Software Development apprenticeship Review

I am currently completing the software development apprenticeship. during the 3 month course with makers academy all of our training was online based which was an efficient and well laid out way of learning, which we all adapted to quickly. A typical day started with a morning meeting with the training provider to see how myself and the rest of the cohort are doing and discussing any problems we may have. We then have workshops where we learn about new concepts with demos from the coaches. Each week we would complete a project in pairs or groups which would be where most of our time is focused. On Fridays we would complete independent tasks based on what we had learnt that week, which is then reviewed and feedback is given. Since having completed the training I am now working on a project in the office where I am applying what I have learnt.

yes, I have learnt a lot to do with web development, object orientated programming and databases as well as many other things while on my course with makers. Most of these will be useful in my particular project and the rest is useful to know for potential future work as it is likely I wont be on the same project forever. When I first joined CGI I had very basic knowledge in programming and I am glad to say I am much more confident and can understand more complex concepts.

I really enjoy it. The other apprentices are friendly and easy to get along with, and the people in my office are very supportive and welcoming. The makers course had lots of different content to keep me busy and I really liked learning something new everyday. When the course finished I did find myself sometimes getting bored as I had no set tasks and was instructed to do my own independent learning with CGI's learning online platform. Luckily this wasn't for too long and soon moved onto project work where I have a mixture of independent learning and assisted help from people on my project.

The makers course was structured very well. you start off from the bottom where you learn basic concepts and gradually build your way up. Each week you would learn a new concept which often could be linked to a previous topic. We were supported just enough to successfully learn new things but not strictly told the answer so that we could problem solve for ourselves, I think this is important since it gives you the right mindset of a software developer.

The people in my office and others throughout CGI have always been able to support me when I have needed it. My line manager is my main point of contact and is always around as well as being fast at replying to emails which I really appreciate. The other people in my office are also supportive and are always willing to help me.

During the course we had daily support with the coaches. They would check our code and give us feedback. If we were stuck on something we could contact them via Slack and they would respond quickly, we then could have a video chat to discus the problem. We also had daily check-ins as a cohort so we could listen to what others had to say. Since completing the training we have monthly placement visits from someone from makers where we talk about what I have done and what I want to achieve. I am still able to contact them on Slack if I need to ask anything.

Makers has provided me with the essential skills that I need in the workplace. Most of these are programming based but we also worked on our teamwork and presentation skills while on the course which I feel directly help me in the workplace. Since the course was completely remote I have found it easy to communicate and work with colleagues that are based in a different area. I do feel like some of the content is not applicable to my role and would have preferred to extend the content of some of the subjects to broaden my knowledge in them.

There are a lot of activities to get involved in at CGI. There is a scheme called "working together" which encourages everyone in the office to get involved in non-work activities such as bowling, restaurant meals and quizzes. There is also a sports and social club which you can join for a monthly fee and participate in exciting things such as paintballing, axe throwing and go karting.

Yes

CGI is a brilliant place to kick start your career as they provide you with so many opportunities and benefits. I really feel like I am part of the company even though I have only been here for a short while, this is due to how welcoming they were. CGI have lots of locations and business units, so its easy to change your job role in the future and decide what kind of career you want to make for yourself.

Try to make yourself stand out. ensure your CV is clear and try to include when you have demonstrated key skills, weather that be from school or extracurricular activities. Try to include a few personal interests to really personalize your application. At the assessment make sure to speak up and think outside the box.