Client Service & Sales Manager Review

Account management for high revenue accounts, seeking new opportunities to grow revenue & margin, and managing a small sales team that looks after A2P Wholesale Messaging and Premium Rate Micro-Payments within the UK, although our accounts are often Global entities. This includes the management of stakeholder relationships internally from several departments including Legal, Brand, Regulatory, Operations, Networks, etc.

Yes, learning is part of everyday life at Vodafone as we are always innovating and evolving the way we work. Taking part in a Sales Apprenticeship Degree has boosted my skills and knowledge. The first year was like a foundation year for me, learning whilst working and reflecting upon the learning was a new skill. It has given me new tools and frameworks to try out from time management to sales negotiation.

As an active learner anyway, I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to learn new skills and behaviors and be able to put them in place in the working environment. Some work, some don't, but being in an environment where we learn from our failures as well as successes creates a positive working environment.

The programme is well structured, progressively building on knowledge, skills and behaviors each year. Each module is around 9-10 weeks long, with a portfolio lasting the whole year. During the first year, the programme was delivered during lockdown and the University wasn't ready for that type of distance learning, so it was a little unorganised and modules overlapped, which is quite stressful whilst still doing a full time job. Thankfully, they've learnt from the experience and are back on schedule and able to deliver distance learning more proficiently.

I am generally left to get on with it myself, but I know I have the full support of my line manager and HR team as and when I need them. My line manager has been very helpful when I needed guidance on where to steer a project and I am given 1 day week for studying, which I fit in around my existing commitments.

That generally depends on the tutor, some are excellent and some are well, lets say a little overwhelmed with their own volume of work, and struggle to get back to you in a timely manner, but on the whole, they are very supportive and accessible. As there are many lecturers, a Student Voice programme and Course Administrators, there are many points of contact that can help with problems, etc.

I feel the qualification is helping me to perform better in my day to day role. I have been able to put theories and skills into practice and build confidence in doing so. I have greater empathy for the internal workings of the business and my customers as a result of the knowledge gained.

There has been in the past and I'm sure there will be again in the future, but currently people are still nervous about covid and gathering in groups, so there isn't much going on. These types of events don't lend themselves to video conference calling either.

Yes

I have had a great career at Vodafone and hope to continue doing so. They are a large enough company that you can move around and do something completely new, whilst maintaining service longevity. They actively encourage their employees to learn new skills and behaviors and keep us up-to-date with regular mandatory training.

Be passionate and be patient - it's a large company and many people apply for jobs, so it must be overwhelming for the HR department to sift through all the applications. The onboarding process introduces new employees to all areas of the business so you get a good understanding of how departments work.