Wealth and Personal Banking Apprentice Review

I have started my first placement within the first direct change team, my role is to act as the counter part between senior stakeholders and the operation, delivering business changes to the required areas. I help to support operational staff with ongoing training and ensure their wellbeing is being taken care of.

the skills I have developed are, stakeholder management, communication skills both verbal and written, presentation skills. I have been able to attend session organised by HSBC to improve my creativity and resilience which I feel will help me with the programme. I feel my confidence is increasing week on week, this has shown in the meetings I run and from feedback from colleagues.

I'm finding it challenging at the moment, a new job role and writing academically for the first time in 12+ years has made it harder to get up to speed but I believe I will get there, I have huge amount of support from Kaplan. LIBF and HSBC. I think I am happy to be on the programme and proud to be here I just need to get the balance right, which will come with time.

I have found the programme really good, from the induction to the interactions with kaplan and LIBF. there is a huge amount of support and the pace of the work is manageable around the job we do alongside. The work that is set is manageable alongside my business role and feel i can happily keep on top of it.

I have really good support from both my manager and mentor, they both seek to support and give advice. The work I am give is focused on drawing out those skills to help me with my development. I'm given 20% of my time per week and this is invaluable to giving me the time needed to do the work.

I find both Kaplan and LIBF to be very helpful, they have been a massive support in helping me with questions I have had around my mid course assignment. The lecturer is clear and engaging on the lectures we have had, she also takes onboard group feedback when required. There has been clear instructions on how we can access support so feel comfortable asking for this if needed.

I started this course in January 2021, the learning so far has helped to consolidate questions I had I previous roles and feel I can safely implement these in the right situation. I feel I am really starting to understand banking and how this has an impact to customers and the economy. I'm very much looking forward to learning more and implementing this into each role i do over the next 4 years.

With Covid restrictions these have been impossible to arrange, but now these are easing they are looking to organise a team BBQ in the summer. I went for drinks socially distance to meet them last week, this was lovely as zoom is not quiet the same. I have nominated myself to do some volunteering to help students in years 10 -13 with job experience and regularly attend tea and chat sessions run by the head of first direct to network across the business.

Yes

I feel they are an excellent employer, they have been a huge support to me both personally and professionally. I joined not really knowing where my career would go and I have gone from strength to strength and I think anyone wanting to work in banking will enjoy working for HSBC.

I would recommend they follow the tips and guidance that's on the career pages online, the interviews are challenging if you have never been through competency based interviews before but don't be afraid to use every day life to help support your answer. I would also say don't be afraid to ask questions and understand more about the role your applying for.