Mortgage Adviser Review

My role involves advising customers on a day to day basis about thier mortgage needs and secured lending. Within this role, I am here to support and help develop the branch staff in their conversations with customers about mortgages. I speak to approximately 3 customers a day and support them with their mortgage application. When I am not with a customer I have to chase solicitors or the contact centre in order to manage any pipeline business

From the programme I have learnt a wealth of skills. I understand leadershiip and management more now and different personalilty skills and why it is important to understand different types of people. Previous to the degree I was not aware of organisational change or what the HR department in a company does. I have learnt to write reports of 6000 words and more and analyse data to inform my reports

I enjoy the programme because I am learning new information all the time and also learning how and why certain things work. I really enjoyed learning about personal insights and the marketing part of the degree which has helped me establish that I would like to further my career in that arena.

The actual programme is very well structured, however once I have graduated, there doesn't seem to be anything to follow. This is what my dissertation will address. It seems to be OK for internal employees to continue in their roles which defeats the whole point of the programme? The only criticism I would have of the programme is the study blocks should be thought of better, for example, when I first started I was out of the office for 4 weeks at the beginning of the year. This did not help with my day to day job and performance figures. Also on level 6, we have been away 3 times which we could have condensed into maybe a week and a half instead of the time spread over months.

I don't think I received much support from my immediate team leaders. I was constantly reminded that my performance figures were below the average for the team, which was frustrating because Barclays accepted me onto the programme so it was quite stressful to come back to work and have to deal with the leadership team and "figures".

Anglia Ruskin lecturers have been very supportive and have been available when I've needed to ask questions. The only thing I would say, is when we first start the plan, more attention should be given to assignment writing and how to critically evaluate etc. Some of us have not written reports in a long time, therefore to have more of an understanding how to write would have been great!

The role that I do at the moment, the programme doesn't really help me. It has however, opened up other sections of the bank that I would like to work in. I've had an interview and now await for the results of that interview. the job is within customer insight

there are no extra-curricular activities in my branch. There is an annual party held by the area but this is paid for by the Christmas allowances the branch network are given. It doesn't really involve mortgage team. Sometimes when someone is leaving the branch the team may go out after work for a night.

Yes

Because the benefits Barclays offers as an employee are excellent, for example, maternity pay etc. However, the pay isn't the best on the market, and what with job descriptions constantly changing it sometimes isn't the best place to work. Also the ability to move up in the mortgage network is not great.

Don't be stressed out with the competency based questions and the interview process because them situations are never part of the job you do on a daily basis. Make sure you understand the job you want fully before applying, if you want to progress do not start in a branch, try and start out in 1CP.