IT Apprentice / Functional Test Review

Within the Accenture apprenticeship programme I am working in Functional Test and my daily tasks involve creating decision tables based on the Release/project I am taking part in, creating test cases, test scripts, using Unix, Using SQL, executing test scripts to see if the browser is doing what it is supposed to, raising Problems known as (Defects or Ears) is there is a problem taking place within the browser, of a design query has taken place. I attend a college day, held at the cobalt one day a week to complete assignments to gain the Qualification side of things, and have meetings with NVQ assessor at my job location to progress with NVQ work. I am working on NPS and learning about a new Release which is named 12AY NPS Release 35 Improving Coding out.

My Qualifications... English Literature = A, English Language = C, Maths = B, Additional Science = C, OCR IT = A*+A, Product Design = B, Drama = C, Art&Design = C, French = B I am currently doing what is equivalent to A levels within my apprenticeship attending a college day once a week. After that, I will then be studying for my Foundation Degree attending Northumbria University once a week. I have learned a lot and I am learning more each day. I have learned a little bit of Java when first joining as an apprenticeship, what it is and what it is used for along with doing a bit of Java also. I have learned a lot to do with the Functional test area, I have acknowledged the relationships between design, build, test and live support and I have learned how to create test cases and test scripts, read from an FCDR understanding what is going on, use Unix with unloading a database and starting web logic along with executing test cases. I have managed to work my way around WinSCP, acknowledging how to use this. I have also learned how to piece together computer components, installing RAM, and a DVD ROM along with a operating system within a computer, acknowledging all of the components needed within a PC. I have also gained more understanding of creating databases and securitys within the workplace. I am currently increasing my understanding of Functional Test, and studying new units within my college that are Web Production, Spreadsheet Modelling etc. I have also managed to gain more communication skills within the workplace and become more confident as I find myself communicating with team members daily, requesting help that they are happy to give along with just generally getting along with the testing team.

I enjoy working on Functional Test which is what I am doing at the moment, and I enjoy socialising and working with colleagues once a week within a college day, it gives me the best of both worlds as it gives me the experience of working and accommodates me with the qualifications if I would have went to college. I like the Team that I am in within my workplace, as they are always happy to help, everyone is friendly and easy to get along with and very welcoming. I also get along really well with other fellow apprentices, I have met a lot of new people and have found myself attending nights and days out with team members and other apprentices, I am really glad to have met the people I have. I like the feeling of working for myself and earning my own wage but still getting the qualifications that I want, that will look great on my CV, as experience is excellent to have, along with this company.

I feel very valued by Accenture as I feel that the company values all of it's employees as it comes with many great benefits. Such as a generous holiday allowance, interest free ticket loans ( with e-mails about tickets available ) , generous pension scheme, half price gym membership, paternity/maternity leave, life assurance, private healthcare, holiday and travel discounts, critical illness cover, charity work ( max 3 days ) and much more. Accenture people also have access to a Accenture shop within the portal where they can exchange points ( given if they are performing well ), for amazing things. I also feel values within Functional Test as I have been invited to leaving due night outs, Christmas parties, events and others to get myself involved in and get to know people more.

The programme is very well organised, when joining we got to know everything about Accenture, what we would be doing and what was planned for us, and where we would go from there. Very good training is provided as we attend college days for the qualifications we need, and training on the job for the job role that we are involved in, I have learned a lot. There is a lot of support available, as when each person joins Accenture, not only apprentices, get assigned a 'Buddy' where they can go to for help as a their job is to help you when joining the job role. You also get assigned a Career Counsellor, where you can go to for worries and problems that you can talk to about, if you do not feel comfortable talking to others about. There is also a lot of support provided in your team, as you learn a lot with asking questions and gaining help. People are willing to help you.

My tutor gives a lot of support as he takes us through what needs to be done and gives us deadlines giving us documents to help us with and necessary learning websites. He marks our work giving us feedback on where we can improve and is happy to help when we have questions to ask. We submit our work via BlackBoard where the tutor looks at it and gives us a mark and feedback on Blackboard where we can look at it. The tutor always seems willing and happy to help. My team also help me a lot along with my NVQ Assessor. I have regular meetings with my team lead to discuss any problems I have or anything I want to ask.

I receive a lot of support of my team lead as they are always asking if I am getting on fine and they are very approachable if I have any concerns or questions to make. There is a accessibility to support via E-mails on our own laptops, or Lync, which is a software where you can send instant messages and take part in conference calls.

Very well as it is over the minimal Apprenticeship salary coming at £650 pounds a month for the first year ( I am currently on my 8th month at Accenture), and then a pay rise for the second and third year being £12,305 a year. I pay my father £80 board each month, and my placement I walk to work as it is near, but when at the cobalt I can easily get a bus which takes 30 minutes which is 3.00 every week. I then have money to go out on weekends and enjoy social activities, I have even planned a holiday.

There are a lot of opportunities to take part in outside of work when working with Accenture. I have been to a few nights out with my Test team celebrating someone leaving or just a general testing night out. There is also Comms Event where each Accenture employees have a chance to socialise and take part in activities. There is also Christmas party's every year where they are a big success and a big turnout. Accenture also have regularly Woman meetings, as the IT business seems to be quite male dominant, they have woman meetings where the women can get together and share experiences and open up.

Yes

It is a brilliant opportunity for the future, it gives you what is equivalent to A level qualifications, along with a foundation degree and the important experience which most people look for these days in the working industry. If interested in IT, this is a brilliant opportunity to get involved in. As opposed to going to university to pay for a degree, you are basically getting paid to get a degree, which in my opinion, can't get any better than that.

I applied by seeing the apprenticeship scheme within Connexions, then e-mailed the individual behind it, and then I got given a website to apply, which I then did. I then received a e-mail, telling me I got through to the telephone interview process, which then took place and I successfully passed. Then I got invited to which was called an Assessment day, which where there were others involved, where we got an introduction, a assessed activity where we got put into groups and got monitored on how to solve a problem, and then a face to face interview. The tips that I would recommend would be... - Ensure your CV is at a professional good quality - Show your interests in IT when getting interviewed - Communicate effectively within the assessment day confidently - Come into the assessment day acting positive and enthusiastic - Come to the interview smartly dressed with a professional look - Outline your experiences (if any) and skills that you have - Do research about Accenture so you know a lot about it, this will look good in the interview and show you are keen and interested