Civil Engineering Apprentice Review

My day to day basis involves working within my department that contains different individuals of different abilities such as civil engineers, structural engineers, CAD Technicians and many others. Every day is different and I have worked with a multitude of different people and on different projects. At this stage of my apprenticeship I am using AutoCAD 2015 and using some MicroStation. Learning the CAD is a base for me to build my construction knowledge and by using CAD I get to work on different projects and learn all different construction methods and techniques and learn technical information along the way. I discuss what things mean with the engineers I work with to gain a deeper understanding of what I am doing and this helps me to progress further.

I'm constantly building on skills every day and learning new ones constantly, before I started at Atkins my knowledge of construction and BIM/CAD was so limited, but now it is very vast and hope to continue expanding that knowledge. To name a few skills I have gained I can now use AutoCAD 2015 effectively and daily work with engineers to produce drawings that are sent to clients and contractors.

I enjoy every part of my apprenticeship as I am building on my knowledge of construction, learning construction through college and getting paid to do it! My team is great, they are all lovely people and are always able to answer any questions if you have any. We organise events as a team and get to know people better so is great.

Due to a lack of CAD resource in my office I am constant work and sometimes don't have time to breath but! Having said that I enjoy all the work I do and prefer to be busy as It makes the day go fast and I also get to work with different people. People are constantly saying how happy they are with my work.

The structure of my apprenticeship is good and I am supported through my team but some aspects do need improvement and some can't be helped. My college can sometimes be frustrating as I feel sometimes the tutors do not put the correct amount of effort as they should. Saying all that though my company support my work and people help me when I am in need at work with any problems that I have.

As stated in 5. sometimes the tutors don't put in all the effort to help with the coursework they have given and should but some tutors are amazing and have all the answers I need so is very mixed. It is very independent at college and if you don't pull your wait you will be left behind.

I receive constant support from my employer asking how I am personally as well as at work. People are constantly asking how my college work is going and whether I need a hand with anything. The director in my office speaks with me occasionally asking how I am feeling about working in Atkins and whether I am happy at work and the answer is always 'Yes' as I am happy and enjoy what I do which is the best part!

My work and college is based in London and I live in Longfield in Kent which is a big commute. My salary does cover my costs but due to being outside London I pay a large amount in travel which equates to about a Third of my pay. More money would be nice to ensure I can get through the month without struggling and telling people I can't go out or to other social events cause I can't afford it but the money will come in time.

There are constant social events being organised all the time in my work over a range of different styles such as doing sporting events, going out for drinks or other events that can be done in a group. Having social events within the company allows networking and allows us to get to know people better in our team and other teams that attend the events.

Yes

I enjoy what I do! They are a great company to work for as they offer so many opportunities in and outside of work. The fact that I enjoy my work is the main reason I love working at Atkins as I don't feel like I drag myself out of bed everyday, I want to be there, I look forward to the day ahead of me as who knows what I could be doing!

I think the best way to be recognised and stand out from the crowd with Atkins applications is to have a good understanding of the company and the previous work they have been involved in and also be yourself! Be confident and show the interviewer that you want to excel and become an employee and to work hard! In my interview I made him laugh it was great and I kind of knew in a way that I had the job.