My name is Cindy Kobayashi. I work for SGI Canada, a division of SGI. We're sort of a little bit more into the non-auto insurance part of it. I've been working for SGI for about three years now and in this specific department for about a year and a half. As most people know SGI is one of the major insurance companies in Saskatchewan dealing with everything from auto insurance, to house insurance and claims, driver's licenses, that type of thing.

A typical workday for me would start with the phones ringing constantly, people coming in needing to speak to someone. We work a flex schedule. So you can work from 7:30 to 4:00, 8:00 to 4:30, 8:30 to 5:00 with half an hour for lunch or you could do the 8:00 to 5:00 with an hour for lunch. We all have to take turns working 5:00 o'clock shift so it varies.

The customers are usually coming for money. Either that or they want something replaced. Most of our claims are break and enters. So they want…they can't live without their TVs you know.

Prioritizing is probably the most challenging part of my job. It can sometimes be very chaotic and you have to do things in order of importance. In my specific job, it's clerical work, so we do all types of duties and some of them are more important than others. So, when it gets a little bit backlogged, you have to deal with the customers first, answer the phone. That's always the main priority is customer service which is with many - most companies I think. But other than that, you just do the duties as they fall.

Being able to help people and give them what they want or what they need I think is the most satisfying part. For me personally, I don't think that there's that great of a return on my job but as compared to say someone saving people's lives and that type of thing, but I guess it depends on what your expectations are.

I think I would have taken the university education first and been able to start at a higher level within SGI. Basically, they don't really have minimum requirements as most companies do. You have to do exams like tests, basic clerical exams I guess. They're somewhat similar to I guess CTBS tests you do in highschool.

Teamwork skills are very important. You have to be able to get along with the people that you work with. If you don't, it just causes all sorts of stress. Problems always do arise with co-workers but you just kind of have to deal with them as they come and get by them. You sort of bring your own teamwork skills from previous experience and you learn as you go a few skills depending on the department you're in, the type of people that you're working with.

A positive attitude is very important in my job especially because we are dealing with the public all the time. We have a lot of people come in to our office as well as answering the phones and dealing with them on a regular basis. So, a positive attitude is extremely important.

It's very important to be able to adapt to change because...especially computer-wise. There's constant changes with software or new programs that they bring in to the company so training is an on-going thing. SGI offers lots of various types of training from computer skills to typing and dealing with customer service and that type of thing.

If someone were thinking of starting a career at SGI, I would advise them to be patient. Seniority is a major thing as in within any corporation. The Union is very strong and to promote throughout the corporation can take a little bit of time if you're just starting out. But if you hang on there, then eventually you'll get through.