Customer Insights advisor Review

My role in Softcat is to support sales and provide them with the necessary information to sell more to customers. I work closely with the public and corporate sales managers with data, weather that be data cleansing or matching data from our system to external data. My day to day role usually starts with me responding to email I get into the various different inboxes, these being sales enquiries, renewals for customer, address related issues or helping account managers with any issues. I then work on spreadsheets for most of the day, this could be a multitude of things. I could be matching data, cleansing data or finding the correct account manager for the various different vendors that we have. Sometimes the work is repetitive and long, but you will find that is most roles. I have plenty of work so I am never pondering on what to do.

I have learnt many skills so far, not only in my role, but from joining Softcat. I have learnt on how to be a good team player and work well in a team. This is vital as my team is only 2 others, I need to work well with them and excel in my role as other members can't pick up the work I haven't done. I have become much more knowledge in the Microsoft Office applications and know all the shortcuts and tips to speed up the process. The most important one would be how to do my job learn the system we use, without being an expert on this, I wouldn't be able to help others.

I do enjoy the work side of things more than the apprentice course work. I find my role very interesting and I like supporting others in their role. I don't enjoy the course work as much as I wanted to get away from school and college, but this feels like it is the same as lesson work. The course length is good at 12-18 months depending on what you are doing and how quickly you progress.

I feel the programme is very well structured. For my apprenticeship provider, we always communicate and know when we have meetings and at what time. I have monthly 121 coaching sessions to discuss my progress, with every other one being with my manager, who is there to support me. Every 2nd Thursday of the month, I have a group session with all the other apprentices on the same course as me to see how we all are doing and what could be improved.

I can't name a single thing that my employer hasn't done to support me. My manager always asks me if I need help, multiple times a day. I have calls from the Learning and Development team to see if I need any help and what they can do to support me.

Like I said in the previous questions, I receive loads of support from my training provider, via calls and messages. In our coaching sessions that we have every month, we go through our progress and see if I need help or take some more time to complete the work. My skills coach that I have is incredible and always helps me when needed.

The training providers course helps me in my role by making me more knowledgeable in my role and how to act within work. I have learnt more about how I can better myself and work better with my colleagues. I have now learnt how to communicate better and improve my formality.

Softcat provides loads of opportunities to get involved, such as the football team, cricket team, and even a gamin group. There are many more clubs you can get involved with to network with your peers more. There is a pool and ping pong table down in the canteen to network more with other people who enjoy the same thing.

Yes

The culture at Softcat makes it so enticing to join. The community and the people at Softcat make you want to stay as everyone is so friendly. Softcat has also one numerous awards for not only the apprentice scheme, but the fact it is an incredible place to work. Even if you come to Softcat without knowing anyone, you make friends instantly.

Be yourself. You should want to be with Softcat as you align with their values, not because you want the money. If you go into the interviews portraying your best self, you are almost guaranteed to go far. The most important thing other than to be yourself is to be fun, but proper. Don't mess about, but also don't be too serious.