Pricing Analyst Review

My role in the business is relatively new and sits mainly in the Commercial Finance area of the company. My role involves analysing current pricing conditions that we have in SAP and seeing if these are working as intended to maximise margin. This requires gathering data, processing the data into information and reporting back the information to the wider business to suggest improved pricing strategies across all segments of customers.

My company offer a lot of training online (and before the pandemic, in-person training). These range from Microsoft Office skills, presentation skills, Maths & English boosters etc. If they cannot offer a particular training course, they will provide external training if it's suitable for your job role (hence why I'm doing an apprenticeship now). The bulk of my personal learning has been through the external training as I already had a lot of skillsets that they offer internally, but would be incredibly useful for anyone who wants to develop them further.

The work I do is very much a full blown role with tasks and responsibilities - it's exactly what you'd be doing once you pass the apprenticeship. The team I work with are great and supportive and also appreciate the new knowledge I bring along. The company culture is good, with a fairly relaxed attitude. I enjoy working where I am as it's challenging but you're always supported through it.

The company have very little to do with my programme (they merely pay for it). The provider gives me a lot of control as to what I want to do, with a regular 6 week catch up to make sure I'm ok and to raise any issues I may be having. I find this off-hand approach best for me personally, but believe you can ask for more mentoring if required.

As mentioned previously, they don't have a lot of involvement with my programme. However, they are happy to provide me with the mandatory study day a week (20% of my time, which I split into 2 half days as it works best with my working patterns). They also provide a contact in the training team I can go to if I have any issues with the provider or anything else relating to the programme.

My training provider offers classroom-based learning (currently online via Zoom due to the pandemic). This really helps as there's somebody there you can ask questions to. They also offer an online portal with pre-recorded videos and mock questions to work your way through, along with a workbook and textbook so offer many ways to learn. They also provide support through their portal to ask a tutor a question if you're really stuck on something (I have yet to use this yet so can't rate it, but think it's great that it's an option).

The knowledge I'm learning covers a lot more than my job role covers. Although this may sound like a bad thing, I think it's great as it allows me to see the wider picture and to see which cogs affect the machine. I have already used knowledge learnt in my role to consult people and the indirect affects of particular actions that I wouldn't have known beforehand. I will also be looking to move into a more encompassing role once I have qualified.

My workplace do offer extra-curricular activities, some are for all members and others are for specific teams. These involve sporting activities (such as football teams, group running and outdoor yoga), quizzes & competitions and work place seminars by guest speakers. The employees of the company are also very friendly and often invite others to events they have organised such as conventions they run, a group event (football match, concert etc) or just a post-work drink at the pub.

Yes

The company has an energetic culture around it full of both young people with new ideas and experienced people with a wealth of knowledge from their time at the company/in the industry. It's very forward thinking and offers good remuneration and benefits. All jobs roles will need to connect to other business areas so you get to work with a lot of people and learn new things through them.

Displaying a tenacious attitude with a thirst for development and knowledge will be highly beneficial. Showing off your "people" skills will also be a big bonus due to the amount of time you'll be interacting with others (even if the role isn't traditionally a forward facing role). Finally, show off your personality and ensure it's your genuine self.