Junior Project Manager Review

On my current project I am a Junior Project Manager, but in this role I have been involved with and exposed to various aspects of projects, I have undertaken some Development Management which I found very interesting, I have done some testing, release management, change management and currently am getting involved in process improvements and helping to transform a project from using Waterfall methodology into Agile, more specifically, SCRUM methodology for software development.

Yes, I have already achieved a NVQ as well as Foundation degree so far; I have also completed Performing for Impact course which helps with verbal and interpersonal communication as well as public speaking. I am waiting to attend an Agile behaviours course soon and when I am done with university (in June) I am looking to work towards my SCRUM Certification. Overall, from work experience, I have learnt so many skills that I wouldn't be able to list the all, I have developed my organisational and time management skills by miles, as well as my communication skills (via email and phone in particular) and am working on improving my public speaking skills for client presentations/meetings.

I love my project team, they are such great and supportive people and they understand and acknowledge the fact that I am a student and have university work to do, but without treating me like a... child, they treat me like any normal employee which I really enjoy because they're simply training me up rather than spoon feeding me and that is my favourite part - the real world experience.

I feel very values by my project, internally and with the client - on my project, everyone is acknowledged for their achievements which helps to empower the members, including myself. The managers are keen to develop me and train me which is truly amazing as they are making sure I get the opportunities to experience different roles and pursue my career dreams.

From CGI's perspective, there's not much involvement from the student team after we start the job and we didn't have roles to go into, however, they have improved on this and have started hiring for roles. The Apprenticeship aspect of this was completely unorganised but this was not CGI's fault - however, the Degree Apprenticeship which is the new and improved version of Sponsored Degree Programme addresses these issues and I think they have been better for the new students.

Winchester University have been very helpful (although sometimes not greatly organised in the past), the lecturers are ALWAYS happy to help as long as you ask and you're pro-active about your work; because at the end of the day, this is independant work.

A LOT. CGI are very active with career development and therefore I had a career mentor (which everyone in the company has), but students also get 'Uni Mentors' who are very knowledgable and helpful when working on the university work. One can always ask anyone for help and everyone is always happy to provide any support or advise, even if they don't know you! If they're busy, they'll usually just arrange to discuss later/another day - it is truly amazing how supporting most members within CGI are.

In the first two years of university, I really struggled with money, and as I had to re-locate and therefore had a car and moved out - i was short every month without excessively spending that made it so hard to get by with living costs. But it gets better... I believe the new Degree Apprenticeship actively addresses this and provides a better package now, back in 2015 (only 2 years ago) it was really bad.

CGI have a Sports and Social Club which is very active and is a great way to stay social through work and with friends (as one can bring guests to events), we have done trips to loads of places, including Thorpe Park, London theatres and camping! There are a lot of voluntary initiatives to get involved in if you want to and it is very active here. As student community, we arrange nights out between us all the time and therefore don't miss out on the university life.

Yes

Because it has been great to me! I have learned a lot, met amazing people and have so much more real life experience and feel ready for the world when i'm done with university whereas I feel like some of my school friends are/will not be - and i'm only just 21... It is amazing.

Be yourself, don't try too hard to be someoene else, because personality means so much here - people are usually always frienly and kind but also have great leadership qualities or know their subject matter well... You don't have to know what you want to do with your life either! You don't have to pretend that there is one specific career path that you want to do the rest of your life because within CGI you can experience so many different job roles until you realise what you enjoy!