Team Leader Review

My job is to make sure the whole Outbound runs smoothly, everyone has enough work and we do our best performance per worker. I also have to make sure the equipment is working well and report to engineering teams if it is not. I am also a middleman of communications between Central Flow and Outbound leadership.

Yes, I have. I joined this program as I wanted to develop myself and learn more about theory of management that would help me to be better at decision making, and most importantly - associate engagement. I have so far learnt a lot of things and I am willing to learn more in the future. Did you know that choosing a right color of clothes can shift people's attitude towards you?

I have so far really enjoyed this program to the point where I want to apply for MBA after I graduate. The knowledge is really valuable in nearly every scenario, so future studies could help me even better. I did not like Finance and Accounting though - too much of theory and it's hard to get certain financial information from Amazon to write the assignments.

Year 1 was really well structured, however it was hard to get hours to study from Amazon due to COVID. Year 2, however is slightly more complex as some of the assignments and modules are at the same time, therefore we have to focus on one subject while consecutively learning another - that makes overall experience slightly worse.

It's a really hard question to answer, it very much depends on a manager and their willingness to help and support. My first manager in the building was helpful - if they did not query the team, I would not have been accepted to the apprenticeship as my application was lost. I had managers who helped me, but overall it sometimes felt like I was on my own. However as COVID measures have been reduced, I will find more time to study.

My current tutor is really on hands with my studies. He is really helpful and understanding when it comes to writing assignments or not being able to complete his tasks. Amazon is a very busy place and he seems to understand that, however it is hard for him as well as there is a huge range of differences in each building/team/shift. So while he tries to do his best to help, it is not always possible, unfortunately.

The one thing that I understood while going for my qualification is that everything can be questioned, whether it is some kind of decision, problems with management and so on. I am constantly applying the knowledge I received to the practice and it helps me to become a better team leader and, hopefully, future manager. I have not learnt a lot about my role, as it is very specific and technical, but I am becoming better at engaging with employees, making them happier at work.

There are unfortunately none nowadays. During my days off I either study or travel around the North East or Scotland with my partner. That helps to take my mind off work/studies and computer overall, so that is helpful. However, before COVID Amazon used to run quite a few events, but it is not happening anymore.

Yes

Amazon is quite a decent place to work at. A lot of factories and warehouses offer shift patterns that are not even, so you are sometimes going to work different days or hours, but Amazon has everything set up in place. The money is also good and there is overtime availability. Furthermore, they are expanding apprentice network in 2022 and will recruit in excess of 2000 new apprentices to work and study.

First of all, always try to go for an apprenticeship position - I cannot comprehend how valuable it is and it is once in a lifetime opportunity. There are no problems arranging the travel, hotels and so on when traveling to university and it's also an opportunity to get a degree while getting paid for both the degree and everything else. Other than that, try to grab any available opportunity and practice interviews in STAR format!