New Customer Service Advisor Karin Stevens says she likes to keep busy – which is just as well because she spends all her free time either studying or hanging upside down from a ceiling.
She is studying part-time for a degree in Social Sciences with a specialism in Religious Studies at the Open University and also enjoys Aerial Hoop – a fitness activity combining strength, flexibility and acrobatics using suspended fabric loops.
Karin has plenty of experience dealing with the public after working most recently in HR and before that as assistant manager and then branch manager of a coffee shop.
She said she applied for the job at White Horse because she wanted a role where she could make a difference to people’s lives in a more meaningful way.
“I was looking for something that was more tailored to me and my personality and that had a good impact,” she said.
Her job has two main facets, she deals with queries on the phone or via email from tenants and also helps Asset Management Officer Sarah Occleshaw with compliance – ensuring routine repairs and maintenance are correctly carried out and documented.
“I speak to tenants daily over the phone or send on email and I’ve met a few in person, which I really like,” she said. “I really enjoy talking to people and going home feeling like happy that I've made a connection with someone.
“I’m a very detail-oriented, orientated person, so that tends to work well with compliance. And it's very similar to what I did before.”
She is set to graduate next year from university so is working hard on the last stretch of the degree. “I had to sort out my organisation a bit but I’m really strong at it now,” she said.
An injury is also keeping her away from Aerial Hoop at the moment. “I’ve been doing it for almost three years and I miss it,” she said. “It's great, I like the physical aspect of it and it’s like tricking yourself into exercise because it’s fun.”
She said she is relishing working with the tight-knit team at White Horse. “It’s a really nice team and really good to have that sort of camaraderie,” she said. “Everyone is such a wealth of knowledge because they’ve been here so long.”