Commercial Analyst- Placement Review

To begin my day i refresh a daily selections report. At 9:30 we have a daily team meeting to discuss daily tasks and an overview of the previous day. After my meeting we do a daily SNW report where we look at deals that haven't been written but have had a selection that is longer than 3 weeks. We then look over any ad-hoc requests from the day before to see if there is a trend in request received. We complete any requests and also complete project work.

During my time I have learnt many skills. On my 3rd week I was placed into FDM's Excel training which showed me new features on excel as well as developing features i already knew. I was also placed in Scrum training that helped me develop my team working skills as well as leadership. It also allowed me develop the format of a sprint and how to run them. We also received BA training that allowed us to develop our understanding of how the BA scheme ran in FDM academy

During my placement one of the best parts was the fact we were treated as equals in the team as opposed to just a placement student. I was given normal tasks from my team alongside being very involved in project work such as my team's yearly rate increase project. I also worked very closely with the sales team being based in the London office whereas my team were based in Brighton therefore this meant i became the main form of communication between my team and the sales team when they were not in London. This was a vital role i have played throughout the year

I received a lot of support during my placement from my Line Manager. During my 1st week i was given assistance on salesforce development and also I was placed into many different training sessions to help develop my skills. I also had coursework for my university which my line manager was very supportive and I was given allocated time to work on my projects. I was also given assistance from my manager how to enhance my skills and work in the most effective way possible

The company culture was an area that helped propel the company. The atmosphere in the office is vibrant and this meant coming into work was always enjoyable. There were many events going on both during work and after work that always allowed for inclusivity and it also meant you could expand your network. The were also celebration events to celebrate individuals. Overall the inclusivity made the job enjoyable and made the atmosphere and made me feel going into work was more enjoyable

My placement has been a very enjoyable yet invaluable experience. It was an entry into the working world and it was made a seamless transition by FDM. I also got a great opportunity to expand my network and meet people who have helped me develop. I got to work well under pressure and it helped me develop my skills in preparation for university. The main benefit was it allowed me to showcase my skills and my ability to work in new situations.

Yes

You need to be confident in you ability but also have a willingness to learn. I found that working well and in a team and being enthusiastic are key traits necessary to exceed as well as wanting to work as you will enjoy it more than approaching work a chore. You will also find if you approach work with a positive mindset you will perform better. The key to working is a willingness as you find quickly that if you can put your mind to something you can succeed