Natalie Taylor, Financial Analyst

I had actually been on a few Secret Escapes holidays so when I saw the role advertised, I looked more into the company, the culture and the values, it really looked like somewhere I could envisage myself developing. On top of that, I was really impressed by the recent funding round and the company seemed like an exciting place to be.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
When I was younger I wanted to be a teacher, or a tap dancer!

What attracted you to working at Secret Escapes?
I had actually been on a few Secret Escapes holidays so when I saw the role advertised, I looked more into the company, the culture and the values, it really looked like somewhere I could envisage myself developing. On top of that, I was really impressed by the recent funding round and the company seemed like an exciting place to be.

What was your first week at Secret Escapes like?
My first week at Secret Escapes was really interesting, there was a lot to take in but my line manager made sure he checked in with me often and made sure he was going at a pace I could keep up with! Everyone made me feel welcome and it went so quick.

How did you find the recruitment process at Secret Escapes?
I actually had four interviews for my role, an initial phone interview which was quite casual, a more formal one with my direct line manager which included some Excel tests, another with his line manager and then a more informal one with another member of the team. Although this was quite a lot, it showed that Secret Escapes really care about their employees being a great fit not just in the company but in the team too. I was really impressed with how slick it was, and how helpful everyone was when I had questions etc.

What makes Secret Escapes different to where you have worked before?
My last job was working in insurance so it was a lot more corporate. At SE everyone still works really hard but it is a lot more casual – little things like wearing more casual clothes and playing music in the office makes a big difference to productivity.Aside from that, I find it really helpful to have structure in place like personal objectives, team meetings and one-to-ones. It definitely makes you feel more valued as an employee and hopefully will allow me to develop really quickly.

What has been your favourite holiday destination and why?
My favourite holiday destination has to be one of the Greek islands (although I can’t pick which one!) My parents used to take us to a different one each year and I have lots of fond memories there. The food and beaches are amazing and I can’t get enough!

Posted in Meet the Escapers