Sales and Account Management Assistant Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my work placement at ProspectSoft. When first starting the placement, I had very little knowledge of the software world or even really what CRM was, however over the past year I’ve developed an extensive knowledge of the industry, how tech companies operate and now a future career path I’m hoping to pursue. There was also a great social side to the company, I also met loads of great people both placements and non-placements.

ProspectSoft, being a small-medium enterprise placement employer, often recruits previous placements into their roles with around 70% of employees being either placements or previous placements. As the company is based around the placement scheme, I always felt extremely valued by members of my team, and those in other departments and the directors (one of which was a previous placement). ProspectSoft also value any new ideas suggested by placements if it could improve ProspectSoft’s business processes.

My role my was slightly different in that undertaking two different roles I had a different supervisor dependent on which role I was focusing on. However, at ProspectSoft there is very much an open-book policy when it came to getting guidance from management and being an SME it was very easy to look across the office to find someone if you needed help or any support with a call if you were unsure. However, you were still expected to use your own initiative to make decisions.

On a day to day basis my schedule would vary based on how many demonstrations or customer calls had been scheduled into your calendar, or that you had organised with customers or prospective customers. This would differ day-to-day. How busy I was would be dependent on what I had on, but in a sales and account management role, there’s always something to do which is good as it never gets boring, whether that’s scoping out new business through research or getting through to people you already know a little bit about.

As ProspectSoft business strategy is based around their placement scheme. As a result, they rely heavily on their placements undertaking responsibility around their projects and developing new business whether that be performing solo demonstrations, making discovery calls, closing deals or using their initiative to finding new potential prospects. However, it's important to know but if you feel uncomfortable doing something management will take that into consideration. However, I always felt but it was best to throw yourself into the situation in order to learn what to do in the future if something didn't quite go to plan.

Although sales and account management isn't aligned with my degree, I feel that some of the transferable skills of that I have developed will be of great use to my degree studies and also in my future career. Some of these skills include a greater level of confidence in both myself and also my ability to perform both group and individual projects. Particularly in University work such as a dissertation, as I've undertaken project management tasks in my placement which require similar skills in terms of research and developing my understanding of certain industries and processes, I'm now much more confident in my ability to perform well in my final year.

There was always a good atmosphere within the ProspectSoft office. Again, because there are lots of other placements and you undertake a months training at the start of your placement, you get the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with all of the placements even those in different departments. Secondly, as you're working in relatively small teams, you quickly develop a sense of camaraderie with both team members and your Head of department. Finally ,as there are many previous placements now working at ProspectSoft who have been through the same process, you know that you’re valued in the company.

Overall, the placement was very well organised. Our placements began with a month’s worth of training , where we learned about the industry , how our customers and potential customers operate , finishing with workshops 2 help us understand how the products ProspectSoft cells work as a CRM , alongside our integration partners and how these features can benefits the business process is of our customers and potential customers . Afterwards, we were then split up into our departments where we learned specific skills that would help us transition into fully functioning members of each team. For example, in the sales Department this included tasks such as telemarketing, and how to conduct a product demonstration. Throughout our placement, we were also provided with constant feedback based on our work to help improve, and training on the product as it developed new features.

As mentioned in the previous section, the first month of my placement was spent training in both the product, how our customers and prospective customers operate, and also specific training in our individual job roles. In terms of other training, in a few of the first demonstrations and real-life customer conversations we had, all heads of Department would sit in on them in order to give us valuable feedback both during and after those tasks. Therefore, lots of time and effort were invested into us as placements both in the first few months and if necessary, for the rest of the placement. We were also given the opportunity to represent the business at international conventions, to help develop new business and also to network with other people within the software industry.

Future employment prospects with prospect soft all very appealing, particularly as they work with international integration partners in the US and also Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, there is a particular appeal as the business grows internationally, there is great opportunity for travel and expansion of the business within these areas. Future employment prospects are also appealing, because having seen the development of the product with its new features, it would be exciting to be a part of a business that has huge potential for growth within the wholesale, distribution, and manufacturing industries. Finally, since working at ProspectSoft I have developed an interest in software and a future career here could lead to great opportunities within that industry.

Having had a successful placement scheme for so long, I believe that ProspectSoft has not only developed the ability to select talented and hardworking placement students, they also have the knack for bringing in students who they believe will be able to get on well with each other and develop friendships. Even though it seems it will be in an intense relationship working and socialising with the same group of people, I couldn't have chosen better people myself to have spent a year with.

For the last 13 months I have been living in Oxford, and it's fair to say that the cost of living was definitely more than I was used to having come from a northern University. However, it was actually quite a bit less than I had expected it to be which is good as Oxford is the most expensive place to live outside of London. Therefore, I would say the cost of living and going out was actually pretty good. It's worth noting that if you wanted to, you could live in other, cheaper areas nearby to the ProspectSoft office.

As mentioned in the previous section I lived in Oxford which is about a 20-minute drive from the prospect soft office. Oxford being one of the nearest places to the office, being a student city has loads of great places such as bars and clubs to go, and being a diverse city definitely has something for everyone. Oxford was also the choice location for quite a few of the company nights out and events that we could get involved in.

There were loads of opportunities out prospect soft to get involved in activities outside of work, whether that be with other placements, as a team, or as a company as a whole . One of my favourite activities to get involved in was the company golf society in which anyone could get involved. Unfortunately, quite a few of the upcoming activities and events had to be cancelled due to coronavirus, but as we developed many great relationships within the company, I'm sure we'll all keep in touch to organise something when possible.