IT Support Engineer Review

My day to day role is extremely varied - no day is the same, as i'm part of a small team support over 300 people in multiple countries with all their IT needs. I do a lot of ad hoc tasks ranging from taking apart machines and doing repairs to managing over 25TB worth of project backups WEEKLY !. I interact with all sorts of people on a daily basis, from developers to analysts, and project managers to directors - I get plenty of exposure on my project to the different types of people and types of work that takes place.

You get encouraged to take whatever training courses you feel with help expand your skill set - we have internal training courses as well as external courses where you go away for multiple days at a time. I have gained a lot of technical experience by working closely with my experienced team - on the job experience is invaluable.

I enjoyed the programme a lot as it allowed me to work and study at the same time. CGI is a great place to work and I felt valued since day once. You are treated and respected like a permanent member of staff since day one and get the same benefits of a regular full-time member.

I get regular appreciation from management and have been put forward for CGI's internal recognition programme twice - You get recognised internally by everyone as well as receiving a bonus :). Having this recognition benefits you greatly in your yearly performance review and can help you gain a better performance rating; this will lead to a bigger pay-rise and you may be given a promotion.

The degree apprenticeship programme is well structured and there is a clear path to the end goal. You receive the same training as regular university students, with added internal CGI support to help with work related modules. The training is done by fully trained subject experts both from within the university and externally.

University tutors are very good at what they teach, and are very supportive of your progress. They help tackle any problems you are having very early on, and are very responsive in their communications. You will receive plenty of support with your university assignments both from university as well as from within CGI.

You receive plenty of help and support from CGI. From day one, you are assigned a 'buddy' as well as a senior mentor to help and guide you through the process. You are provided all the material required for you to succeed - from books and pens to laptops and phones. You have plenty of internal training courses which you can take to aid your development - which isn't available to anyone outside CGI.

The salary is very competitive and exceeds my living costs (Living, travel and social costs combined). When traveling to client site or another office, the travel costs, as well as any hotel accommodation and food costs. Office locations vary, and you will have the opportunity to travel all over the country and also go abroad.

There is plenty of opportunity outside of work such as volunteering and community events. As part of CGI's corporate social responsibility programme, members are encouraged to take part of out of work events. You can attend sports and social events which take place on a daily basis - this helps with the networking side of your development whilst having fun.

Yes

CGI is a great place to work, and being able to study and gain valuable work experience at the same time is fantastic. At the end of course you will have 3yrs work industry work experience, a permanent job, no student debt and a competitive salary. As soon as you complete the course you will carry on working with CGI meaning you won't have to go job hunting like regular university students.

During the application process just be yourself, ask plenty of questions and speak to as many people as you can. The thought of an interview can be a bit daunting, but it is quite relaxed and is to see if CGI is the right place for you. The assessment center can be quite fun and it a good chance to meet your potential peers and network with them.