Rating

7.2/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • I am a business developer, I make phone calls and make quotes for customers. I goon the counter and serve builders and customers. I ring different depots and check stock and give them sales. My responsibilities are to make sure there are customers coming into the depot because I'm the one on the phones ringing builders to see if they need anything for example kitchens,hardware, flooring ect.

    7/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • yes, I have learnt how to communicate with customers better by making the convocation last long by using questions to keep the customer interested. I have been to Northampton to help my knowledge with being an business developer, I went on a k8 course and a calls to account. during then courses I leant how to do my sales and quotations better for customers. [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] helped me a lot with my course work when he came, I didn't thank him enough about how much help he gave me. I really appreciated what he did for me.

    9/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I enjoyed that [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] made me laugh when he came in to see me and he told me about how you got into his job and explained how math's and English wasn't his strong point just like me. In my work place I have met some characters and they all help me so much when I get stuck with customers, when other members of staff is too busy I try and figure it out myself. I have tried my very hardest in this job but sometimes its not enough. but overall i have enjoyed being in Howdens joinery.

    8/10

  • 4. How valued do you feel by Howdens?
  • I have had some meetings with my manager about my attitude and i don't mean to be unprofessional but I like to make people smile and have a good time, I am serious but sometimes you need to calm down a bit. [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] recognized that I was a bit loud and unprofessional sometimes but I tried to control my enthusiasm.

    6/10

  • 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • To be honest. my Manger is only making me do phone calls and always wants me to stay in my seat, I do try and do other things but i get wrong. when the staff is busy I do go on the counter and serve customers. I do get supported my members of staff and they try and help me. but sometimes they get to controlling and they don't stop sometimes, also if I do the slightest thing wrong member go running to the manger. everyone makes mistakes. i have to do 30 calls minimum every day to get customers buying. overall the business is organized with every role and we are all a team.

    6/10

  • 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
  • [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] was very helpful for me. He help me with my work and described some words for me because they were to hard for me. big words sometimes take a little longer to figure out for me.

    10/10

  • 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • I have had support of team members and my manager. my manager always says if your stuck on anything tell me or the team and we will help you. when i am stuck one of the members will help me by taking over the call and take their orders.

    9/10

  • 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
  • unfortunately i only get paid £575.50 and i spend half of that on my travel to work and my phone and my board and i do get only £150 to myself. i live in Houghton le spring and i travel on a bus and a metro to get to work. it takes me 1 hours and 20mins.

    5/10

  • 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
  • When im not working i am practicing for my theory test for my driving because im learning to drive and if im not doing that i am either watching tv or sleeping because i wake up at 5:30 to be out the door at 6:00 and i have to be in work for 7:30.

    5/10

  • 9. Would you recommend Howdens to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • Because the company is great and staff are helpful.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Howdens?
  • you need to have customer service experience. Good communicator Good listener Good with emails/computers polite and positive enjoy making phone calls be professional. always look people in their eyes


Details

Level 2 Apprenticeship

Business Operations

North East

March 2016


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