Larissa Foster - CMC Apprenticeship Scheme

How did your journey with CMC Markets begin? 

I started studying for my A-levels a few years ago. However, I quickly realised that further education wasn't quite for me - I wanted to jump straight into working life and start my career instead. I applied to an apprenticeship scheme with CMC Markets for their Level 3 business administration apprenticeship and was accepted onto the scheme while starting my role as a receptionist. 

The responsibilities of my role were; dealing with the reception inbox, answering incoming calls, making outgoing calls, office enquiries regarding facilities & maintenance and administrative tasks. 

What was the apprenticeship scheme like? 

I knew I wanted to start my career in an office environment, and the apprenticeship with CMC gave me that opportunity. The application process was straightforward - I applied through an apprenticeship provider where I discussed why I wanted the role, what made me the ideal candidate and other questions around my CV.

The apprenticeship covered things from legislations, stakeholders, principles of project management and processes. To help me with my apprenticeship scheme, I was assigned a tutor who arranged monthly meetings to provide extra support with my assignments, discussed any amendments and gave consistent feedback on where I could improve. I uploaded all of my work to Smart Assessor - the online portal where I could access helpful resources and log how much time I have spent completing my assignments. Overall, the apprenticeship scheme was insightful and has helped me progress my skills and confidence.

What skills have you learnt from taking the apprenticeship at CMC Markets? 

I have learned so much during my time here at CMC. I have learned how to raise purchase orders, time management, organisational skills and how to use my initiative in difficult situations. Working at the reception desk also means I get to network and speak to everyone in the company, this gave me an insight into what different departments do and what their roles and responsibilities are. I have gotten much better with my communication and people skills, and in general, working at CMC has made me a more confident and outgoing individual. 

What is your new role at CMC Markets? 

My new role is Transfers Analyst within the CMC Invest business. It has been rewarding and exciting to be part of a project environment as I can provide my input and help develop systems. As a Transfer Analyst, my primary role is to transfer ownership of stocks and funds from one provider to the other. I look forward to watching the platform grow and being part of that journey!