Name: Chloe Handley
Job title: Trainee Accountant
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am 25 years old and have lived in Hull for three years with my boyfriend James. I am originally from Grimsby; I usually get mixed reactions when I tell people, but most people ask questions about the Brothers of Grimsby film. I wasn’t actually filmed in Grimsby for anyone wondering.
Having lived in Hull for a few years I have learnt to appreciate all of its quirks and have even started to refer to a bread roll as a breadcake. Although this is not entirely out of choice, but it saves a lot of arguments about what it is called.
Describe your job to a five-year-old
I help work out how many toilets the company has sold.
What do you like most about your job?
Definitely the people, they make everyday enjoyable and it’s nice to be part of such a supportive team.
How did you get here?
I originally started out as an electrical engineering apprentice at a kitchen worktop manufacturer, unfortunately they went into administration after I had only been there for a year and a half. Luckily, I then got a job at an oil refinery in Immingham where I was able to complete my electrical engineering apprenticeship over the next three years. However, once I qualified, I decided I didn’t like the dirty environment and went to work as an engineer at a cake factory (this was as great as it sounds). It was here that I decided that engineering wasn’t the career path that I wanted to follow but there were a few skills I had learnt I wanted to continue using. After lots of research and a few careers guidance meetings I wanted to go into an accounting role but as all my previous experience was in engineering, I struggled to get a job. I started on an AAT Level Two in Accounting course and managed to get a job in a purchasing department of a printing company to get some experience which was a little more relevant.
I stumbled on the Ideal Standard trainee accountant job advert by accident on LinkedIn one day and didn’t think much would come of it as the advert had already been out for three weeks. I was surprised when I was then invited for interview and after a few days I was offered the job!
What motivates you?
Going to new places, I didn’t get my first passport until I was 21 so there’s plenty of places around the world I want to see!
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
Angel Strawbridge from Escape to the Chateau – I would love to renovate an old castle.
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film
“I’ve always wanted to use that spell!” – Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows Part 2.
Your favourite app?
YouTube or Spotify, I like to constantly have background noise.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
As an apprentice, after my first year of training at college I started working onsite at the kitchen worktop manufacturer for the first time. I thought I had learnt all the common items engineers ask apprentices to go and buy to make them look silly (such as tartan paint, a long stand or spirit level bubbles). However, they managed to catch me out when they asked me to go and get some sky hooks. They all found it highly amusing when I retuned empty handed.