Software Engineer Review

Software Engineering. I belong to the Customer Data Services Lab and my team is responsible for maintaining the applications and developing new ones. We work on the mainframe legacy system and use COBOL, JCL, CICS, PL1, DB2 etc. I have been involved with changes so far, mainly clean up activities and removing redundant code from live systems.

I have learnt a tremendous amount of new skills - we were sent on a residential course with an external provider (not Firebrand) to hone our COBOL programming skills. In addition to that, we have been in the middle of some big changes which made it easier to adjust as the existing team of long standing colleagues was also getting used to the new ways of working.

So far I've been enjoying a perfect work/study balance and have always had time for apprenticeships assignments. The colleagues and managers are incredibly supportive and the only issue is with our training provider. I feel that Firebrand have taken an unreasonably long time to enrol us on the programme.

I would find it hard to answer as I feel that Firebrand is still getting all materials together and there have been a few delays. It is clear from an admin side, but not so clear where the programme structure is concerned. The courses we are being offered do not correspond with our team's work (although are still relevant to software developers). It is a concern because we will ultimately end up having to submit work that has nothing to do with our day to day activities.

I receive a lot of support. Overall I am being treated as another colleague. I get the same benefits and a generous compensation for an apprentice role. I get to sit next to the SME's and ask any questions and they always make themselves available to answer and get me involved.

Firebrand is undergoing some changes, which is visible from the frequent changes to website layout as well as having been given a new learning mentor a couple of weeks into the programme and another learning mentor for functional skills mentioning that they'd only been with Firebrand a couple of weeks. Having said that, all my questions have been answered and I believe that the changes will benefit the overall experience in the future. I have been given enough guidance to work with so far and I know who to reach out to in case I get stuck.

As mentioned earlier, the course curriculum itself is of very little relevance to my team's work, but the overall development as a software engineer is a positive. It will certainly enable me to get involved in a wider range of projects in the future, and not be limited to legacy systems.

Lloyds have a range of activities and a very extensive and active internal social network. LBG supports colleagues contributing to local communities via volunteering, organising school clubs (e.g. Code Club), charity events (e.g. Walk the Walk), regular professional development events and seminars, an access to learning resources to name just a few.

Yes

The above mentioned activities, the work/life balance and support of mental health in particular, Agile working, generous benefits, internal culture, the fact that there are so many long service employees tells me that people are happy here. I have worked in places where the average age was 25 and people did not stay for too long. Here, You can develop yourself as well as build expertise and reach retirement age and be rewarded for your contribution.

Do not think about what the bank wants to hear but think about what you can do whilst enjoying work. Research the Group before your face to face interview. I feel that new candidates need to have a long term goal in mind as well as keep a fresh perspective.