Lynda Stenton, sales development manager, DFDSScandinavian Seaways
Education: six O’ levels and one A’ level in psychology; hotel and catering, audiotext technical specialist, various media copywriting skills and legislation courses, numerous sales training and management qualifications. She has been on a number of courses during her time at DFDS Scandinavian Seaways including team building, negotiating skills, field sales techniques, management skills and computer training.
First travel job: with DFDS Scandinavian Seaways.
Career path: Lynda left school at 16 and worked as a personal assistant in the buying department at Paxman Diesels GEC in Colchester. Three years later, she moved to a completely different area and became a pub landlady for Ind Coope Breweries, gaining catering and management skills by this move. Two years later she changed direction again and began working for an insurance broker as the office manager, dealing with all aspects of private and commercial insurance for four years. Lynda then moved to Essex County Newspapers. She started at the bottom as a classified telesales person. Over 10 years she held various management positions from trainer for the newspaper group to overall telephone sales manager. Lynda then moved to DFDS Scandinavian Seaways in Harwich as group sales manager in March 1996. In January she was promoted to sales development manager for the UK.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “It is easy to get into a comfort zone – you have to take chances in life and go for what you want. When I read the advertisement for DFDS Scandinavian Seaways I thought ‘they are describing me’, you must have confidence in your ability and sell yourself, be flexible and have the desire to continually improve your skills.”
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