Junior Management Consultant Review

Very diverse and offers lots of different opportunities. Provides a hands on experience and doesn't leave you to make teas and coffees! Really tries to incorporate apprentices into the business and has a large involvement with different clients. Has lots of training courses to go on outside of your apprenticeship and can really help build knowledge outside of your expertise.

From training courses I have learnt more technical skills such as Java, HTML etc. - has courses on all levels for many different areas. Can gain "badges" in different training courses which can be recognised externally. A big drive for a modern "agile" way of working and learning. High quality of training is provided on all of the courses, regularly monitoried and kept updated.

Very enjoyable as you are mixed with a group of young people and are able to experience everything together. A lot of help is provided making the experience better because it becomes less stressful. Everyone is very friendly and happy to share experiences. Mentoring scheme is fully set up with experienced IBMers who can help guide you towards a career direction.

Has a clear and well structured plan for what you will need to follow over the entire apprenticeship. Provides an Early Professionals Manager (EPM) who will coach / mentor you throughout the entire apprenticeship. Having regular check-ins with your EPM to make sure you are always on track and helps answer any queries.

IBM is highly supportive and helps push you further into your career. There are many managers, mentors and employees that are willing to help you in terms of your apprenticeship work or job role. If I ever feel stuck on something I'm not afraid to ask for help as I'm aware there is no judgement.

I have a good relationship with my Apprenticeship Manager who has supported me throughout the past two years. As I am coming towards the end of my apprenticeship, my manager has helped me in terms of preparing for my End Point Assessment and by sticking to deadlines so I can hand in my work on time. I am also grateful that my manager has considered mine and my fellow apprentices a priority when it comes to marking our portfolios and rehearsing for our presentation and interview.

I feel that the actual qualification does not benefit my role on a daily basis, however, I realise that without the qualification I wouldn't have access to further opportunities that would continue my career. The training I have received because of this qualification has benefitted me but the skills I have gained are mainly through learning from my daily role.

I am apart of several volunteering schemes. For example, I lead the UK initiative for creating events to promote a modern approach to working. Also, I help with a group called Early Professional Eagle which is a community based around providing support and education for the Early Professional LGBT+ community. External from my training provider, I sit on the Apprentice Panel for The Institute of Apprentices and Technical Education, this is where I provide feedback on what an apprentice experience is and how it can be improved. In terms of social acitivies, there can be one off events for the Early Professionals but it has becoming increasingly aware that this is not an area where my training provider wants to spend money. For example, if we were to have an Xmas party that would have to come self funded. Also, when there are events for networking they do tend to be biased based on location. Usually these events are based in London and leave out opportunity for apprentices from the south or the north to join.

Yes

I would recommend the apprenticeship scheme to a friend as I believe that overall it has benefitted me in my career. Working here has helped me boost my skills and is preparing me to work outside of my current role. There are some drawbacks which I have heard from other apprentices e.g. unsupportive managers etc. but I have not experienced this personally.

From working in Recruitment for apprentices, I feel like I see people pass the Assessment Centres when they are more genuine to themselves. As I would say at the beginning of these ACs "don't pretend to be someone you're not, otherwise you have to continue that persona for the next few years". It's also a good idea to research the company your working for to make sure you have the basic facts about them and also know what you're letting yourself in for. We've hired so many apprentices straight from college / sixth form so it's not a requirement to have experience prior, however, it does help to have extra curricular or work experience so that you're able to use these examples when being interviewed.