Advanzia is unique. We are in tune with contemporary values and outlooks, and this is central to our ability to innovate and grow. We require our people to be open minded team players who embrace change and enjoy a multicultural environment. Markus Hauser, our head of HR, explains why Advanzia is different from all other banking employers.
What makes Advanzia a great place to work?
Our workplace culture is people-focused and open. We understand that motivated employees achieve more, which is particularly important in the fast-changing environment in which we operate. This is why we want to create and nourish a friendly, welcoming culture that encourages input from all our staff, including our most recent joiners. It's our people that make the difference, and the fact that each employee can contribute to our success story in their own way.
What people skills do you require?
We need open minded team players who respond well to change and thrive in international environments. English is the main working language, but we also need linguistic diversity. As well, an innovation-centred mindset is ever more important as we continuously adapt to our dynamic, fast-paced, changing business sector.
How are staff trained, and how do their careers develop at Advanzia?
There is no replacement for on-the-job training, so our new recruits are involved in the business from day one. They are integrated directly into their teams who will spend time explaining the work and the Advanzia outlook. This approach helps people build team spirit and acquire knowledge more effectively than if they were dispatched to sit through long, dry, external training sessions. Our people-focused teams are keen to welcome new recruits and bring them up to speed.
In addition, we continuously support our employees in developing their personal skills and expertise by offering training and targeted courses, both internally and externally.
Over the longer term we have yearly career development programmes for which employees can apply. The Advanzia Development Programme grows the skills of high potentials, and the more recently launched Advanzia Leadership Programme is aimed at keeping our team leaders and experts up-to-date with the latest insights on strategy, innovation and leadership.
We work with each individual employee to help them set and achieve their short and long-term career development goals, but also emphasise the importance of team development activities.
What attracts people to Advanzia?
Our employees appreciate that we are an unconventional, digital bank. We have flat hierarchies as we find giving our people responsibility is the best way for the business to adapt quickly as we innovate and grow. This is not a formal place. There is no dress code and we like to be a flexible employer when we can, because we understand that there is life outside of work.
Do you prize diversity?
Absolutely. We thrive because we have diverse points of view and knowledge, thanks to the 27 nationalities who work at Advanzia. We welcome the input and growth of every individual, regardless of their origin or gender, and we really encourage an inclusive and diverse cultural mindset. This diversity is the source of our creativity and resilience.
How would you summarise Advanzia's values as an employer?
We communicate openly to staff about our strategic vision and how their projects and day-to-day work are contributing. This commitment to transparency is exemplified by our quarterly Advanzia All meetings which also give staff a platform to ask questions. This feeds through to other values that we find important: authenticity, diversity, inclusion and flexibility.
What do you offer employees besides this stimulating work environment?
We understand the importance of being a socially responsible organisation that contributes to our local, national and international communities. All our CSR actions are coordinated through our Advanzia Plus programme, which features many employee-led projects. As a company, we don't force action onto our staff, we prefer to let them give priority to the causes they care about. For example, this year we introduced the A+ Day, where all employees can request one working day of paid leave to volunteer for a charitable cause. The choice of activity is flexible, ranging from animal welfare and the environment to culture or healthcare.
There's also nothing like sports to build great team spirit, so in summer we play volleyball and table tennis after work, and we are regular sponsors of the Luxembourg Times Business Run, to name but a few initiatives.
Also, our staff are pleased with the prospect of moving into a new climate-neutral building next year, which will also feature a dedicated fitness area.
What about the future?
We have grown fast and continuously since we were founded in Luxembourg in 2005, and we plan to keep this going as we expand our markets and broaden the new product portfolio. We are investing in our capabilities with a rolling programme of digital transformation that is not just focused on our customers, but that will also enhance our ability to work and collaborate.
How can I join "Team Advanzia"?
Vacancies are detailed on our career page. Just send us an email with your CV and cover letter in English to jobs@advanzia.com to apply. Even if you don’t see an open position that that matches your profile, please get in touch anyway. We’d love to hear from you!
