Bloomberg On-Site Support Review

As a Bloomberg On-Site Support representative, my main duty is to visit clients and resolve the various issues that Bloomberg Customer Support can’t resolve over the phone. These issues can range from simple biometric reader issues, to more complicated ones, such as upgrading and testing a router. My most important task, however, is to ensure that my clients are happy with the company’s product, and the support and solutions I provide.

During my apprenticeship, I gained an entirely new skill set. In November 2018 the highest IT qualification I had was an ECDL certificate. Although I had almost no background in IT, I gained valuable knowledge through the courses provided by this apprenticeship, and further improved my communication skills and human capital. This helped me achieve the exceptional standard of customer support expected within the company, and be confident that my abilities matched my peers’.

The programme offers a wide variety of networking and personal development opportunities, such as volunteering for charity, mentoring, and art & culture evenings, on top of jump-starting an energizing and interesting career. This programme is both challenging and enjoyable - I have made valuable connections, and improved my communication skills and human capital.

Bloomberg is an excellent provider of training and support, however the same cannot be said for QA. The courses themselves were of an acceptable standard, but the support provided by mentors while writing the portfolio were subpar, as there was little to no guidance for most of the year until the last few months of the apprenticeship. I felt overwhelmed and lost due to this lack of support, and hope a better guidance plan is developed for future generations of apprentices.

The apprentice HR contacts have been invaluable during my apprenticeship. They have assisted with every stupid question, dilemma, or issue that I had. They also helped me plan a career path and arrange shadowing. The mentoring programme has been game changing for me - I was assigned a mentor in my first week, who helped me settle in. It was good to know I had so many people to turn to for help.

As i stated in my comments regarding the course structure, the training courses at college were good, but the support provided by mentors while writing the portfolio was barely there, as there was little to no guidance for most of the year until the last few months of the apprenticeship. I felt overwhelmed and lost due to this lack of support, and hope a better guidance plan is developed for future generations of apprentices.

I had little IT experience before starting this apprenticeship, and I have sourced most of the knowledge I need for this role from the courses provided by QA. At work, I use something I learned at a QA course very often. They have greatly assisted me in executing my daily tasks.

The apprentice HR contacts have arranged several apprentice networking events, like bowling and going to an arcade, which helped the apprentices get to know each other and build an interdepartmental network. In addition, there is a vast selection of volunteering opportunities, sports teams, and discussion chats that are available to join.

Yes

This apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to jumpstart my business career. At the end of 6th form, I found the thought of university and 4 more years of studying unappealing and slow-paced, and I started looking for other options. An apprenticeship was the perfect choice – it allowed me to build professional contacts, start my career path, learn from experts, and earn while I learn. Although I had almost no background in IT, I gained the skills I needed through the courses provided by both the trainer and Bloomberg.

Make sure you are prepared to put the work in. Starting in a new job may be tough, but it is important to pass the courses to ensure you can stay on and complete your qualification. In addition, you must learn form the comments your managers make, such as ensuring you're on time.