my Baccalaureate in Belgium, I studied law for a year, but I stopped quickly because I didn't like it. So, I decided to study translation and interpreting in English and Dutch, in Brussels. During my degree I was able to do an Erasmus in Edinburgh for 6 months.

Then I decided to take a break from my studies to go to Australia for 6 months. Having always competed on horseback, I was lucky enough to find a job in a stable as a training rider.

Following this experience, I went back to school to do a Masters in Translation specialising in International and European Affairs in Belgium. At the same time, I was working in a restaurant and my manager asked me to stay after my Masters. So I got the job of Head Waiter and after a few months I became Manager.

Following a change in my life, I moved house with the aim of exploring new things. I wanted to work in an environment where I could mix with different languages and cultures, without necessarily having to translate. My interest in business and marketing led me to look for opportunities where I could use my languages and interact with different cultures. Then, I ended up at Brady.

How long have you been in France?

I arrived in France on 1st January 2024.

How would you rate your previous experiences? What have they taught you (in terms of skills, etc.)?

My previous experiences, particularly in restoration, have given me a lot both professionally and personally. I've grown a lot because I arrived as a student and quickly worked my way up.

I was able to learn to work as part of a team with people from different cultures and to take it easy when dealing with customers who were a bit complicated. I also learnt how to manage a team, manage everyone's timetables etc…

In brief, my experiences have enabled me to develop a wide range of interpersonal and customer service skills.

What do you think of the French application process?

I can't really compare it with Belgium because when I applied for Brady it was the first time I'd done a CV. Before that, I'd always been lucky enough to have an inside track.

However, at the same time as applying for Brady, I was contacted by a company in Belgium and the recruitment process was similar. I had an interview and then had several telephone and video discussions, as well as a meeting with the HR and the manager of the company.

Why did you come to France in the first place?

I came to France because my boyfriend lives in Lille. So one of us had to move and, as I wanted to change jobs, this was my chance to look for an opportunity in France.

What differences in everyday life have surprised you most in France?

I find that presenteeism is very important among the French. I have the impression that they stay a long time at work and have very long meetings. Indeed, I've noticed that they arrive and leave work late, and take at least a 1 hour lunch break. In Belgium it's the opposite, they don't stay as long at their place of work, they arrive early, take 30 minutes to eat and leave early.

What do you enjoy most about your job today?

What I like most about my job now is being able to practice my Dutch and having the freedom of working hours - it's been a long time since I've had a full weekend.

Concerning my missions, at the moment I'm in the discovery and training phase, so I can't give an objective opinion. But I did notice that Brady is a company that looks after its employees and their work-life balance. The Managing Director even asked me if my integration was going well (which isn't the case in every company) and that made me very happy. It's a very human company.

Can you describe Brady in one sentence?

Brady is a group, and I work for one of their subsidiaries called Seton, which offers a wide range of adhesive products (labels, panels and tapes).

How did you hear about MisterBilingue?

I saw one of your offers on Indeed and sent my CV on the MisterBilingue website. Then Nicolas, one of the recruiters, came to me.

What do you think are MisterBilingue's strengths?

MisterBilingue's two strong points are responsiveness and friendliness. They are very quick and efficient. The recruitment process for the Brady job was very short: in the space of two weeks I had an interview with MisterBilingue, took a Dutch test, had a call with Brady HR and an appointment with the Manager.