Life at Lendi profile: Gillian Symons, Associate Home Loan Expert
By Gillian Symons, Associate Home Loan Expert at Lendi,| 3 min read
Where were you before joining Lendi?
I graduated high school in 2015, went overseas for my gap year and worked in London, upon returning I worked a few months at another fintech, the summer prior to starting university.
When I got recruited by Lendi, I was working casually at a burger shop, studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship. I had no desire to work full-time over my summer break, so I wasn’t actively looking for a new job, but I am very glad I got one.
What were the key draws that made you decide to join Lendi?
I was ‘open’ on LinkedIn to job offers but wasn’t serious about anything when I got a recruitment message from Jaqueline asking if I was interested in having an interview. I had received at least 4 vague messages like this in the same week and had ignored them all, but after researching Lendi and what it was all about I thought I would indulge the idea and have a phone interview.
The next day I had a face to face interview with the associate manager Jammelow, lucky for me I realised I already knew him. Despite being relatively inexperienced for any sales role, I googled how to handle an objection, did a bit of research and hoped for the best.
I did a roleplay over the phone, got feedback that I spoke extremely fast (which is getting progressively better) but nonetheless, I got a call that afternoon offering me the role. On my first day I met James and Nabilah, we bonded about AfterPay and online shopping and I instantly knew I was in the right place with the right people.
How has Lendi changed in your time here?
I have only been here at Lendi for 8 months but since I have been there lots has changed. Working in a start-up means there will always be tests and new ideas being trialed, it definitely teaches you skills to adapt and problem solve quickly. However, the principles and values at Lendi have not changed one bit since I joined.
One of the best things about Lendi is the opportunity for promotion at any stage. As a result, you see new people entering the business and moving teams nearly every week. As soon as you are ready to move upwards or to another role the only thing stopping you is yourself. You get back what you give at Lendi, so there is a lot to gain here.
What are the top 3 things about working at Lendi?
Culture: I haven’t worked at many places, but that said, I cannot imagine that you would be able to find a better group of people anywhere. Lendi is genuinely a family of young motivated people, it oozes success and ambition. The co-curricular activities such as drinks on a Friday, free lunches, Lendi Olympics, trivia nights, etc., make it a place you genuinely want to work. It’s a team of a huge variety of people who come from all over and it breeds an amazing culture, great conversations, and entertaining banter.
Career Guidance: In my opinion, being an associate at Lendi is the perfect spot for a university student to start. If you have no idea what you want to do after graduating, this role specifically gives you the room to explore all options, whether that be sales, brokering, management, or finance, the skills you can develop are endless. Working at Lendi right now is about being in the right place at the right time.
People: Yes, it’s a cliché, but Lendi honestly feels like one big family and I honestly can say that the people I work with are now my friends in and outside of work. When you know your managers and colleagues genuinely care about you and your development it makes a world of a difference to your mindset, which is everything in a sales role.
How has your life changed since joining Lendi?
I am much busier. Despite this, I love coming into work, I work 4 days a week to fit in University, and I often would rather be at work on my day off.
The people I have met have become family to me and I am truly happy. My communication skills have never been better. It has taught me how to shift my mindset and think in different ways, create rapport with customers and direct conversations – useful skills in every relationship you will ever have.
I went into this role being told it was a tough job, but failing was never an option for me. I am the type of person who hates to be wrong and hates to not be the best. I learnt that you can’t be the best at everything, but you need to find what you are good at, become the best at that, and everything else follows.
I have never been the best salesperson in the team, I never booked the most appointments, but I pride myself on learning as much as I can so that I can have a knowledgeable answer to absolutely everything, and that’s what I did!
Ultimately, the big difference for me is that I have definitely redirected where my career is heading and has given me far more clarity about what I want to do in my career.
Here at Lendi, we're always looking for smart, driven individuals who share our passion for innovation and continuous learning. If you'd like to join one of Australia's fastest growing companies, check out our job openings.
Get a free property report in seconds
Search an address for price estimates and sales history.
An introductory rate is a promotional interest rate that lenders use to attract new customers. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘honeymoon rate’. An introductory rate is only for a limited period of time, typically 12 months, after which the interest rate on the loan typically rises and reverts to the lender’s standard variable interest rate.
Comparison rates
Comparison rates above are based on a home loan of $150,000 for 25 years. WARNING: The comparison rates are true for the example given only and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Any information provided does not constitute an offer of credit and are examples of what may be available to you based on the information available. It does not take into account any product features or any applicable fees. Lending criteria and the basis upon which we assess what you may be able to afford may change at any time without notice. Top rates include lenders who are on our panel and are then defined by the circumstances provided by the borrower. For Fixed Rate home loans, break costs may be payable which can be significant if you change the whole or part of your fixed rate loan or where additional or early repayments are made during the fixed rate period.
All applications are subject to lender assessment and approval. Cashback offers may be provided by some lenders and may only be available for particular products, terms and conditions apply.
We are committed to protecting customer privacy and do not sell customer information, please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.
Our mission is to change the way Australians get home loans by providing a faster, smarter and more secure home loan experience designed around the customer’s convenience and needs. We compare thousands of home loans from over 25 leading lenders.
Lendi Group Pty Ltd, which is the ultimate holding company of the Aussie and Lendi businesses, is owned by numerous shareholders including banks such as CBA, 1835i (ANZ’s external venture capital partner) and Macquarie Bank, the Lendi founders and employees, and a number of Australian institutional investors and sophisticated investors including UniSuper.
