Carving a career at New World…

A world of explorers, pioneers and creative thinkers; The New World Trading Company has an array of talent who continue to innovate and push the boundaries in aid of creating unrivalled experiences. For our ambitious family, we’re all about encouraging development and progression; as we grow, so too do our people, and there are opportunities aplenty for our wonderful New Worlders to take advantage of.

The lovely Annie Gosling is one of these super stars whose New World Journey started half a decade ago at The Botanist, Alderley Edge. Annie started her New World career as a Bartender, worked her way into Management, and now supports all our Botanist sites in her Head Office position as Trainee HR Advisor, whilst also studying towards a Level 5 CIPD certificate! We asked Annie a few questions about her adventure so far and here’s what she had to say;

How many jobs have you done for new world and what are they all?

I have done many different jobs for New World! A real “started from the bottom now we here” story.  Bartender, Bar IST, Bar Manager, Bar Manager in a different site, Assistant General Manager and most recently a Trainee HR Advisor. I have loved them all and have had the pleasure of working with so many amazing people.

Which was your first job, and can you remember what it was like when you got it?

I first applied for a job just after I had finished my Uni Degree and had no idea of what I wanted to do next with my life. I spent a day walking around Wilmslow and Alderley with a very sparse CV and no experience of restaurant or bar work. I targeted every single pub, bar, restaurant and café I could think of (of which there are many) and The Botanist was the last stop on my recruitment tour. Of all the places I visited that day The Botanist was the only place to make time for me to have a quick chat, no surprises there as the Duty Manager I spoke to that day, the charming Mr. Sam Beech, went on to head up the whole company’s recruitment a few years later. We got on like a house on fire and I suddenly thought THIS was the place that I wanted to work. I was told there and then that I got the job and would be starting as a bartender the very next day.

What did you love the most about this job?

My experience of bar work was incredible, I relished the challenge and got to work with some incredible people. It was the meticulously trained team that made the long hours and late nights go faster and the deep cleans seem easier and more fun – this is due to the mainly all female bar team that are still the best I have ever seen and worked with…I look back on it as one of my fondest memories.

When did you first get promoted? What were your aspirations for your new world career at this point?

I joined New World with a plan that it would just be a pit stop while I determined how best to apply my Geography degree to the real world. I was asked to step up into the Bar Manager role about a year after I joined the company, when I was still deciding what I wanted to do next with my life. It had never occurred to me that I could move up through the management side of the business, or that I was good enough to. I was suddenly faced with a whole new load of career prospects that I had never even thought about!

What’s your greatest achievement with New World been?

Working hard and creating a career out of my time here. I never knew what I wanted to do as a job and that filled me with a lot of dread and frustration. I was lucky enough to have been surrounded by teams and management who have pushed me in the right direction and gave me a clearer understanding of what I want my career to be. That and the 3 Peaks Challenge I did last year!

What’s your greatest achievement personally?

Changing my outlook to being inherently positive. What a life changer!

How has your journey with New World turned out in comparison to what you thought it would be?

Different – but in a good way. I started out thinking that I would only be bartending for a year or so before moving onto a “real job”, as non-hospitality folk call it, however I have fallen into the hospitality industry and have fallen in love with the journey I have had so far and the prospects for my future!

Is there any advice you’d give to your fellow New Worlders?

Your hard work will pay off, so keep grafting because there are a lot of decent people waiting to notice you! Also, Benedictine is not an appropriate substitute for Jägermeister.

What’s your top “trick of the trade”?

Be kind, positive and energetic. Take it on the chin and own up to your mistakes. It will make your experience a whole lot more enjoyable!

Where do you see your new world adventure taking you in the future?

Who knows! Hopefully nice and far! As I am only just starting out in HR my focus right now is on development within this role and being the best that I can be.