New to the job as a consultant - this is how it went

Christina Kruse is a trained pharmacologist and has for several years been involved in quality control and quality assurance in the production of pharmaceuticals and in pharmacies.

She got her first job as a consultant for approx. 1.5 years ago at AL Engineering and I asked her what had been most exciting.

“It was probably at the beginning when there was corona when I had to start an assignment. Everyone worked from home and I sat almost completely alone with the customer and had to take over responsibility for new tasks without having anyone to ask for advice. I didn’t know about their procedure or where you could pick up some things, so I had to find out myself.”

Christina smiles as she remembers the start-up. “It was a challenge, but I thought it was really exciting and fun at the same time. As a consultant, you have to put yourself forward in their shoes and invite them in. And then there is plenty of opportunity to learn something new all the time. It suits me well.”

When I ask Christina what made her choose exactly this type of job, she mentions, among other things, the flexible working hours that mean she, as a single mother, can keep the family together.  In addition, she experiences that there are many exciting challenges where you have to use your head in connection with the job as a consultant. And then she enjoys the customer contact, which she was also happy about when she was at the pharmacy. 

After all, it is a job that requires readiness to adapt and I am curious to know how Christina tackles it. “My attitude is that I accept that it is the customer’s wishes and requirements that must be accommodated. I am happy to provide input and am of course aware that you meet the requirements of the industry. But as a starting point, I have great confidence that the customer knows what works best for them, as it is they who have the overall overview and ultimately the responsibility.”

How do you avoid becoming rootless when daily life is fixed at one customer and your colleagues are spread out at other customers? Christina nods and answers: “In the beginning, I found it really difficult to balance between how I should weight my time in relation to the customer’s needs and the need to be with my colleagues at AL Engineering.

At AL Engineering, regular social events are held where we get together and which provide good opportunities for sparring and input from other colleagues. We always have a good time and everyone is nice. I prioritize those events. And if I’m having a bad day, it’s always possible to call the boss and unload.  It works fine for me that way.”

Christina was both excited and nervous before she started the job 1.5 years ago. Therefore, I would also like to hear what her best advice would be for the next new consultant. “There are lots of good experiences and exciting challenges in the role of consultant if you are positive, proactive and approachable. Jump into it right away, it’s the best choice I’ve ever made” says Christina and smiles widely.