Category Assistant for Fragrance Review

I work in the Fragrance Team for Trading where I am a Category Assistant. I work with suppliers to set up new products, arrange promotions and sort price changes. I interact daily with my immediate team and also have contact with other staff in different departments. For example, I've recently worked with someone on the Merchandising team to chase missing samples for the Merchandising Show Room. In addition to this I also liaise with suppliers daily regarding any tasks or queries.

Since starting my apprenticeship I have started to complete my Customer Service Level 3 qualification with Babington college. During the first two months of my apprenticeship I experienced a store placement. This widened my skills and knowledge base when dealing with customers and providing a good quality service. I have also undertaken serval internal training courses with Boots whilst being at Head Office which have taught me new skills and helped to support me in my role, including Financial Calculations, Supplier Funding and workshops to enable me to use the software at Boots productively.

I am currently really enjoying my job and my team have been very welcoming and supportive to me. I feel relaxed and ease at work and feel I can always ask for help when I need it. I expected the apprenticeship to be organised and thorough and so far it has met my expectations. My team have tried to give me exposure to a variety of work situations and this has been very helpful in my learning. There are other people on the apprenticeship scheme too, therefore I don't feel isolated and have a strong network around me. Mixing with these people helps me to expand my knowledge of the business in other departments.

I feel valued because I feel included within my team. Because I am so new to the role I feel it is difficult to make a significant contribution in my own right at the moment. However, I still feel valued because of the way my colleages and manager treat me. I feel valued as an apprentice because the investment and support as the company as a whole gives to the scheme.

The apprenticeship programme is very organised and I feel I have a lot of support from others, from both the college and within my working environment. There are a variety of training programmes available for me to attend to help me within my role and expand my knowledge. These are often identified by my line manager or programme organisers. We have regular college meetings to catch up and discus any concerns, issues or questions we may have.

I receive the amount if support I would expect, I have a set monthly session. However, they have also made it clear that we can contact them if we ever need to and I would feel comfortable to do so.

Everyone has been really helpful and supportive towards me since starting the apprenticeship with Boots and there seems to be a supportive culture so I've not had any concerns about requesting help or guidance. This is always given willingly and I'm never made to feel like I am an inconvenience to anyone.

My salary is adequate to meet my costs as I currently live at home.

I haven't been in post very long so I haven't had much time/ opportunity to access these yet. However, there is plenty of information available through the intranet so I feel confident I can access these things when I want to. My current intake of apprentices have already set up a Facebook page so that we can share experiences and organise social activities together outside of work.

Yes

Good opportunity to gain direct working experience whilst also studying towards a formal qualification Interesting Big organisation Good salary Lots of opportunities to develop yourself Variety of work and feeling challenged

Be yourself, but prepare well. Research about the company and think through what you can offer it as well as what it can offer to you. Be keen and enthusiastic during the recruitment process. Believe in yourself and try to show the best of yourself.