Operations Apprentice Review

My role consists of multiple responsibilities that need to be completed on a daily basis. you have to be assertive, show urgency and be able to work under pressure. also you need to be able to problem solve and not go into work expecting a specific thing. financial services is a dynamic industry so be prepared.

I have developed and learnt a wide range of different skills. within this job role a lot comes into play in order for you to perform to the expected standard. organizational skills have naturally developed over time due to balancing work/study and also managing your time. Furthermore I have learnt functional skills such as IT/Excel.

My program is full of opportunities to network, learn and explore. The environment that I work in is wonderful, welcoming and bright. people are always on hand to help you out. Also the responsibilities that are initially given to you as a new and inexperienced joiner are job fulfilling and give you a real sense of meaningful work.

My program is well organized and structured so that we as apprentices get the most out of it. We have our day to day job role but also have regular meetings with the junior talent team and also our skill coaches in order to catch up, discuss future goals and to review our performance so far.

We receive significant support from our employer which come in multiple forms. UBS provide a website in which we are able to access online courses for many different topics such as time management, job specific courses like Fixed Rates/Credit fundamentals and even courses to improve our excel skills. all of which are to ensure you are well equipped with the right skills to perform well.

when working toward our qualifications we receive support in various forms. firstly we have access to an online portal in which we are able to view tutor videos on topics we are currently studying. This portal also consists of an online version of the text book we are studying from. Also our training provider holds work shops that run thought the day that the apprentices attend which give us the opportunity to ask questions to the tutors regarding the content of our study.

I feel that through studying for the IOC qualification I have a better and more in depth understanding of the financial environment as a whole. This in turn enables me to put things together while on the job since what I am learning crops up regularly in the real life working environment.

There are various extra curricular activities that are available for us employees to take part in. They come in the form of volunteering or informal meetings/discussions. UBS also provide Town Hall meetings where the whole business function is invited down to listen to the current performance of the business, our goals etc - then after there is usually a networking event where we are able to broaden our network and opportunities.

Yes

it is a great way to get into financial services from a young age. the apprenticeship provides you with important skills needed to progress far into a career in financial services. it is a great opportunity to meet new people and build your network and also to learn real life skills and information.

the tips I would give to others applying to UBS would be to research the business, understand its core values and behaviors. research the area in which you are applying for and try to identify the skills you have and how they relate to the job role you are applying for.