Chartered Manager Review

I manage a department. Start of the shift by organising lists, assigning people to each activities. Managing performance of colleagues. Turning up to meetings where I have to discuss targets, the plan, etc. Communicate with other departments. Engaging with colleagues. Reporting issues down my line manager, Working with other managers on other departments.

Confidence is one of the most important skills I've developed whilst being a part of this apprenticeship. Following my daily duties, I have to brief out to a team of around 50 people every morning. This is a challenge as briefing to such a large audience is new to me. It's definitely improved my confidence in communication. I've also learned to be more calm and collective. Where something's may go wrong, panicking is usually the outcome of issues. However, I've learned to stay calm. As a result, decisions are more thorough and thought out well.

I enjoy the hard working, individuality of the programme. Being left with a larger responsibility on a high position plays a key role in my enjoyment of this programme. Being able to undertake decisions were decisions need to be made, whether with speed, or the accuracy or correct-ness of the decision, is such a fun aspect. I like the engagement with people, and the opportunity I'm currently having to be able to develop my skills, be it communicational skills, or adaptive skills, as I have to adapt to many different departments, people, and operational areas.

Open University is a great supporter. From giving support through mentors and practice tutors, to offering the same level of help online, via their website. Open University is really supportive and has tonnes of articles and ways of helping me if I'm stuck. Online forums tend to be very useful, or even a good place to chat to people about stuff that I might find interesting and topics which I may not be able to speak about with other people, mainly business related topics. The open university programme is very well structured, and the blocks are split into sessions, into modules and assignments, and so on. It gives you a very good understanding of where you should be in order to be exceeding. The DHL apprenticeship programme is good. Being able to move around in departments for me is good, as I learn to become more adaptive. In the first 4 months, I was 'thrown' into the deep pool, where I worked on the biggest department in the operation, with the largest amount of people. This has really brought out my ability to shine, and show how well I can adapt. I adapted very fast in my opinion, and undertook responsibilities and tasks which I thought I could only take on in a few months, but actually tackled them much sooner than I thought. So my development within the workplace is really quick, and good. I also feel like its more independent. This really gives me the option to rely on my self more than anyone, and kind of give myself more responsibility. Its a bit more independent than I expected, but it is good, and I enjoy it. The training I've received is good. It was quick, short, and exposed me to the operation quickly, which is the way I wanted to work. The progress really relies on me, and how ready I feel to move on, decides whether I move on or not. So I take training on certain things lighter, as I'm certain I will be comfortable within the trained area within hours at max.

I receive a good amount of training from my employer. I can always rely on being able to contact more central DHL, and the people who are more involved with the apprenticeship. They always reply to my emails, my calls, and always give me the support whenever I feel like I need it.

DHL is my training provider. So I receive a good amount of support. DHL guides me through the training, and offers courses online too to help my personal development. My Talent World also provides a personal development plan, as well as easy and quick access to the courses. I've also been offered courses, such as a CSM course. This is excellent in my opinion as it really ensures that I'm developing.

I feel that my training provider really helps me perform and improve. This is mostly down to criticism, and reviews that I've received. Giving me methods of improvement, and areas that I can work on, as well as how I can work towards achieving my goals and giving me the support I require to get there.

DHL Debenhams does a lot of things that go into a charitable cause. For example cake sales are a very regular thing. Christmas dinners etc, all the profits go into charity. It's a common thing for managers to get involved in these activities, so I try my hardest to. Whether it be briefing out colleagues about these, to try and persuade colleagues to get involved, or the bake cakes and get involved more directly.

Yes

DHL is a good place to develop yourself as an employee, and as a person. It throws a lot of harsh challenges at you, but that's what makes you tougher and really prepares you for the outside world. Criticism is given often, which helps you develop yourself and see where you could do things better. It gives you room to improve yourself, and really put responsibility on yourself and shows you how well you can actually with both the responsibility and the pressure. As one of the biggest supply chain businesses globally, DHL offers job security. Also, working within the industry, it teaches you to snap decisions fast, but also make the right decisions.

My number one decision would be to prepare to take criticism, not personally, but prepare to take it on board, and not worry about it. Also, to expect a more independent lifestyle, if you're used to living home with your parents and not having the space to be so independent at home, working at DHL will expose you to that individuality and help you progress, and kind of adapt to the adult-lifestyle much faster.