Eric Poirier: How being a team player has helped with his career growth

Eric, what were you doing before joining First National? 

I lived in Montréal where I spent five years in the travel and tourism industry and went back to school to study accounting. Before leaving to come to Toronto, I was an assistant accountant at Omni Mont Royal. I moved to Toronto in July 2014 and began my job search.

How did you come to join First National?

I used an employment agency that specialized in placing bilingual professionals and they matched me with First National in September that year. My first role was in the Residential department as a tax specialist. 

Did you know anything about residential mortgages or municipal taxes?

Nothing. I had no background or even a mortgage of my own at the time. It was all foreign to me. 

Why do you think you were hired?

I think they liked my personality and thought my people skills suited the role but they also commented on my experience in accounting, and my ability in both official languages.

What were you doing in your first position here?

Paying municipal taxes on behalf of our residential clients and answering questions they would have about their taxes. There was a definite element of customer service in my work. It could be challenging from time to time because let’s face it, who wants to pay taxes? And while we don’t determine the tax rate, we are required to apply it. Occasionally, clients would take out their frustrations on me. 

How did you respond to those types of situations?

By being respectful and patient. Because I took the time to listen and explain how taxes are calculated, the conversation would usually end on a positive note. That was satisfying for me. I performed that role for 2.5 years.

What happened then?

I began to feel the need to make a change and engage in a new challenge. I volunteered to job shadow colleagues in the Commercial funding department of First National. I did that a few times and when a job opportunity opened up, I applied and landed a role as a Commercial Funder in July 2016. A year later, I became a Funding Specialist and two years after that, a Senior Funder and then Assistant Manager at the beginning of September 2023.
 
Is job shadowing still an option for First National people?

Absolutely and it’s one of the great things about working here. Job shadowing is a very effective way of discovering whether a position you think would be interesting is by experiencing it up close. First National encourages it.

What drove your career forward?

I would say I’m detailed oriented and organized but I’m also open to new experiences, naturally curious and eager to understand the different parts of the organization. In funding, risk mitigation is important – we have to protect our investments – but we also need to keep our commercial clients and investing partners happy.  It’s a balancing act. Ultimately, I think the reason for my success is I’m a team player who likes working with all sides of our business including underwriting but also external solicitors, insurance providers and investors. 

Did your start in Residential help you excel in Commercial?

For sure. The common requirement is the ability to provide good customer service. The ability to communicate well and forge good relationships are important skills that are valued in both departments and transferable. I also think problem solving and stress management are skills that are applicable in both departments. From experience, I believe there is always a solution to every problem if you know how to keep your cool and look for it. 

What’s your proudest career moment?

My promotion to Assistant Manager. It’s my first management position. I really appreciate the chance to prove myself capable. Honestly, I’m proud that I’ve managed to move up every couple of years at First National. It showed that my managers had faith in me and recognized that I’m ready. 

Four workplace principles define First National – always striving for better, earning trust, encouraging autonomy, and emphasizing accountability. Of the four, which one resonates most with you and why?

Always striving for better. I think we all try to give our best selves to the job.  And because we do that, we earn the trust of our colleagues and gain more independence and autonomy. I would also add a fifth principle. Humility. I think we are humble and grateful for the opportunity to serve so many great clients.

What advice do you have for someone starting out at First National?

I would advise them to work hard, ask questions, take notes, and be a sociable team player. We are a sociable company. Give the best of yourself and you will succeed.

How do you contribute to First National’s culture of inclusivity?

We are a very inclusive company and management is very welcoming. I channel that same attitude in all of my day-to-day interactions with people. I try to make everyone comfortable, because when people feel comfortable, they tend to do a better job. Across the Commercial team, everyone is welcoming.

The commercial mortgage industry has a reputation as a man’s world. Is that changing?

Well let me answer this way. I am the only male manager in the First National funding department. All of the other directors are women. In our company, the funding, servicing, and renewals teams are predominantly women and that includes senior leaders. Origination remains mostly men but that too is changing.

Why stay and build a career at First National?

It’s a great company that provides lots of opportunities to grow. It treats people well. And I think its corporate values align well with my own personal values.  If you prove yourself, you will be given the opportunity to advance. Two other points I would make. One, the company is really moving in the right direction and two, it’s a company that always wants to improve. It’s willing to change for the better, it keeps investing to help us become more efficient and more up to date. I think First National is just going to get better and better over time. I like that. 

What keeps you at First National?

The atmosphere. I feel respected and valued. I have a good time here. It’s a big company but doesn’t feel like it. 

Where do you see yourself in another decade?

At First National. Hopefully in the same department with even more responsibility. 

If you’d like to join us in congratulating Eric on his career milestone, you can reach him at eric.poirier@firstnational.ca.