Assistant Relationship Manager Review

Assistant Relationship Manager. Daily tasks are varied as it is a customer facing role in which you can be faced with different queries from customers over the phone, by email or in meetings. Simple queries may include setting up, cancelling or amending Standing Orders, Direct Debit, company address etc. More complex queries could be around new account opening and foreign exchange. These all prompt interactions internally by having to contact different departments within the bank to action customer instructions. You have to be responsible for all tasks that come on to your desk and make sure you complete them to the best of your ability to serve customers well.

I am currently increasing my knowledge of the banking industry by learning the syllabus that I will need to learn to pass my Professional Bankers Certificate. On a day to day basis I am developing my communication skills, organisation skills and time management due to the role I am learning.

I enjoy my job as I like interacting with staff and customers. I enjoy the diversity of the tasks and queries that I come across daily. I expected to see the customers more face to face i.e. going to more customer meetings.

I feel valued by my team, they have given me feedback when I have asked for it and supported my progression by trusting me to take on tasks for them.

The programme is very well organised, I think this is due to being in the second/third intake of apprentices. I started the role with 3 months to settle in and concentrate on what an Assistant Relationship Manager role includes. We started with a 2 day induction with around 30 other apprentices which was a good way to be introduced to RBS and be around other people in the same boat I was in, it helped me to relax about what was to come. On third day we went to a regional induction day which I found very helpful. I met the other apprentices from the region and we had a session with the apprentices from the previous year who gave us some tips and guidance for what was ahead. On the same day we also met our Regional Director which was a good environment to be introduced. I started my course in January through BPP who have organised sending books, planners and study guides prior to starting so I felt well prepared when it came to January. The Live Session we do online are great and we had an introductory session to help with technical problems before we started the course sessions.

We have an assessor who calls us monthly to review our progress, we have contact with them via email and telephone and we can call them if we need any support. There is also an online log in in which we have access to study support including a student / tutor forum that we can ask questions regarding anything we are struggling to understand. BPP have also provided contacts should we have any problems at work and require advice or support.

My buddy who is leading my training of the Assistant Relationship Manager role is very professional, supportive and knowledgeable. She is always happy to help if I need support or have any questions about the task I am completing. She has adapted to my learning style too and gives me feedback when I ask for it. The rest of my team support me by giving me tasks to do which increases the amount I can learn. I have been given many resources to help me e.g. Assistant Relationship Manager Guide.

Unlike most apprentices I am 24, have a child and a house to pay out for, therefore on my wage this can be a struggle. I believe I am very well paid for an apprentice and can't complain, however I don't have much income left after paying rent, bills, childcare costs, travel costs etc.

I have been to a networking event organised by another organisation, which was great to make connections with other young professionals. I have been interested in some of the volunteering opportunities that come through the RBS graduate scheme however most are based in London or Edinburgh in which is too far for me to travel, therefore I feel as though I am missing out on the opportunity to help.

Yes

Great employer with lots of future opportunity.

Application process took around 3 months, I would advise other applicants to prepare for each stage as much as possible but to be themselves so that RBS will know if they're the right person for the job. I would have liked to have been told that the application was a long process as I was not expecting this. Onboarding process was good, no hurdles etc.