Changing job and residence at once – how Asta moved back to Vilnius after many years in the UK

Everyone at SEB has their story to share of how they got here. Asta has an interesting one – it happened very quickly, unexpectedly, but with a feeling that everything will go perfectly. She came to Lithuania just for a vacation and has been offered a job at SEB. Asta took this opportunity and after 13 years of living in London moved to Vilnius. Now she works as a Client Service Manager in a team working with UK clients and is very happy about this life change. 

Read Asta’s story and get to know what her biggest motivators at work are, why she chose SEB as an employer and learn about her recent exciting business trip to New York.

Tell me your story – how and why you started working at SEB? 

Before I started here, I lived in London for 13 years. I was on holiday in Lithuania when one of my friends, who worked at SEB, knew there was a job position available and wondered if I was interested. We chatted about my experience and the role, and I agreed this was a great opportunity. 
This job also fitted in with my idea of coming back to Lithuania permanently at some point. I just needed a reason. So, SEB happened to be that reason. And then I had to come back to London and move all my life to Vilnius in a very short time. I had to sell all my stuff, sort out all the documents, and tell my current workplace that I was quitting.  

Wasn’t that scary at first – to change the country, the job, and your whole life? 

Of course, at the beginning I was worried. I had to leave all my life behind – my apartment, my friends, my old job. But in my head, I always wanted to come back. I said to myself – I will give it a year or two and see what happens. But at least I must try. If not, I can always come back to London. Now I have been almost 3 years here and I am very happy about the decision I made. 

What worried you the most? And how do you feel now? 

Some Lithuanians, who live in the UK, think that it is hard to live in Lithuania – that people are not that friendly, salaries are small, etc. But for me, everybody I meet in Lithuania is so welcoming, especially at work and this makes me happy. They are smart, they travel a lot, and they are open-minded. I’ve never lived in Vilnius before, so it’s very interesting for me to explore this amazing city. London is so competitive, a faster pace of life and more expensive to live.

Here, in Vilnius, everything flows more naturally, with less stress, and a more relaxed atmosphere. I am happy because my family and friends are nearby. I am very happy that I took this decision. 

Why have you chosen SEB as an employer? 

I chose SEB because it’s a very strong and recognizable brand and my friend spoke highly of SEB. Usually, you go by recommendations. He said: “Everything is going to be fine with you, trust me.” I wasn’t so sure at first, but he really told me so many great things about working here. I am also very happy that I had an opportunity to work with the UK site, so I didn’t completely cut my connections with the UK. I get to travel to London, so I can also visit my friends.  

What are your main responsibilities and what do you do at SEB? 

I work in the Cash Management Client Services department as a Client Service Manager. With my team, we work with UK large corporate customers. In my role I am the first point of contact for the client. So, if the clients have any issues or want to implement new products – they come to me. Firstly, I need to understand what the issue is and then find the right team to help me solve the clients’ issue. 

What skills do you need to have in this role? 

Communication is the main thing you need to be able to handle. You need to be prepared for a big number of emails, calls, messages, etc. Networking is very important in our role. You need to know teams and have good connections with them. Also, attention to detail, be able to work alone in a structured manner and be a fast learner.  Banking experience in this position would be a huge advantage. 

What drives you the most at your job? 

I like the dynamics of this role, because for me it’s crucial to have something new every day. If I don’t learn and things get repetitive – then I am done. That’s why I like it so much at SEB. I never get bored. It’s always something new happening.  

Another thing – people. They really motivate me. Our whole department of Cash Management Client Services has so many unique personalities, they are smart and very interesting. Everyone has a story to tell, and I have made lots of new friends at SEB.   

How would you describe your perfect colleague? 

Open, talkative, friendly, smart, and not afraid to share their life experiences, and their opinions. I am very fast myself, so I also like working with people who are fast. 

What new things did this year brought to you? 

This year has been amazing already. I had Employee of the Year award and I’ve been offered a one-month business trip to New York. 

Tell me shortly about your trip to New York. What were you doing there and what new thing have you learned? 

In New York I was supporting Client Service Managers with their daily work. I was doing similar work as for UK, but this time for US clients. Furthermore, we were sharing the ideas of how we could improve our work and started to implement. 

After work and on weekends, I have visited all popular touristic sites, such as: Empire State Building, Summit, 9/11 Memorial Museum, MET, Statue of Liberty Island and Ellis Island, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and many more. If you will ever go to NEW York, please visit a show called ‘Sleep No More’ this was an incredible experience, which I have never seen before.
 

What do you like to do in your free time? 

On weekends I usually go out with my friends – dancing, going to concerts, the theatre, etc. During the working week, I love going to the gym and doing yoga, I also love walking. I relax and unwind by doing something active. 

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