Graduate Consultant - Business Analyst Review

Working within a project to support change and delivery. Projects cover a range of topics from payments to regulation, to business transformation. The role aids in the development of key business analytical skills such as requirements engineering to business impacts, but the primary role involves stakeholder engagement and management as communication is key.

Each project you work in provides a different experience and allows you to develop and become well rounded in a range of soft skills, such as presenting, being confident to talk to a wide range of people from different backgrounds and departments as well as learning business analytical skills such as requirements engineering.

The programme has allowed me to develop close relationships with other graduates who have joined the programme along side me. It is also providing invaluable experience in the working world, building up a network and keeping me busy with a range of work. I have had experience in regulatory work within payments to cultural change programmes.

The work involved is great. That said the training provided is not well structured and often repetitive in nature. Training modules that could have been taught at home reading the documents provided would have been sufficient as nothing new is provided in the face to face training. Santander itself is great to work for.

Santander gives plenty of support during work, making sure you are keeping up and if you have any concerns are always open for you to contact. Not much support is needed when it comes to the apprenticeship training side of things as this is very self-explanatory. But they provide time to study for challenges relating to apprenticeship.

QA provides all the relevant documents we needed to complete exams and qualifications, and you can always contact them if you need support. Not much support is needed as the work is self-explanatory and most of the support needed is provided during the training weeks we have with the provider.

The roles we work in are all different, we do not all work in the same area or even on similar work - this makes the educational pieces we are provided by the qualification have little impact on our daily roles - and if they do most of the work is best learnt 'on the job'.

I take part in Netball every week with other people from work which is a great way to exercise but meet new people. That said there is no formal area to see what activates are occurring outside of work so you have to find the right people to know about them. The company does hold some networking events every now and again which have been great to attend to get to know others in my business area.

Yes

Great culture - those I have worked with understand work/life balance is important and don't manage my presenteeism but what I offer. The salary is great, and the options for rewards have a good range and come in handy. Working here has been great for my personal development and would recommend.

Be yourself, be confident and relax! You learn a lot once you get your foot in the door that we all think a like, when you go to an interview it's not just you who's nervous, the interviewer can be too, we're only human. Have a clear knowledge of the culture and share how you would be a great addition to the company.