Applications Consultant Review

I am part of the Oracle DU and my role is a functional Applications Consultant. My discipline is Application Development meaning that I will go on projects where we work directly with clients to create new solutions based on their business needs. This means that I focus more on the business side than the technical side however I am still able to get some tech/coding experience. As we are moving to Cloud, I will be focusing more on the SaaS solutions for clients on future projects, analyzing the client’s requirements and setting up the Oracle SaaS products. On my current project, I have done a variety of roles to get as much exposure as possible. I have been able to get involved in testing the solution, creating test cases and executing them. I have also been involved in investigation of any defects that were arising and working with the team to resolve them. I have assisted the project manager on many occasions to get some exposure as to how the project looks from a project management point of view. I have regular interactions with my project team, we use the Righshore © model therefore we have a split team of UK/India resources. I have learned that communication is key and we have daily calls and regular communications in place making sure that we keep in constant touch and everyone is aware of what is going on within the project.

I have learned and developed a huge range of skills, which is not what I expected. Working full time for a big company such as Capgemini, surrounded by supportive and talented people allows you to develop your skills without even realizing it! Skills such as: prioritizing, time management, professionalism, independence, organisation are some of what I feel I have definitely improved on. These are the skills that you can only gain through practice/experience. That is why as an apprentice, I am able to learn these and improve every day. I have done internal and external courses and I am scheduled to do more. The company really encourages training (internal and external) to develop the skills of their resources. This makes logical sense – as better resources can do the job better as well as providing personal development for employees. I have done some Oracle specific training on the software – some of this has just been demos by my colleagues showing me the Oracle features and I did one course directly with Oracle. As part of my university, I also do a professional practice module which aims to prepare apprentices for a good start in their first year – I have been assigned a skills coach and anything I may struggle with I can go to them for help and advice. Help is always there, you just need to ask!

I really enjoy the program, for a variety of reasons. Am a person who does not like doing one thing and needs variety in life to keep excited and motivated, this program suits me really well. As a 20 year old, I can say that I live in one city, work in another and study in another! The travelling I get as part of my programme is a big bonus. Some weeks you may be in three cities and it just feels like a normal working week. The work itself is good, however it does depend on the project you are assigned to. All projects are different and come with their own challenges. However if you are not happy doing what you are doing, people will be able to help and find something that is aligned to you as employees are put first in this company which absolutely fantastic. The team I work with is also a very good team, as it has a lot of people with various stories and experience from which I can learn. By working with very experienced people, I am able to learn from them which is a big bonus. The team is supportive and help is there when needed, they are all very nice people as well meaning that work does not seem dull and boring, which is a big plus for me. The program has met and exceeded my expectations – from reading about it before joining, I knew that it was something I was highly interested it. I knew it would be an extreme challenge but IT and Business is something I always wanted to do, and plain university with debt did not seem to attract me. A reason why I chose this apprenticeship, is because I am person who learns by doing. I personally feel university is too "perfect" with too much "theory" and more often than not, does not reflect what the real world and industry look and do. People will leave, issues will arise, problems will occur. But it is how you deal with those problems, that makes you good at your job. Although theory is important, applying the theory to practice is more important to me.

I feel valued by Capgemini, you are treated as a person rather than an employee number. A lot of companies are starting to adapt this method, as it is proving to be very effective for company performance. I personally don’t think of my apprenticeship as just a job and a way to get money. It is a career builder, especially with the university degree that they are putting me through. You join Capgemini on day one as a full time employee and that was one of the things that really stood out for me. Senior employees who have gotten to a good stage in careers, want to help another person develop just as someone helped them at one point. I hope that one day when I have enough experience I will be able to do the same for someone. I count myself very lucky as I like my job, therefore it improves my general quality of life and it is also a big motivator. As Winston Churchill said – “Love what you do, and you will never work a day in your life.”

I think in general it is well organised, however it is a fairly new program that is still undergoing a lot of trials and errors. Nothing can be perfect, and never will be. The induction was a fantastic first week in which I was able to learn about the company, standard tasks such as time sheets, holidays, expenses and using internal tools. When apprentices join they also do eight week intensive training at Aston University – which was a good experience to gain some technical experience and also being able to live with 14 other apprentices for nearly two months! It was a good taste of student life and a good stepping point into a full time job. The company organisation is good, I feel comfortable knowing which team I sit in and how that fits into the organization. I know who I can go to for help and what we aim to do as a team. There are regular reviews organised by management to review our progress and if any issues arise, support is offered. Sometimes the university and full time job do not link, meaning that they are two separate things which can be demotivating at times. It is hard work to work full time and study part time at the same time, however it will all be worth it in the end.

There is some support offered from Aston University, and office hours are available to speak to the tutors if required. I also have a skills coach assigned meaning I can speak to him in case of any issues which is good.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. I have had issues that needed to be dealt with and everyone was able to be supportive and we were able to resolve problems fast and effective. Like I said, everyone is always happy to help.

The salary/package is fantastic. As an apprentice, you start on £16k which is over twice the minimum apprentice wage! It is also higher than the Living Wage which for a starting wage, especially for an apprentice which is amazing. As a full time employee, you also go through regular reviews meaning that throughout your apprenticeship, your wage will most likely increase depending on business unit. I personally still live at home, because I travel a lot for my projects therefore there is not much costs I have regarding rent. With my salary I am able to live comfortably, socialise on weekends, go travelling and pay for everything myself.

There are many opportunities outside of work, however it does depend on the location where you are currently working. There are volunteering events in which everyone is able to get involved in and Capgemini push this, as it is an important part of the company culture. Many people get involved in cake sales, sponsored bike rides and many more.

Yes

Capgemini is generally a good place to work, with a good company culture with a big focus on it's people. Most people need to work in order to survive, and an enjoyable work place is very important to me.

Research, research, research. Do this prior to your interview, by showing interest in the company it really does reflect on you and your motivation. Also be honest - why do you think you would be a good person to join the company? A skill that is definitely needed in Capgemini is the ability to work as a team. Teams are what drive the business forward, internally and when working with clients. The assessment days are there to test you on how you would fit into the company therefore it is important to not be afraid and show off what skills you have but at the same time be respectful to the other candidates/interviewers that are there and give them a chance as well.