AESSEAL South Africa recently had to say goodbye to Gladys Nkosi, the Despatch and Receiving Officer at the Johannesburg office. Gladys has worked with us for a very long time, just over 17 years to be exact and according to her, she doesn’t regret one day spent with AESSEAL. Gladys started her career as a Cleaner and slowly but surely worked her way up to the Stores department. She has always been extremely professional, hard-working and a team player.
We had a short interview with Gladys just before she left, to find out what the past 17 years with AESSEAL has taught her, what her challenges were and what her future plans are.
Jana Britz: Tell us about the toughest decision that you had to take while you were at AESSEAL?
Gladys Nkosi: I had many tough decisions to make over the past 17 years, but the most difficult one was definitely to make the decision to leave AESSEAL after 17 years.
Jana Britz: What do you plan to do in your spare time now that you will not be working anymore?
Gladys Nkosi: For now, I have no idea! But I will work on it, to find a hobby you know. I’m not going to work again, I want to be with my family. I’m thinking of buying and selling nice things and then selling it to the community where I’ll be staying in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Jana Britz: How did you manage to keep your personal and professional life separate from each other?
Gladys Nkosi: I only have one child, and she is in a boarding school in KZN. I only see her once every 2 months, so it is difficult to always stay positive. But, when you are at work, you need to realise you have a responsibility, and you need to put your sadness of missing your child aside and focus on the work at hand.
Jana Britz: Is there anything that you have learnt from your co-workers?
Gladys Nkosi: My manager Ivan Selby taught me a lot about stock, checking balances, ensuring that the quantities and costing is always correct. This taught me to not just take anything for granted, but make double-sure that everything is correct, on paper and on the system. You can use this discipline in life as well.
Charles Papworth also taught me to work hard but to also enjoy what I’m doing, and go home satisfied. He always said: “Keep the customer happy Gladys”, and I enjoyed doing just that!
Jana Britz: Would you encourage prospective employees to apply for a job at AESSEAL?
Gladys Nkosi: Yes I will! It’s the right place to be. I’ve grown a lot here, and so should anyone else working here.
Jana Britz: What was the best thing that you liked about your job?
Gladys Nkosi: The friendly people definitely! The people made everything good and worthwhile. Everyone is always so friendly, you can’t help but smile.
Jana Britz: How did you motivate the youngsters who had joined AESSEAL?
Gladys Nkosi: I always tell them to be patient. Just do your job and you will see that things will happen the way it should happen.
Jana Britz: Do you have any regrets?
Gladys Nkosi: I have no regrets working with AESSEAL over the past 17 years. The only regret is that my family stays far away from me, and over the last 17 years, I could only really spend time with them over holidays or the odd weekend every 2nd month or so. I worked hard so that I can provide for my family and ensure a good education for my daughter, but the trade-off was that I couldn’t be with them all the time.
Jana Britz: If you had a chance to alter one thing about your job, what would that be?
Gladys Nkosi: I don’t want to change anything! I like it exactly the way it is now!
Jana Britz: What will you miss the most once you leave AESSEAL?
Gladys Nkosi: I will miss being busy and running up and down, making sure everything is perfect. I will miss people calling my name: “Gladys, Gladys, please, we need your help!”
Jana Britz: Is there a message that you would like to give to the person who will be taking your place?
Gladys Nkosi: Make sure you are never late for work. Make sure that all the stock codes and quantities are always correct. Check the packaging and make sure the items are not damaged before they leave the despatch area. Never forget about housekeeping, it is very important! Always help the customer, even if it means that you will have to take lunch a little bit later, the customer must always come first.
Jana Britz: What do you plan to do after this?
Gladys Nkosi: I want to learn how to make clothes. I am going to go to a friend that knows sewing very well. She will teach me everything I need to know about sewing and also knitting! I want to learn how to knit.
I want to make clothes and then sell them. Maybe I’ll do well enough with making and selling clothes, and then I can start my own business and start a new fashion line in my community.
And of course, I want to tackle the gym! I never had the time to exercise, so I want to make that part of my new lifestyle.
Jana Britz: Any final words?
Gladys Nkosi: AESSEAL was like a family to me, a family away from my own family. I will miss my close group of friends here at AESSEAL. I will miss all the advice and encouragement I got from them on a daily basis.
From AESSEAL, Gladys, we will remember you and the impact you have made to our company. You have been appreciated and highly regarded asset to this company. We all want to say goodbye and good luck!