Post-Sale Services Apprentice Review

Post-sale services covers all communication and coordination with buyers and shippers after our auctions. My main day-to-day responsibilities include; booking shipments, answering and directing phone calls, maintaining the shared inbox and responding to emails. I am also responsible for inputting all the lot inventory dimensions and handling any other additional administrative tasks that my seniors assign me.

Through my role I have undertaken a whole array of training; learning how to use a wide range of IT software and packages and developing interpersonal and communication skills. Also, through my day-to-day work I have developed my ability to plan and organise my tasks, managing my time appropriately as well as developing a greater ability to my make good decisions, handling a whole array of tasks and decisions in the most suitable manner.

Extremely! From day one my experience has exceeded my expectations, I have been welcomed and by the highest levels of the company and my team has been really welcoming and supportive and the values of the company are really felt throughout. Also, I have been given so many amazing opportunities, outside of my main role.

The programme is structured really well. I have monthly targets which are reviewed through regular meetings with my line manager and apprenticeship coach as well as support from my seniors and mentor. I always have plenty of time to complete my assignments and other apprenticeship tasks but at the same time they still challenge me and help me to grow and develop in my role.

I was pleasantly surprised how much support I received, as well as regular meetings with my line manager, I have weekly catch up meetings with the seniors in my team, I have regular sessions with my assigned mentor, who is a former apprentice, and whenever I need to reach out to colleagues across the companies for support they are always happy to help.

Through my regular, monthly, coaching sessions my apprenticeship coach helps me to work on my professional development and guides me through assignments and resources. However, if I have ever needed support outside of our sessions they are always contactable, and they get back to me almost instantly. Additionally, my apprenticeship portal has so many resources and different events/webinars to help you develop everything from networking to reflecting.

As well as having to complete a different assignment each month, during coaching sessions my coach helps me to set objectives that will help me in professional development, based on my reflections from the past month. This has really helped me to reflect and identify areas of strength and weakness and how to develop those to better help my developement.

Joining in the middle of a global pandemic I did not think there would be much available for me to take part in but it has been quite the opposite experience. I have taken part in the Christmas quiz, completed the Negotiating the Art Markets course (offered by Christie's Education), attended an online gallery walk through and taken part in a coffee morning hosted by a senior member of staff. To name but a few. Therefore, I cannot wait to see what activities the future may hold.

Yes

I have been so fortunate to take part in my apprenticeship with this amazing company. I have always loved art and the art world so to actually be a part of it is a dream come true. No matter what your passion it really does feel like there is a place for everyone at Christie's.

The best advice I can offer is do your research, ask questions and be yourself. It is paramount to know everything you can about Christie’s to know if it is an environment you can thrive in; I have found Christie’s values are at the core of everything they do so it is important you can connect with them. There is no such thing as a stupid question, to a reasonable extent. Being inquisitive and asking questions is the best way to learn, no one expects you to know everything. Most importantly; be yourself, and know yourself. Take time to consider your personal values and what you want to achieve.