Software Engineer Review

Job Title - software engineer Daily tasks - Testing on current project, working on a support team providing application maintenance on the previous. Daily Interactions - Internally I talk to other apprentices through the GIMS Lync system. I communicate with team members in person, via emails, during meetings/standups Responsibilities - Testing reports, writing test scripts. Previous project, small pieces of development, offering technical advice and resolving faults. Projects - Current, Testing. Previous, Support team

Learnt many new skills during training courses, through the initial Accelerated Learning Environment and through the WORKSHOPplus courses offered by microsoft. However on project my development skills haven't developed too much as I haven't been given the opportunities/projects to do so.

I enjoy working away and with new clients, being able to travel the UK and work with a variety of technologies and systems. However I feel the actual apprenticeship side of programme, such as the work based assessments, working with QA, and the range of projects available is poor. I struggled to even get on a project straight out of training, just sat waiting for months. Not been given the experience that was set out, I've never spent more than 3 weeks doing development. QA are, to put it nicely, dyer. Forever messing up schedules, having to change course materials and also messing about with who your assessor is.

I felt valued by my manager as he offered support throughout all the training and during my apprenticeship, any queries I could go to him. However as an apprentice I felt like I was just a cheap resource to projects. I sat around waiting for 5 months for a project, to then not be put on a development project, even though the degree needs us to have development experience. The actual team members on my projects themselves really let me feel valued. Brought me up to speed with all current work, included my in social activities after work.

training at the start is very good. learn a lot in a quick space of time, but need experience straight after, to ensure you can use and remember the content or you'll end up forgetting it. Training workshops have been moved to electronic course, which is basically a video of a training course that was in person and better (you cant even see what they're writing on the whiteboard).

None really, my first assessor would just send me a pdf of what criteria has to be met in order to complete a unit, then just say "write a case study and provide evidence", even though I had no idea how to write the case study, nor was on a project so couldnt provide evidence. My new assessor, which I got 3 months before I had to finish, however is very helpful. Provides me with resources if I'm struggling and also a set out plan of what to do and for when

I feel I can approach my manager about things im unsure about, he'll point me in the right direction and want to help where he can.

the salary is very good, with good room to grown and develop

There are quite a few events for people to get involved in, sponsored charity events as such, or money making schemes.

Yes

Because they're a good company to work for. skilled workforce, wide range of clients. However I'd recommend a full time job or graduate scheme, probably not the higer apprenticeship

Do your QA work straight away, don't leave it late Get as much dev experience as possible, learn a lot in your own time, as you'll struggle to get a decent project if so.