Sales Executive Review
at Softcat
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Marketing
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Review Submitted: February 2023
Overall Rating
4.5 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
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:
4/5
On a day-to-day basis, I spent time reaching out to cold accounts/customers to try and persuade them to give Softcat an opportunity to provide and support them with IT. I would do this by cold calling or by emailing contacts within IT and procurement. Alongside this, I would also spend a lot of time learning about new vendors, products, and solutions that are gaining interest in the market, to make sure my approach and information are up to date.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The program was really good. It had a great mix of fun, engaging tasks but also challenging topics. I was able to learn from loads of different people and we had the opportunity to engage in external learning to further improve our development. We also spent time at the firebrand training facility which gave us a fun opportunity to learn in a different environment.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed a lot of new and existing skills. Firstly, I have improved my organisation. I have needed to be much more organised to be able to manage my days and my customers efficiently. I have also improved my communication skills. This has been developed through having to adapt the way I speak to different customers.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is well organised but it also offers a good amount of flexibility to organise yourself. We had set lessons, set courses and set focus days to make sure we are keeping up with the amount of learning that was required. However, we still had the flexibility to put aside our own time to develop a schedule that works for us.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I receive a lot of support from my employer. They not only provided me with support for my sales but they also assisted in making sure I was attending new learning sessions and even ran learning sessions for the apprentices to develop a wide range of different skills. They were very supportive.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I received a lot of support from my training provider when I was working toward my qualifications. I had regular catch-ups with the provider and if I ever needed anything, they were always there to support me. If I had any issues, they would also make sure everything is escalated quickly to get it sorted.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The qualification definitely made me perform better in my role as I was able to use the skills that I was learning and apply these to my day-to-day role. I was able to use the technical knowledge I gained to have more technical conversations with my customers. I was also able to apply my sales tips to gain more customer attention and build better customer relationships.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
I got involved in a few different activities on my apprenticeship. I played in the football team which held a charity football match and also joined the 6 aside football club. I also joined the culture club, with the main focus being maintaining a positive and happy culture throughout our business.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Softcat to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The reason I would recommend Softcat is that it is a great place to work. They care about their employees and care about how you feel within your role. They provide lots of opportunities and progression for their staff and always recognise people that are going over and above. It is a great company.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Softcat?
When applying to Softcat, be yourself. Don't try and be someone you're not as Softcat will want you for being you. Make sure you prepare well as it is a great opportunity that not many get. Finally, make sure you express yourself and show passion as that is the type of people that Softcat wants working for them.
