We caught up with Tyler, who works for one of the UK’s most successful technology solution companies, Softcat. She chatted with us about the two years she’s been working at the business and what she gets up to in her job.
What’s your role at Softcat?
I’m a Healthcare Account Manager. This means that I support NHS Trusts across the midlands (and some in the south) by helping them digitally transform and link them to technology vendors.
How did you start working for Softcat?
I finished university at a slightly later age at 24. I was keen to go travelling at first but, instead, decided to just get into a career and see what it was like. Technology had always interested me, despite my degree in psychology. My sister had been part of Softcat for 2 years at that point and she loved it, so it was only natural that I applied.
What about Softcat appealed to you?
Before starting at Softcat, I had taken part in some volunteer days with the company, like Red Nose Day. I got to meet a lot of the team and it was so obvious to me how much they all loved the job. They were all so passionate, fun, and sociable. Of course, the money is pretty great too.
Briefly describe a day in the life at Softcat
Due to Softcat having flexi-time, I usually get in between 8:30 and 9:30am. I get to my desk, log into the system, then I grab some coffee and breakfast; Softcat has free breakfast that includes cereals, yoghurts, fruits, eggs and more.
I begin to plan out my day, starting with checking my emails and calendar. I then pick up the phone and start calling. These calls can be anything from discussing projects with clients and supporting them, liaising with vendors, and sometimes cold calling to drive some new business. I also like to challenge myself by finding out why some customers aren’t using us, and seeing if I can get them onboard.
Time flies in our office - it’s open plan and social, which makes for a good atmosphere. There’s lots of collaboration with colleagues and it’s such a warm, sociable place.
At the end of the day, we talk through figures and see who has achieved what, and even get awards if we have hit targets. I usually get out of the office and start heading home at 5-5:30pm.
What’s the work culture like at Softcat?
This is the main thing everyone thinks of when talking about Softcat. It’s one of our most attractive qualities. The employees here are great and, I know it’s cliché, I do think of them as my family. Softcat’s core ethos is “Fun, Intelligence, Passionate and Responsibility” and the employees really demonstrate that day-to-day. We are encouraged to be ourselves and show our personalities with each other and customers, and because of this, it really doesn’t feel like work.
As for events, courses, and rewards, there are so many incentives. For instance, we have “Kick Off” every year where we have a full day of conferences, guest speakers, dinner and awards. We have our charity May Ball where we raise a large amount of money for the selected charity and have loads of fun doing so. There’s also a boat party on the Thames for everyone to let their hair down.
Alongside all of this more social stuff, we also have so much support day to day. Health and wellbeing weeks, support groups and even visits from nutritionists and doctors.
What advice do you have for current students and graduates that want to follow in your footsteps?
If you’re even slightly interested in Sales or Technology roles, just go for it. Do not let fear or doubt hold you back. It doesn’t normally matter if you haven’t got a lot of experience, it all depends on your character and attitude.
A bit of advice I always carry with me is: “If you’re having a tough time, think of your life a year from now - will this problem still matter to you?”
Thanks to Tyler for her time. If you’d like to find out more about Softcat and the roles they’re hiring for, take a look at their profile.