I remember coming across the Meltwater News International Management Trainee ad so clearly. I eagerly submitted my application, then wandered out into the garden to find my mum and tell her how blown away I was about this company. I realize now that I didn’t really understand what Meltwater did, but I had already become passionate about a core element – the fact that the company was recruiting based on a candidate’s potential, not necessarily just on experience. It was the belief in my potential and the strategic nurturing of some important traits that enabled me to take the career trajectory that I have.

In 2007, I went through the Meltwater recruitment process, which in itself was not the corporate, overly formal kind of recruitments I had experienced previously, and I was delighted to get the job! Like many graduates with a good academic record, I had a few different options in front of me. My gut instinct told me Meltwater would be the toughest, but most rewarding, and it was the ability for rapid progression that was the best fit for me.

In October 2007 I started working as a Sales Consultant for Meltwater in Edinburgh selling Meltwater News. My first few months were very intense, but the atmosphere of friendly competition between the new hires like myself really helped to keep me focused and driven. I am also happy to say that the group I started together with all remain really close friends, even though we have spread out all over the globe and have taken on different roles.

After 5 months, I was promoted to Sales Manager, and had the responsibility of running a small sales team. Then to move me further out my comfort zone, I was transferred to our Dublin office for a 3 month sabbatical, then back to Edinburgh, then off to London again as a Sales Manager for a few months. On 1st April 2009, I stepped up as the Managing Director of the Meltwater office in Dublin.

There is no doubt that the level of consistent work and effort required at Meltwater is substantial, but hand on heart, everything I have put in I have got back with dividends. The levels of support and genuine care both professionally and personally continue to exceed my expectations.

In terms of key traits that have supported my career trajectory, the key qualities for me have been drive, focus and good business instincts. And in addition, the ability to make close bonds with people, having empathy, tolerance and the ability to find fun in stressful situations have also been key to my success.

I am now back in Edinburgh as Managing Director of my hometown office – an ambition I stated in my interview and achieved slightly over 2 years later! So, in summary, Meltwater can be a tough gig, but if you have the right combination of attitude, determination and openness, it can be an opportunity to achieve rapid success, management exposure, and personal and professional development.

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Catriona is a Meltwater News Managing Director in Edinburgh

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