Software Engineer Review

In Capgemini, I work as a software engineer by title, however our roles are more 'agile' now. This means during my day to day I will complete tasks revolving around development work, testing, documentation changes, data/test plan creation and reviewing tasks. Within my business unit, I work on a smaller team looking after some of HMRC's legacy systems and have had the opportunity to work across a number of systems that our business area looks after. This gives me a wide knowledge of more of HMRC rather than being refined to a single system. My day to day role consists of a number of things. In the morning the team will have a scrum meeting, where we all discuss what we did the day before, our progress on said tasks, and what we intend to do on the current day. The workplace is very social and welcoming so you find yourself getting to know everyone around you very well. No one is hesitant to offer help and you learn fast. The rest of the day, except when you have meetings scheduled, normally revolves around project work. This can vary as stated above with different types of work I have picked up. The variety of tasks and types of work that is available keeps the role interesting. Unless you're absolutely adamant you would like to stick to one variant of work, then you can quite freely flow between testing or developing or any of the others.

Since working for Capgemini, I have had numerous opportunities to develop my skills, both through work and the university side of the degree. University modules teach us numerous skills and information varying from history of computers and hardware to new languages and developing our knowledge in others. Through work I have attended training courses for GEN (a legacy code that my work area uses), an advanced SQL course and also ISTQB courses for testing. The GEN and SQL courses were both internal to the company. The ISTQB is a qualification recognised worldwide however, these opportunities are funded by your business unit and provide good learning for individuals and you receive a certificate for your qualification at the end of the course.

From day one at Capgemini I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. The area I work in I am unable to fault. Everyone on my team is very welcoming and are always helpful. When I first began, the idea of being in the office was a little intimidating, a lot of the people I work alongside have worked on this account and these teams for years and are experts in the systems we are working with. In development comments I can see that some of these functions were written by the people I work alongside and I'm the one sat here trying to update them when change requests come into work. However, after settling in, I can say this is not the case at all and I feel silly for ever feeling any sort of pressure. Everyone around me understands the level I have entered the company at and they respect that I do not have the vast knowledge of the systems that they do. The company culture is rich and always blossoming. The atmosphere here is never tense, attitudes are always positive and people have fun every day. I haven't met a single person that regrets joining/doesn't enjoy their time at Capgemini.

Since joining the company I feel an awful lot more valued than my previous workplaces. Here it seems that people really do notice the hard work you do and reward you for it. I have been with the company since September 2016 and joined the office in the November. Since this I have received two pay rises, a promotion and numerous rewards through the 'Applaud' scheme here. I am also being put forward for promotion at the end of this year again. The appreciation for the things you do here is shown all the time. Scrum masters are encouraging yet appreciative of everything you do and respect that you also study alongside full time work. Since day one in the team, I have been given real responsibility, picking up tasks just the same as the rest of the team. There was no sitting around watching people work for months, or no weeks worth of reading. I was trusted from the get go to get involved and work my way through tasks for the team.

The induction into Capgemini as a degree apprentice is amazing. The initial week consists of you meeting all the people being inducted on your cohort and engaging in team building activities with them. We all went to OVAC (an outdoor activities centre) to have a day out and team build with the rest of the cohort which got a lot of us engaged with one another. The initial training at university, or ALE (Accelerated Learning Environment) was tough. Living on campus with the other employees in your cohort was a blast. It gave you a real feel for the university life, despite the fact you won't be there forever. But it's nice to experience that life for a short while. The work during university hours is tough and a heavy workload, but if you get your head down, show that you want to learn, engage and work together as a team it soon becomes a walk in the park. This initial two months of 'working together' really pulls the cohort together into a tight team. Following from this, moving into the office with studying based around office hours is a little more complex. Sometimes the university work can feel a tad overwhelming, and you will find that some lecturers provide way too much content for such a short time considering you will be studying for numerous modules at the same time. But the content is good, you will learn a lot and there are on campus days to pull your cohort back together, whether they are just for teaching or for beginning/completing coursework alongside everyone else.

Since entering my second year of university. The studying has become more independent, but the access to help has become more available. During first year, there were a few too many people attending each lecture / on campus days to access help from tutors/advisors. I understand this is due to the number of people being inducted and joining the company at similar times, but this made it harder for some people to get the help they really needed as the time of the tutor/teacher would be taken up by other people far to often. Otherwise, the content provided to us to learn from is high quality. The notes and videos provided are well presented and recorded clearly and help with learning from a distance a lot.

The support from the team, my scrum master and people around me is overwhelming. No one has an reservations about providing assistance to myself or any other degree apprentices and are always clear and concise when explaining things to me. Gaining support from someone is easy. Everyone around is so welcoming that you can simply approach anyone around you and ask for assistance. Not a single person will turn you away unless they're busy, but will often offer to arrange something with you as soon as they're free.

From when I began at Capgemini to now, my salary has met my needs throughout. I live with two friends just outside of Telford (My base location) and I pay rent / utility bills/ phone bill/ internet bill/ living costs each month. The train is a 5 minute journey that soon adds up each day but the salary we are provided through Capgemini is more than enouAgh to cover the costs. The alternative of being at university and being in debt and borrowing money through student finance seems crazy to me when this apprenticeship is an option.

Capgemini is one of the most outside-involved companies I have come across. There are countless emails every month detailing something going on. Whether it's a fundraiser, a charity run, a internal event (Millionaire Makers / Tech Challenge) or volunteering opportunities. Personally I have been involved in building animal shelters at a local rescue zoo and play football with a business unit team every now and then. I have attended promotional events at places such as Enginuity and Telford's international centre. I have helped out at assessment centres for new employees also and insight evenings for younger audience and their parents to attend to learn more about the company.

Yes

The opportunities at Capgemini are endless. The role you are inducted into is just a placeholder. If you enjoy it you can continue as you are, if you feel a drive for another kind of role within the company then you will find numerous opportunities to sit down with someone and express your need to move into a different role. Capgemini are an employer that are interested in you and want to invest their time as equally with you as you are with them through working for them. From knowledge and technical development to personal and people skills, Capgemini is a massive influence in the growth and development of these skills and the company is fun to work for. The degree apprentice role in particular is too good to turn away from. You start at £16,000 salary, earning from the get go. You learn as you work and as you study giving you a great opportunity to learn numerous skills. You still experience part of the uni lifestyle, the initial two months gives you enough of a taster to know what it's like but without the MASSIVE student debt. You come away with 0 debt and a DEGREE FOR FREE. The current average student debt is around £50,000 following the three years at university, yet here you achieve a full degree over the course of 4 and a half year at 0 cost.

The application process can be long winded. There are numerous people applying all the time and with so many applications to get though and only so many openings a year for the degree apprenticeship, it can take a while to hear from the company. However, have faith. It took me a while to hear from them but once your in for an interview it's a solid process from there. The application process has changed since I took part in an assessment day etc. The process now involves a digital interview that people are asked to attend over Skype, allowing the recruitment to get more of a feel for your reactions and answers rather than the old phone call discussion. Despite this, the only thing I can suggest for you application is... BE YOURSELF the company wants to know the real you, and It took me a while in my assessment day interview to realise this. I was trying to give well structured, serious answers and answer as professionally as I could. Only for my interviewer to tell me to take a breather and be myself. And here I am 20 months later, enjoying my role.