Data Analyst Review

As a data analyst apprentice, I work with databases to deliver data driven solutions to my stakeholders. This involves database querying, data manipulation and the use of various modelling techniques. To help me with this I speak to my mentor on a daily basis, as well as communicating with the rest of my team and stakeholders to make sure can implement effective and efficient solutions. In doing this I complete my projects to get my qualification and gain a wealth of workplace experience.

Since starting my apprenticeship in September I have developed many different skills, such as SQL coding for several database management systems, using programs such as R and Alteryx Designer Additionally, I have learned about AGILE and SCRUM which taught me how solutions are built and delivered in a real work environment.

I enjoy my program as I find the work very fulfilling and interesting, as this particular field has so much potential for advancement in the future. Additionally all the people at the company have been very welcoming and friendly, and I get on very well with my mentor and my team. I have however missed out on some practical experience due to COVID and working from home, however the Early Careers Team made a lot of effort to make sure we all felt welcomed despite not being in the office.

My induction to the company was great and very well structured, with lots of webinars and interviews with members of the company about what it stands for, its values and what we do. My mentor is great and is always willing to help and guide me when I need it, and what I have to do for my work is well laid out and and clear through the use of the JIRA ticket system. My training provider has also had several courses and webinars to help teach me what I need to know for my course, however these courses are sometimes too late, such as the introduction to SQL course that was in February, when really I needed that information in October, so I taught myself the content early.

I receive all the support I could need from my company, my mentor is always on hand and happy to help me with anything I need whether that's with the work I'm doing or just general questions about the company or my benefits. There are many different help desks I can talk to if I'm having any kind if issues and everyone is always friendly and happy to answer questions.

I receive support from my training provider through webinars and courses, and my learning tutor is always happy to answer questions if I need, however as I said before many of the courses during my apprenticeship have come too late and I've had to teach myself the necessary content beforehand in order to be effective in my role at work.

My qualification and training through my training provider has helped me to perform better, as it has put into perspective why things are done a certain way in the workplace, as well as taught me necessary information that is not always so explicit in the workplace. I have put a lot of the information from my training courses into practice when using SQL and some modelling techniques however, as I said before a lot of this information I had to teach to myself as it was needed earlier than it was provided to me from my training provider.

The Early Careers team at our company has put a lot of effort into organising social events even throughout COVID, such as a taste testing social event that all the apprentices attended. There are very often webinars and other things to get involved in where you can meet other people within the organisation, its just a shame that for my whole time here I've had to be working from home due to the pandemic.

Yes

Fidelity is a very inclusive and friendly company, with many employee benefits and welcoming people. They have really supported me in doing my apprenticeship and have done their best to make me feel like part of the company despite the issues with the pandemic at the moment. The Early Careers team really made effort to make sure I still talked to the other apprentices and created social events over zoom to help with this.

I would tell them to relax, as Fidelity is full of friendly people who are there to bring out the best in you. The interviews were stressful as all interviews are, but the team made sure that we were relaxed as possible and the onboarding process was great, it had a lot of information about the company and what we stand for as well as a lot of stuff about what we do which I found really interesting.