Project Manager Review

by CGI

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.1/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

The role over my 3.5 years so far at CGI has varied - project management, IT testing, business consulting, operations - this has been a good thing for a wide range of experience, but now I want to start specialising, this is a hard thing to do at CGI. Overall however, I cannot complain; I've had great experience at such an early age and have been paid to do a free degree in Digital Technology Solutions & Business Management.

9/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Yes, project financial management, project governance, agile development; (I am now an Agile Practitioner), application optimisation support, manual and end-to-end testing, bid management, internal operations, risk management, project budgeting and forecasting, professional services, professional invoicing, client focus, business administration,release management disaster recovery planning, data migration, scrum mastering ... loads more!

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I don't mind it - at the end of the day I'm getting a free degree and great experience, whilst being paid. However, there has been a long road to get to that place, and now after my apprenticeship is nearing the finish line, I will be looking elsewhere in the industry for jobs. - this is because I have little choice about where and what projects I might be working on and there is little room to develop a specialised career path at CGI

6/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Structured ok, however there is a fair amount of bureaucracy - the communication between management at CGI and Winchester University is sometimes poor - many a time my attendance at university has been recorded incorrectly and this has caused a 'conveyor belt' of management on both sides to be made aware of communicate towards me unnecessarily. There should be more universities available for the degree apprenticeship programme at CGI and more flexibility around studying from home.

4/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

Good support from employer if and when needed. Good amount of study leave for dissertation submission and more.

9/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Good support from most lecturers, however some have been bad at Winchester University. Overall decent though.

7/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

The qualifications are relevant to work and helpful/up to date with the current industry standards.

8/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

Yes, I think so but this doesn't matter to many anyway. Students looking for a social life (at work) should not be going for a degree apprenticeship.

4/10

9a. Would you recommend CGI to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Only if there is relatable jobs for them

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to CGI?

Compare your skillset with the market, not the company