Project Manager Review
at Post Office
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Finance
London
Review Submitted: March 2021
Overall Rating
2.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
2.4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
I am a project manager. My role is to manage a project to completion from start to finish and ensure it delivers within budget, to the quality expected, and to the planned deadlines. I work with my team to do this managing communications to key stakeholders whenever there are a threat to any of the key attributes to the project noted above.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I always enjoy learning, I'm just that type of person. To give you an indication: In my spare time, as well as learning music production, I like listening to podcasts, but I also just polished up a course on becoming intermediate to advanced in Excel, I'm now taking one in powerapps, and powerpoint. I love learning.
However if I can help it, this will be the last form of organised learning I engage in. Why? The portfolio for me felt like a huge waste of time with benefits not commensurate with the effort required. The obligations to talk about absurd irrelevant things like safeguarding during skills mentor meetings. Completely outmoded exam methods like the one APM insists on. All of this saps the joy from learning and I'd much rather do it myself in my own way and get a ton more done.
However if I can help it, this will be the last form of organised learning I engage in. Why? The portfolio for me felt like a huge waste of time with benefits not commensurate with the effort required. The obligations to talk about absurd irrelevant things like safeguarding during skills mentor meetings. Completely outmoded exam methods like the one APM insists on. All of this saps the joy from learning and I'd much rather do it myself in my own way and get a ton more done.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes 100%. Though the course I took had a lot of theory this theory was in fact highly practical insofar it gives you a framework to think about the different problems you encounter, and what the best way is to handle each of these. Especially insofar as they relate to people, and what your obligations are to each of the groups you work with.
It also taught key terminology and phases of a project that allowed me to speak the language of project management - always very important!
It also taught key terminology and phases of a project that allowed me to speak the language of project management - always very important!
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
The programme I was in was very well structured into different themes for courses, and learning areas with specific sub outcomes etc. The problem was that because the programme was quite new, the administrators and mentors around it didn't understand it, and couldn't explain it to the learners sufficiently. There was confusion for months on what learners needed to do, which had a demoralising effect.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
My line managers were supportive. We had an apprenticeship team to ask questions of. But the truth is they weren't great at challenging the supplier. The biggest problem is that you're given 20% time "off" to focus on this, but it's only really lip service that's paid to this, little is done to ensure you get that time. It's all on you.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Not bad. The best was from the course teachers, who were generally excellent, highly experienced and skilled and able to answer all our questions.
The tutor was less experienced and competent and generally not even very good, or consistent from an administrative and facilitative perspective. I found the company quite average.
The tutor was less experienced and competent and generally not even very good, or consistent from an administrative and facilitative perspective. I found the company quite average.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
It definitely helped me perform better. I have the knowledge and tools to do various aspects of my job: Risk management, escalation, project planning, issue management, test management, stakeholder management. Understanding how to set up and close down a project and key points to consider, I learned a great deal. Of course a lot of this was also private learning and experience.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
We can get involved in football, yoga, meditation, some exercise classes. This has accelerated since the pandemic began. Occasionally Christmas parties or informal work drinks are organised. Or socials by organisations like pride, or BAME groups. When I'm not working I like to go out and dance, make music, exercise, and learn new skills.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Post Office to a friend?
No
Why?
I just don't think HR are forward thinking enough in wanting to make the organisation a better place to work. I've found them duplicitous and secretive. Extraordinarily little effort made by them to reach out so you know who they are or to get feedback from you etc.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Post Office?
Focus on your support for their social purpose. Say a lot about it's role in the community and it's social purpose connecting vulnerable people and access to businesses. Show respect for entrepreneurial nature of our postmasters and a service mentality. Other than that, not much else to say.
