IT Apprentice Review

Involved in various projects, insights on different roles within agile teams. Roles explored include - project management; testing; development; business analyst activities; test analyst activities; analyst activities; a day a week is allocated to completing university work or university related studies. Attending meetings and stand-ups, planning sessions, team scrum meetings. Monitoring of team hours and timesheets

Gained a lot of information in business analyst related topics e.g. user stories, requirements engineering, elicitation techniques, modelling business processes, organisational models for business process changes, implementation strategies. Developed programming skills in various languages. Project management - insights into team management, agile methodology, time management, project lifecycles, appropriate support methods when leading a team of people.

Co-workers all very supportive of me and my studies, university studies always taken into account when looking at my workload. Nice atmosphere at work, people at Siemens all seem very pleasant and friendly. Work life balance is nice, support always available in regards to mental health, happiness at work. Lots of opportunities to get to know colleagues outside of work.

Programme organisation is good, university study block dates are released months in advance, learning plan is prepared before we start full time at Siemens. The programme is structured in a way that we get insights into all aspects of the business and insights into all roles, sufficient time is given for training in each business area.

Lots of support is received, multiple times a week we catch up with our project managers to discuss what we are doing with our time. Quarterly reviews are set up with our line managers and university representatives. Constant contact with various managers and supervisors, regular visits from line managers to check up on progress.

Lots of support received, 20% of my time is allocated to doing university work meaning one day a week I am able to dedicate to completing university work. Provider is constantly in contact checking up on us, regular meetings to ensure our 20% is being met, plus written surveys about feedback are handed to us.

The qualification content overlaps regularly with topics in my role at work, meaning what is learnt can be further developed at the workplace. The qualification also helps a lot with time management as deadlines at university need to be met alongside work deadlines. Ideas from university can be inputted into work projects.

Many social activities are held regularly ranging from a meal to physical activities, which are a great way of getting to know people better. In my particular office there is a football group that plays after work and there are opportunities to play in competitions, regular "grad-prentice" events where the younger graduate/apprentice employees socialise.

Yes

Company takes great pride in ensuring employee well-being, and put a lot of emphasis on monitoring employees. Work life balance is great, employee's needs and desires are taken into account, atmosphere throughout the company is one of kindness, helpfulness and care. Constantly opportunities to learn new things and better yourself.

When applying, I would say a big thing is to know a little bit about the company and what Siemens do, furthermore place some focus on why you can offer value to the company. Be confident, polite and be a good team worker as this is a big part of the company.