Technician Scientist Apprentice Review

Carry out lab work, aid in in vivo studies, write up about any lab work carried out, analyse data.

My lab skills are always improving and I am always learning new things about my job and the work I am doing.

For the most part I love being at work, however there are times when the work can become stressful or sometimes overwhelming.

Some improvements could be made on the University of Kent's part. Overall I would say the apprenticeship is well organised.

The people in my team are always willing to help when needed and will answer any questions I have. I have regular meetings with my line manager to check how my work is going and how I am doing.

I have meetings with my apprenticeship advisor from the University of Kent once every one or two months. However, email replies from my advisor can be slow (there are occasions where it takes weeks for a reply). There are bookable time slots to speak with lecturers to ask any questions about the university work. The initial enrolment process was slow for me and communication from the University was slow and repetitive.

The first module is a good refresher for A-level cellular biology, however I have not yet done a module where the work greatly impacts or helps my knowledge, or practical skills, for in the workplace - specifically for the area of work I am a part of (in vivo early oncology).

There are professional networking events within early oncology, as well as team social events around Christmas and company wide social events. Employees are also given one day a year to complete a charity event for the AstraZeneca charity of the year. This is normally done within the separate teams at AZ.

Yes

I am really enjoying my apprenticeship, everyone is very friendly and always open to answer questions, as well as being understanding if something goes wrong. It's quite a relaxed environment whilst still being professional. The flexible working hours means I can easily make up my hours where it's needed and don't have to stress too much if I arrive later due to traffic.

Be passionate about the work; show that you really want to work for AstraZeneca. Be honest on your CV and in person. This also includes letting them know if you have applied for other apprenticeships. Prepare yourself for questions they could ask you but DO NOT rehearse your answers! Dress according to the dress code you are given.