From Melle to London – treading the international boards for ASSMANN Office Furniture
Sarah Martinetz launched her career as sales and office administrator in the United Kingdom immediately after her apprenticeship as an industrial clerk
“London is certainly a step up from country life in my home village”, says Sarah Martinetz, sales and office administrator at the ASSMANN branch in London, with a laugh. “The urban jungle, the underground and the throngs of people fascinated me from day one!”
Flashback: Sarah grows up in Oldendorf, right next door to Westerhausen, a district of Melle where everyone knows ASSMANN. So it seems natural to start her apprenticeship as an industrial clerk here at our company, which she completes in the summer of 2019. “I really enjoyed my training, because the atmosphere at ASSMANN is amazing. Some colleagues became my friends over the years and we used to go out together at the weekend”, says Sarah, looking back at her apprenticeship years. “Basically we were a big and supportive family of trainees. I learned a lot during my stints in the various departments within the company as well.”
ASSMANN supports additional qualification in European business
Besides her main apprenticeship, Sarah completes an additional qualification as a European clerk – an ideal starting point for her current job in London. “I always felt at home in export”, says the 23-year-old. “And ASSMANN helped me complete the additional qualification from day one.” She attends evening school to acquire certificates in Spanish and English and embarks on a three-week internship in the United Kingdom in autumn 2018. “It was my first time in London, so a real eye-opener.” And the experience soon pays off when Sarah is given the opportunity to support the ASSMANN team in London as a sales and office administrator directly after her apprenticeship. “It was a big decision for me, of course, to move straight to a different country, far from my friends and family”, she reports. “But the positive reasons definitely outweighed in the end: new, exciting experiences, the opportunity to perfect my English and obviously the chance to launch an international career with ASSMANN!”
Connecting link between Melle and London
Sarah is the only German member of the ASSMANN branch in London, working at the showroom in the British capital. “My main task as sales and office administrator is to be a connecting link between ASSMANN in Melle and the UK office. I coordinate all enquiries for our head office from my base in London. They may relate to customers, dealers, suppliers or partners”, says the industrial clerk. She also processes incoming orders from the United Kingdom and schedules deliveries: “I work closely with the British sales team that interfaces directly with the customers and forwards any questions or uncertainties to my desk.”
Her colleagues in the office helped Sarah to feel at home in London from the beginning. “I am always impressed by the relaxed and close cooperation within our small team”, she says. “I made new friends in no time at all.” Summary: Today, Sarah can barely imagine life outside the big English city. “I definitely want to stay here for the time being. Only time will tell whether it will be for longer!”
We are also thrilled that Sarah Martinetz is our woman in London. A perfect example of the diverse career opportunities at ASSMANN!