Graduate Level Apprentice Review

Management of applications, including performing daily checks, looking for issues responding to incidents and contacting suppliers. Carrying out projects, including smaller ones that are self-managed and larger ones that involve working with project managers. Gaining experience through watching others resolve issues, showing me features of systems and spending time on formal training.

Communication skills have increased greatly due to constant use of email, contacting other team members and managers to co-ordinate and receive approval and direction for work as well as contacting users to discuss issues that they are experiencing. Understanding of systems and networks has increased, through similar topics addressed in university and the workplace.

I do enjoy enjoy the programme as I find the work to be challenging but enjoyable and I find the university work to be the same. I have been made to feel welcome to the team and have had a good social life with people in the workplace and on the university course.

I think it is well organised as I receive the necessary time to work on projects for university. There is also good communication between myself, my employer and the university when needed. The projects given in university and the work performed in the workplace are intended to be similar and help with each other which works well.

My employer supports me by ensuring that I am given the time necessary to work on projects. Other team members at work are also helpful when I need to work on university projects as I have been able to spend time with them in work to them test prototypes, conduct interviews, etc.

The lecturers at the university are often very helpful, ensuring that we are confident in what is being asked of us before we go to work on any projects. They stay in contact with us during weeks between classes and make sure that we know they are always available to talk to if we are struggling at all.

I feel that my course helps to develop my understanding of different approaches that can be taken when managing projects and other work that is performed in the team. I am also able to understand different areas of the business better and understand how the work that we do as a team fits in to the big picture and the rest of the work that the company does.

There are lots of extra-curricular activities and groups to get involved with. There is a football game every week at my office, a sports and social club for each city and many networks and groups to get involved with to arrange events. There is also a dinner and night out for everyone at Christmas and a barbecue for everyone in the summer.

Yes

CGI is a great company for anyone at any level. They offer the best terms and conditions for any school-leaver programme that i have ever seen and their conditions continue to be great throughout careers. Everyone that I have spoken to who has had a long career at CGI seems to think that they are great and I look forward to (hopefully) a long career with CGI.

Be honest and be yourself. CGI do care about you as a person and they are interested to get to know you. When I went for my interview, I was asked about a game that I had been coding in school for my assignment and it did not feel like an intimidating interview at all, it just felt like a casual conversation and I had fun.