IT Channel Sales Apprenticeship Review

My average day varies. Channel Sales means that we sell through a supply chain. Not directly to the customer. So what my job role involves is to communicate with our Re-seller Companies, and understand their business, and how we can help drive and push more Sales within the Business. The Re-seller company is the Second company in the supply chain. Us as the Vendor; selling to the Distribution company; then to the re-seller; then to the end customer. This process is the Sales cycle in the Channel.

From working at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise I have developed and honed new skills. I have definitely developed my listening and communication skills as previously I was very confident and was very well spoken. But did not actively listen before speaking. My role here at HPE has helped me develop the understanding of when it is right to speak and when it is required to listen. As they say you have two ears and one mouth.

When first joining the program and applying, I was unsure as to what to expect. I knew who the company was and what they did, but I did not entirely understand what my job role was going to be. Since actually getting into my job role I am realizing that I could not have chosen a better career path.

From my understanding and experience, so far, the program has been very well structured and organised. This shows in the way that the company has actually given up time and funds to invest in us as young employees. As well as giving us the opportunity to understand different aspects of the business. Since Day 1 there was a plan to get us out to see different Customer and Company offices from all over the country London to Scotland.

My employer has supported me throughout my time here, so far. This is shown in weekly catch-up meetings with managers and supporting colleagues helping on the program, these meetings and calls are to help me throughout my career here at HPE, so I can ask about things that may have happened in the week that I may not have understood. This support is really beneficial.

I receive enough support from my training provider as I see them relatively often, twice a month, as well as having lots of points of contact for any inquirers I may have. As well as getting regular contact for inquiries, and feedback on the apprenticeship and how it is going so far.

I have two different sections when it comes to my training provided by Remit. The first is the Sales training, which is outsourced to a company from Remit called Natural. This training has been relatively beneficial when learning about Sales techniques. However, it is more tailored to telecommunication sales which is not what my job role is at all and so is quite irrelevant at points. Now the other part of the training is the IT training. Which in my opinion is completely inconsequential. As it not at all related to the industry of IT that we work in, and I believe is really quite useless apart from a few sessions on general IT for some of the other apprentices on the program who had no IT background. Seeing as I am very well clued up I believe on IT doing Computer Science GCSE and A level has not really helped me at all.

Yes, at work there are various events and social activities which allow me to professionally network and get to know my colleagues outside of the office. I have attended a variety of dinners, drinks and events that have allowed myself to network and get to know colleagues outside of work. As well as social and sporting events such as charity events to further relationships and help a good cause at the same time.

Yes

Hewlett-Packard Enterprise is a Billion Dollar Business. But not only this we are a company focused on building relationships and good reputation, not only with our customers, but the actual employee experience itself is from my experience one of the most enjoyable and employee orientated companies in IT. This paired with the innovative technology we bring to market gives us the most diverse and full package that any customer and employee could want.

I believe that when applying for any apprenticeship, the most important aspect is to be yourself, and although this sounds cliche, this is possibly the best advice I could give. When it comes to Sales and this role although there are methods to win deals and get business everyone has their own style and how you approach this is what is able to make you a good Salesman. This paired with applying how you would fit our companies values and why, would stand anyone in a good stead to get onto the apprenticeship program at HPE.