Software Engineer Review

Within my role I've been granted extensive responsibilities, taking on a development/operations role in support of an agile scrum team in addition to ad-hoc project roles working with internal and external staff all the way up to vice president/executive level. The project itself is a genuinely unique and innovative - being the absolute first of its kind in that sector. This has forced me to greatly expand my skills.

The interactions and mentoring (both formal and informal) on offer have allowed me to not only develop my own skills, but due to the unique area within which I am working, break new ground within the company and the client's sector. The past six months have seen the most intensive period of self-development I have ever experienced. This applies to both my technical and interpersonal skills.

Working in a small, highly-focused team as part of a rapidly growing department in a company that genuinely values its junior talent is the most rewarding experience of my career so far. The opportunities on offer are unparalleled. One would have to be off their barnet to not enjoy the programme.

Capgemini put great effort into constant evaluation, feedback and encouragement at all levels. The work on offer is genuinely substantive and represents an incredible opportunity, and is a genuine reflection of the trust and value capgemini place into their apprentices.

In general the apprenticeship programme plays second fiddle to frontline project work, and occasionally the training on offer is out of place or mismatched to the work being performed, but that's alright because project work is infinitely more valuable anyway. Support systems are there if needed, and the training/induction offered is genuinely world-class in every other respect.

The training provider is distinctly average, feeling completely disjointed from the company and our work, providing little personalised feedback or support and generally communicating poorly. Further, the level of training on offer (while constrained by the level of the apprenticeship) is so far behind the level at which apprentices work within the company that the training becomes little more than a pointless hoop we have to jump through to qualify as apprentices on paper.

The quality of support on offer is world-class. Technical and professional management are of the quality one would expect from a company of Capgemini's calibre, and the support and guidance on offer specifically for apprentices is impassioned and accessible. The value of these staff cannot be overstated.

Considering the accessibility of the programme, the salary on offer is well above average, and for those who end up on a project away from home the expenses coverage is as good as it gets. However for those living in London (who almost never end up out of London), the base salary is only barely adequate - being slightly less than the living wage. There is no London weighting. This is, however, tempered by the fact that pay reviews are frequent, aggressive and generous.

The company operates comprehensive social and voluntary programmes - the schools outreach work is particularly worthwhile - and the positive attitude to flexible working leaves more than enough time for a social life. In addition the initial residential training period sets you up with a network of great people all over the country who are, in my experience, more than up for a good time.

Yes

The reasons are threefold. The work on offer at Capgemini is unparalleled. All apprentices, without exception, end up working for top-name clients. It is rare for a project to be outside of the FTSE100 or equivalent. After five years any given apprentice will have a CV that reads like a who's who of their preferred sector. This is complemented by the near-unbelieveable offer of a completely funded, bespoke degree and as many certifications as one can get their hands on. Just to put the cherry on top, apprentices are treated no differently to any other staff. This means you're reviewed on the same scale and have exactly the same opportunities for progression as anyone else.

Simply? Take it easy. Capgemini know fine well what a school leaver (or whatever you happen to be) is capable of, so don't worry too much about your experience or capabilities. Focus more on your teamwork, communication and positivity. Those qualities are much more valuable than technical skills, as they can't be as easily taught. Get to grips with the company values, do a bit of background reading and you'll breeze through.