Graduate Project Manager Review

Supporting the programme manager to manage the project. Scheduling and attending meetings. Distributing minutes and actions following each meeting. Analysing and logging risks and issues and tracking this throughout the life cycle of the project. Estimating and tracking costs. preparing project documents such as terms of reference. Managing stakeholders on a daily basis.

I have gained skills in excel. Prior to this role I didn't use excel much however I now use it often and this has developed my skills. I have built on my communication and time management skills as this has become part of my day to day activities especially managing stakeholders.

The working environment is nice and the people are friendly so I enjoy working there however the experience varies depending on what project you work on. There can be very little support and guidance from some project leads which can make the experience unenjoyable. There can be a lack of communication with your team as in some cases they work in a different office/location.

Dates for the programme are given in advance and advised of any training or learning materials required. There is structure for work that needs to be completed however timescales and deadlines aren't always clear and the website that we use is not very user friendly. Some of the tasks can be time consuming which is difficult to balance with work life

Generally they are understanding and are happy to arrange time off for training days and for study. It can be difficult to work around the needs of the employer to make time for apprenticeship work. Apart from that , they don't really get involved and I feel that it is viewed separately form my work.

I think the support is good. It is good that we get a skills coach, It means I can meet with them monthly to discuss the programme and qualifications. They can also be contacted anytime through email and guide you in the right direction about working towards specific qualifications. There is also support available online on the canvas site.

Not very well. Some of the qualifications I have completed so far aren't relevant to my role so it means I cant use what ive learned from my qualification and apply it to my daily role which is unfortunate. For example I have recently completed an agile qualification but because the project I work on this waterfall it means I can use the course to improve.

There are lots. There are networking events that take place and social activities. This provides an opportunity to meet with the wider team and department. We attend conferences were we discuss relevant topics , have a chance to raise key questions and network with others throughout the entire business which is a great opportunity.

Yes

Overall it is a good place to work for and has a nice culture. Because it is such a large company there are plenty of opportunities to experience different areas and roles. It is nice to work with various different people from different backgrounds and collaborate with many departments. This means you get to learn a lot.

Be open minded and open to change as one of Santander's key behaviours is to embrace change and this is something you will constantly experience. Research the Santander behaviours and culture as this is very important. Research Santander's strategy and their competitors especially in terms of technology, digital and customers.