Apprentice Review

Currently in a network role, which provides opportunities to get involved with Network device configuration, etc. I am helping run projects with consultants, as well as meeting and communicating with technical service providers (part of this responsibility involves speaking directly with client). I am also involved in improving knowledge management for network devices in the estate.

I have learnt many technical and soft skills during my time at Visa. Whilst in various teams I have learnt technologies such as Splunk, MSSQL, Powershell, etc. Through workplace experience I have been able to improve confidence, presentation skills and my personal organization to make myself more effective in the workplace.

I enjoy the ability to continually learn and develop at a rapid pace through my early years of my career, hopefully helping to provide a solid base for my future. Working at Visa provides opportunities to get involved with activities outside of the workplace such as volunteering to help give back to the community.

The program has a strong structure around 6-month placements, finishing with a year placement at the end. We have clear progress within our degree and knew this structure from day 1 of the programme. This therefore meant that there were no surprises along the way and have followed the planned structure.

I feel that I have great support from my employer. Every different team I have been in have all had extremely supportive and approachable team members. Whilst my managers have always been supportive of the program and my learning. They understand that we are studying as well as working and therefore provide appropriate time to complete this.

We have regular catch ups with our skills coach, and whilst these could be more useful they do provide an opportunity to ask questions and go over work based learning. During the module there will be multiple lecturers who are always more than happy to help and therefore I would consider my support adequate.

Through technical modules I am able to apply my learning to the work place, where relevant such as a networking module and now being in a network team. Whilst we have had modules which have little relevance to our working environment, they can still be a key piece of knowledge to give us a wider perspective of the technology landscape.

There are many opportunities to get involved in the work place. Many volunteering initiatives are offered on a regular basis where we can help the local community. Specific apprentice run social and networking events have been run in the past. Wider company initiatives such as quiz nights are also often run and can get involved with.

Yes

I feel that as an organization they not only provide the technical knowledge, but also being in the financial sector enables an insight into the financial world. The program is structured as such that you spend time in multiple teams which helps give you a broad breadth of knowledge and skills. I would be confident that you would develop massively over the 3.5 - 4 years.

I would give the advice to be yourself throughout the application process, and worry less about school grades. Therefore are many stages to the process, but they are ultimately getting to know who you are as a person. In my personal experience, there were telephone interviews and 2 assessment days.