Software Engineer Review

I work as a developer in a large team of 20+ people. My day to day work normally involves working on live issues raised by our client as well as project work for changes requested by the client. This can be both coding and testing as cross skilling in encouraged. The main languages we use are legacy languages (e.g. CA Gen) and SQL, though there are growing opportunities for Java.

I learnt plenty of new skills both on the job and through the university side of the scheme. On the job I learnt and developed skills such as CA Gen and SQL which I had no/little previous experience of, but I also developed skills through training courses offered by the company which enabled me to learn PL/SQL and obtain my ISTQB testing qualification. At university I got taught modules in Java, Ruby, Python and JavaScript.

My degree apprenticeship allows me to get the qualifications and experience I need without the cost with a strong progression rate through the company. I am treated as an equal in the workplace and enjoy the challenging work my job role provides. The on-campus days at university are productive and interesting, and I enjoy the mix of traditional and on the job learning.

As the scheme has been ongoing for several years now, it's largely well organised. There is a support system in place with managers in each area to report apprentice specific issues to and regular emails with updates from managers about upcoming changes and opportunities.The initial training period on Aston and transition into the workplace and distance learning are done well. However, I think Aston needs to communicate better during the distance learning as there is often miscommunication about when results will be released and exams/coursework deadlines usually conflict with client releases which can be frustrating, especially as emails to change these dates are largely ignored.

Managers are understanding if you need to use time from your work day to complete/catch up with university work and are happy for you to take your study leave when you need it. There are also managers in each area that deal with apprentice specific issues. The manager in my area organises bi-weekly catch ups to help identify any issues and offer support.

The initial training instructors were brilliant, they were very supportive and patient and made sure to give one-to-one time with each student to make sure they understood everything required. Once distance learning began, lecturers were very hit or miss. Some are enthusiastic and clearly care about getting the most out of their students, whilst others just release hundreds of slides worth of content with little explanation given in lectures. This is the same with response time to emails asking for guidance, lecturers either respond in 24 hours or take weeks.

Some of the modules directly aid my role, such as the SQL training during the first few months of the degree. Others help me indirectly, as learning a multitude of different languages helps me pick up new ones I encounter in work much more easily and making me more proficient, even if I don't use the languages I initially learn on a daily basis.

They're not heavily advertised but they are there if you look for them. There are professional networking events you can attend where you can meet start up companies, listen to guest speakers and talk to high grade managers at the company. There are also informal events such as curry quiz nights, sports activities and games nights that you can get involved with. This is especially prevalent in the GAP (graduate and apprentice) community.

Yes

Capgemini has a good work culture, most people you meet will be understanding and supportive. They were one of the pioneers of the degree apprenticeship so they now have a large community of apprentices who can network and support each other. The pay and progression is also very good and highly competitive.

Look into the company values and see what traits align with you, most of the people employed by the Capgemini fit these values and will be looking for similar people. Show your enthusiasm and relax during the interview, make sure your personality and skills come across. Make sure you can back up your passion for IT, either through hobbies or school subjects.