Last week our Isle of Man office welcomed new starter, Joseph McDaid to the Martyn Fiddler team as an Apprentice Associate Administrator. After his first week settling in, we were eager to find out how Joseph was feeling about the big jump from the burgers to business aviation.
Here’s what Joseph had to say…
Week one completed! It has certainly been different from running shifts at the super-fast food chain McDonald’s, but it is commonly said that life requires an element of risk and seizing opportunities to achieve success – so here I am!
I’ve always had a good work ethic. At a young age I started working for my family business, cleaning government and commercial premises. I learnt a range of skills from timekeeping and organisation to the value of money and the appreciation of hard work. I am grateful to this day that I had this opportunity as it gave me the foundations to further excel myself.
I started working for McDonald’s in 2016. I had finished my GCSE’s and wanted to embrace a new challenge. I was eager to learn and prove myself; I came to know every process and contribute towards developing operations within the store. I worked my way through every role – Crew Member, Crew Trainer, Area Leader, People Manager and finally Shift Manager. Every role required a new element of learning and challenge; the increasing amount of responsibility built my confidence and taught me valuable life skills.
Alongside my career at McDonald’s, I grasped the opportunity to study a range of courses at University College Isle of Man. I enrolled in the Level 2 Extended Certificate in Information Technology and to my surprise received a pass and merit! I gained my CISCO IT Essentials qualification but that wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to extend my knowledge further, so I decided to complete another year, studying towards the Level 3 Certificate in Business Administration. I attained my European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), in other words using Microsoft to a high standard. How much of that I remember will be tested in my new role!
Now I am here, at Martyn Fiddler, excited for this next chapter. The office environment and industry are both completely alien to me, but I feel it is worth the risk. There were numerous factors that attracted me to the role. Consistent working hours 09:00-17:00……YES PLEASE! But the opportunity to gain creditable qualifications and build a professional career was the major selling point in my decision to apply. Having come from a senior role, my personal finances may have taken a hit for my career shift, but I see it simply as short-term loss for long term gain.
It’s amazing how so much I’ve learnt in just one week! The team have been so welcoming and accommodating towards me as the newbie. All my inductions have been interesting and educational, but I have to say, compliance must take the top seat. I’ve found it captivating learning about the different aspects of anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), political exposed person (PEP) and more. I am excited for what the future holds!
Hopefully I’ve taught you something from your time reading this. Risks and challenges should not be disregarded, just because the road may be longer doesn’t mean you will never get there. Seizing opportunities and embracing life’s adventures can lead to remarkable experiences. I don’t regret starting again! My previous experiences have led me to where I am today and shaped me into the person I have become. I look forward to building a career within the industry and enhancing my own personal development.
Last week our Isle of Man office welcomed new starter, Joseph McDaid to the Martyn Fiddler team as an Apprentice Associate Administrator. After his first week settling in, we were eager to find out how Joseph was feeling about the big jump from the burgers to business aviation.
Here’s what Joseph had to say…
