Text: Maryla Adamčíková, Anežka Rajnerová | Photo: Lukáš Duspiva
You may know her in the company as the smiling colleague from the sales department who handles even the most difficult customer requests with grace. But few people know that behind her gentle demeanour and fluent French lies a passion for art, ceramics and improvisation.
How was her love of improvisation born? And what can be learned from the theatre boards for a regular workday? Be inspired by an interview with this extraordinary woman who shows us that charm is not just about looks, but also about the courage to be yourself. Introducing Anežka Rajnerová, Customer Service Officer for the French market.
Anežka, I would like to start by asking why French?
I like music, and it was through music that I got into French in primary school, where I sang. I used to sing songs by French artists and translate their lyrics. French is beautiful.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I listen to everything, classical music, I can go to a rock festival and I don’t mind techno. I also like indie.
How long have you worked at FINIDR?
It’s been flying by. It’ll be six years in September. It was a quick start, so I remember it because I had my state exam about three days before. I was studying for a Master’s degree at the University of Ostrava, translation and interpreting for the French language, but school doesn’t prepare you for a specific field. I was taught everything in French by my colleagues. Of course, you have to learn vocabulary and terms. And at that time, my main tutor and businesswoman was Martina Stružinská.
How has your work in customer service changed since then?
When I started, as a recent graduate, I didn’t have a car. And because I’m from Ostrava, it was great that we were doing this kind of carpooling. The whole team in the French market was from Ostrava. The learning process was slow and gradual. I think I fit in well with the team and my colleagues and I all clicked. Calculations were still done in excel back then and a lot of things were calculated manually, we always had to do some calculations. The configurator does a lot of it now. It’s a big relief. Back then everyone was terrified of what it would be, but thank God for that. This way we can pick up more work and process more bids. I also see our market growing now.
Since then, the product portfolio has changed, so you still have to learn something new, right?
Definitely, when I started there was hardly any demand for coloured edges. I used to have about one a year and now I have several a month. You can see that clients are interested in new products. And FINIDR is always coming up with something to differentiate itself from the competition, there’s always something to learn.
What is a typical French client?
The French have a lot of questions and want to have everything tip toe, but on the other hand they are themselves tardy when it comes to delivering data. Each client is specific. I also have the Swiss in my portfolio, they keep more distance. With some French clients we have a very
nice relationship, we write more personal stuff, like recommendations for a band etc. I’ve been lucky enough to be on customer service twice on business and it’s been great. Normally it’s the salesman who goes abroad, customer service clerks rarely. It was all the more rewarding for me to see the face of the client I’m communicating with, to meet them in person and to be able to strengthen relationships because there’s room to talk about things other than work. It’s better to know more about the clients. I like when there is a more personal relationship and I know the client.
Have you experienced situations where your client came directly to FINIDR?
Yes, I’ve had four clients at the press. Since COVID, this is less frequent, but the day is different again. First we have a working meeting with the client, then we usually go to lunch together. It also happens that we meet for dinner, which is held in a friendly spirit. The salesperson is in charge of all of this, but we are lucky enough to be invited sometimes. The French are very nice when you get close to them.
Anežka, what do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy being able to help clients realize their ideas. When I see a finished book, especially a specialty book that took a lot of effort from me, my colleagues and the client, seeing the result is great. Plus, when the client is happy and thanks you, it makes me very happy.
You are an Ostrava girl – why FINIDR in Těšín?
Primarily it was because I was studying and teaching French and I wanted to work with the language. And there’s not much of it around. I was also finishing my teaching minimum and I flirted with the idea of teaching children in school, but in the end I realised it wasn’t for me.
The job offer at FINIDR allowed me to maintain my language level. I was thrilled to have a job and I’m so glad I’m not losing touch with French because I use it in my communication every day. Over time, I have found that there is a great team here. There are a total of nine of us in one office, including my colleagues from the English market, and it’s great.
With summer approaching, I can’t help but wonder if France is the perfect holiday destination for you or are you looking for something different?
I lived in France for a year. It was in Brittany when I was still in high school. In Brittany, I was taken in by a French family I was staying with and we are still in touch. Later on, I was there for a work Erasmus. The next summer I went to work, so of course I had friends there. Brittany is a place I like to go back to.
How do you spend your free time?
I take ceramics classes. I started as a child, but then nothing for a long time. It wasn’t until two or three years ago that I needed to do something creative. Making something with my hands. It reminded me of my childhood, so I started going… and then a group of retired ladies. But I enjoy digging in the clay. The ladies who take the class give me advice. I’m their little baby. I’m happy to get out there, but it’s certainly not beautiful work. I started with soap dishes, I’m making mugs, pots… My mum likes to paint, so I made her a set in the painterly vein: a mug, a coaster and a spoon. I do it for fun.
I’m also taking an improv class. It’s improvisational theater. It’s an adult class. I’m in my third semester. It’s for everyone, the youngest member is 17 and the oldest is 60. There are 14 of us in our class. I go once a week and one class lasts 3 hours. If you think of “Partička” show, for example, we do similar sketches.
Improvisation is divided into improv shows and improv fights. An improv show is when you do a show but you don’t have a script. The audience tells you your name, what mood you’re in, what your character is, etc.
Fights – there are 2 groups of players, and they get different assignments from the audience. They act out short sketches and then the audience vote on who won. I haven’t dared to go in front of the audience yet though; I’m gathering my courage. I don’t have any acting ambitions, but it will help in self-development and self-knowledge. I’m very nervous in front of people, especially when speaking, and in the theatre, you can try all kinds of jobs, emotions and situations. I love trying to argue in a role because I can’t do that in real life.
I’ve never heard of an improvisation course before – I’m pleasantly surprised. Anything else unusual you’d like to interest me and the readers in?
I’m a committee member of the French Alliance. It promotes French culture and is supported by the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These alliances are all over the world, and we have six in the Czech Republic. Under its auspices, for example, French is taught, and cultural events are organised. In autumn, for example, there is the French Autumn Festival and in spring the Days of Francophonie. It is always connected with a concert of a French band, tasting of French wines, cheese… I am a new member, and the activity is in the form of volunteering. I used to teach there and now they need new people for the committee. I wanted to get involved because my French has been with me all my life, I would love to help them get the French language out more to young people for example. Now I will help with organizing the program for upcoming events. I have a premiere coming up in the fall.
It’s all culture and inspirational stuff; do you like any sports?
I like to go to the mountains. I’m more of the one who likes to enjoy type. I don’t go for performance, but I’ll go up a hill at a slow pace and enjoy the scenery there.
Summer is coming, what are your plans?
I have a fortnight holiday in Canada coming up, so I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve been there once before, when I was in college. We were publishing a dictionary of Quebecisms (it didn’t exist in the Czech Republic). We went there to study it and we published a dictionary. This time I’m going to the English-speaking part, to the mountains.
Anežka, thank you very much for today’s interesting interview and I wish you to have an easy improvisation, a successful autumn festival, and above all enjoy your upcoming holiday.
I also thank and wish my colleagues in FINIDR to rest and enjoy the days of vacation and gain strength for the main season. May they enjoy their holidays, wherever they may be – in the Czech Republic or by the sea. Let them enjoy their family and friends.
Anežka Rajnerová
Zodiac: Capricorn
What do I appreciate most in my co-workers?
Willingness to help, advice and also a good mood and sense of humor
My first improvisational role was
the stupid wife who learns to drive.
My favorite musical artist is
right now, the band Beirut.
The most common phrases in french and what does
Ca va mean? Ca va (read “sa va”)
= Are you having a good time? I’m fine. (The French do ask how you are, but they usually don’t care about the answer.)
What surprises me
is that I can also swear and be in a bad mood sometimes.
