Software Engineer Review

Short daily team meetings, longer weekly planning meetings and a review meeting ever two weeks at the end of an agile cycle. Independent and collaborative work on software development and related processes - such as build management, product documentation, and testing. The work changes often as we work on new issues every fortnight. There is also time and space for learning within the job in both related and extension areas of my role, and this is encouraged.

I have gained confidence in a wide variety of programming languages and would be able to easily pick up a new one now after being encouraged to work with several in my role. I have been able to take part in IBM run courses that helped develop my presentation skills and my client skills. Personal learning is encouraged and I am able to spend time becoming more confident in relevant topics to my role.

The work I do is mostly interesting and the team I work within is great because there is encouragement to ask for help and to ask questions (we have a 'no stupid questions' rule - which was especially helpful at the start of my apprenticeship when I felt like I didn't know a lot). The size of the company can feel overwhelming at times. There is a real push from the company on diversity and inclusion schemes.

Induction was a scheduled time right at tthe beginning of my programme. It took longer to get the relevant training to make me feel confident in my role (several months). Most of the university modules are somewhat well structured. There are meetings every term with a university mentor and company manager. I have regular meetings with my managers. I get one day a week to study. I have some choice in the work I do (where possible).

I recieve good supportt from my managers in dealing with any concerns or issues I might have. HR have useful schemes where you can access less formal meetings to get advice if needed. I was able to find a mentor fairly quickly when I joined. People are always willing to help or directt me to someone who can. There is a strong sense of community and wanting to help otthers whenever it is possible to do so.

I have a dedicated 'apprenticeship' manager outside of my day to day role who is able to help me with apprenticeship questions and guide my career and hitting my apprenticeship specification points. My task manager is very supportive and will work with me to make sure I am doing work which will allow me to hit apprenticeship specification points and/ or that is interesting and relevant to what I am learning by doing my course.

The qualification is useful at solidifying my knowledge of core concepts however I often feel like I am learning things on the job before they are covered in my qualification and therefore these aspectst are less useful in terms of job performance. I feel I put theory intto practice as much as I put practice into theory. The qualification has given me a broader understanding of the technology industry and I feel like it will be useful in future roles.

There are normally events to get involved with at a site level. There are a whole host of local, country and global employee resource groups to get involved with. There are also communities specifically targeted at apprentices. These all run events and networking opportunities. There are often sports opportunities at my site such as a gym and organised lunch time runs. There is also gaming equipment and spaces to play baord games for the less sporty.

Yes

It is a welcoming company with so many areas to learn about. I am supported in the work that I do here and I have been able to form great relationships with my team and those around me. I am constantly pushed and have opportunities to develop. There are so many subject matter experts within tthe company that there's always great sources of knowledge if you want or need to learn about sometthing related to your role or qualification.

Think about what skills you bring beyond coding. Dress smart for your assessment days and interviews (even though some of us are lucky enought to get to wear casual clothing most of the time). Consider why you want to join IBM and do a bit of research into the company ahead of time. Speak up in group tasks at assessment days, especially if you're quiet and get other quiet members of your group involved in the task by asking them questions.