Technical Presales Specialist Review

My role is to assist both our customers and our sales team, by providing technical advice around cyber security products. This involves studying to gain a deep knowledge of the products, so that I am able to present to the customer and explain the benefits and functions, as well as assist with technical queries.

I am still at a relatively early stage of my apprenticeship and have spent the majority of my time doing online guided training courses, to build up my understanding of both cyber security products and IT security in general. I therefore haven't really developed new skills as of yet, though I can see many opportunities in the near future for me to do this, once I gain the knowledge I need. I have learnt a lot in a short space of time though and have the opportunity to earn professional qualifications during the course of my apprenticeship.

I am really enjoying the programme so far. It is a great opportunity to learn and develop in a structured way, with plenty of support available to me from experienced colleagues who are always happy to help. By the end I should not only have the skills and education I need to perform my role, but also a broader knowledge of IT that could help me develop my career in other areas.

There were a few teething problems early on with the apprenticeship company, as they were moving to a new platform, but these were quickly resolved. I have been provided with all the information I need so far and have regular sessions with my development coach where I can discuss any concerns. I know what I need to be working on now and what I am working towards.

Tech Data have been extremely supportive. I am lucky to be part of a very experienced and helpful team. My manager has given me lots of encouragement and I have regular sessions with colleagues where I can ask questions and get advice. We also have weekly meetings with our internal apprenticeship manager, who takes good care of us and has immediately dealt with any issues we have raised.

I have been given the training materials that I need to help me pass my qualifications, but am left to work through them without a tutor to assist. The training materials are well written and provide good explanations, so this is not a problem, but I believe it would be easier to learn with some guidance from a tutor.

The qualification is giving me a great foundation to build upon. I am learning not just the background I need to perform my role, I am getting an all round IT education. This can only be beneficial to my career, as it gives me the building blocks I need to do my day job and also offers me the potential to branch out into other areas in the future.

Tech Data are very focused on getting the work/life balance right and there are many opportunities to get involved with social events, activities, volunteering etc. The pandemic has meant a lot of these types of events have been difficult to arrange, but they have still found ways to get people together for social time both during working hours and after work.

Yes

Tech Data is great company to work for. They encourage employees to succeed and deliver the best results that they can. At the same time, they are very focused on doing things the right way and always have employee welfare and happiness high on their list of priorities. You will find many opportunities to learn and progress and will have friendly, helpful colleagues to support you on your way.

An interest in computing and technology is very important! Aside from the obvious though, Tech Data are very focused on being an ethical and trustworthy business partner to their customers. They aim to achieve this based on their corporate values - Accountability, Collaboration, Excellence, Integrity and Inclusion, so it would be helpful if you could give examples where you have demonstrated those qualities.