Rating
- 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
- 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
- 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
- 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
- 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
- 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
- 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
- 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.)
- 9a. Would you recommend CGI to a friend?
- 9b. Why?
- 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to CGI?
My role is Software Development. On a day-to-day basis I will: check my emails, daily call with client to discuss concerns and progress. Use of Azure DevOps for project tasks. Collaboration with other team members to help solve issues as well as knowledge sharing. I am also encouraged to research and learn in my downtime.
I have expanded my from my initial skill set (Java & SQL) and now I am continually developing my C#, HTML5, JavaScript & SQL skills daily. I have also improved my testing skills significantly. I have also developed business skills such as security awareness by completing mandatory internal training courses and maintaining a good client relationship. I also have completed an external C# course to further improve my proficiency in C# as well as completed an Azure Fundamentals qualification.
I enjoy both the job and the team I am fortunate enough to work with. The tasks I am assigned are typically within my skill level but still challenging which promotes development of my skills. The company has an excellent culture focusing on personal development and satisfaction in additional to good benefits and pay.
The induction was a useful introduction to the company and the mandatory training was helpful in gaining the required business skills for the role. I am encouraged to partake in training courses and I am continually supported by my team. We meet once a month with the training provider to discuss progress in college in addition to the NVQ. My only wish is that it was communicated in advance what specific qualification we would be doing. I was initially unaware of the NVQ aspect until the first meeting with the training provider.
My employer/manager/team is very supportive with both the qualification work and client work. I am never expected to work when it is my college day, i.e. if the college was shut I would be able to continue with college work and not expected to do client work. All aspects of work life are supported by the company and personal life issues are supported by the company with their programs such as Oxygen and Member Assistance Program.
The training provider is very useful as I can voice my concerns regarding the qualification and they can then relay that information to the college. The are supportive of my progress and do this by conducting monthly reviews so we can review our progress, tackle any issues and plan what we will try to achieve by the next interview.
The qualification is useful as I am using the same language (C#) for both college work and client work. The theory assignment of some topics help me better understand topics which can translate into the work environment such as web development. Most, if not all the modules will assist me in the work environment once I have completed the modules.
The company promotes various company events, activities and social events. One such aspect is networking which is promoted via company networking events. There are multiple sports teams for members for example. CGI has a heavy focus on voluntary initiatives and supporting the local communities as well as supporting local schools with STEM activities.
Yes
It is a good company - it has a good company culture, supportive work environment and a push for continual learning. Even in times of crisis the company has shown its number one priority to the health and safety of its members, not only this, but the mental well being of members with several support channels available to all members. In addition to the good benefits and pay.
Research the company, see if it is a company you would be interested in working for. When going for an interview, be knowledgeable about your potential role, field, etc. and be confident in your abilities. Demonstrate that you not only have the technical capabilities but also would be a good fit to the company's culture. Any concerns or queries are typically answered with speed. Prepare questions for your interview.
Details
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Bridgend / Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr
April 2020