Application Support Analyst Review

I work in Front Office Application Support, my role consists of supporting M&G's key business units to ensure that all systems are running smoothly and solve any system issues that may occur. It can be a fast paced environment where resolutions are time constrained which require immediate resolutions. My role gives me the opportunity to meet business users and understand their requirements and struggles that they face on a day to day basis so that I can provide a good level of support in the event of any issues. I also work on multiple projects which include upgrading/bug fixing in house systems such as Trading platforms, Order management systems and corporate action management systems for Equities, Fixed Income.

At the end of my apprenticeship I had gained these qualifications MTA in software development fundamentals, City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in IT Systems and Principles, City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in IT Professional Competence. On my apprenticeship I had learned how to develop in C#, ASP.NET MVC, SQL, HTML and CSS, I also had to complete various modules over the year to pass my apprenticeship. Most of these modules included writing a case study and research however one of these consisted of me creating and Object Oriented address book application using C#. Throughout my apprenticeship M&G had placed me on various internal and external courses, which included introductions to; Equities, Fixed Income and Investment Administration to give me a basic overview of how the business works. I also believe that working with M&G has helped me become a ‘professional’ and a confident individual.

I have really enjoyed joining M&G as an apprentice, I have joined a team which I really enjoy working with and who have helped me understand and become confident in what I do. M&G has a welcoming culture where all staff are treated fairly and expected to have a good work to social lifestyle, this had exceeded my expectations when I first joined as a school leaver to join a large organisation.

M&G has recognised my effort that I contribute towards the business, even now after completing my apprenticeship and working with them for 2 and a half years they are still investing in myself and other young individuals with a Foundation Programme to gain further renowned qualifications within the financial industry and more courses to us develop into even more successful employees.

I found that the training provider was very responsive when I needed help with a particular module and the external course that was provided by the training provider was set out very well, however the visits from my assessor did not seem as organised. I was provided with a mentor and had monthly catch ups with HR which I found very useful were I could explain areas of difficulty so that they could provide me with the resources that I needed throughout the year. I was also given plenty of time to myself to complete my apprenticeship, I was given enough space to be able to develop within the work space and have time to complete my modules.

I found that my training provider was fairly quick at responding to emails and were available if I needed to ring them.

When I was on my apprenticeship I was given lots of support from my manager and I was also placed with other younger employees such as graduates and interns to help me get started and understand more about M&G when I started.

I think my starting salary met my requirements for living/travel; I was also eligible to have an apprenticeship oyster card which meant I had a discount on travel in central London.

As M&G is based in the centre of London there are plenty of things to do outside of working hours. There is also a M&G Sports and Social team who organise events and subsidise some of the cost for employees which is great for networking with new people from different departments.

Yes

The M&G apprenticeship scheme has helped me develop a career within Information Systems as an alternative to further education, which has set me way ahead of the curve from a younger age and without debt. M&G encourages young talent to develop their skills and help them get to where they would like to be. I now have plenty of experience under my belt which is continually helping me build a better career for myself, which widens my opportunities with M&G and out.

Be confident, show enthusiasm and understand what you are applying for.