Software Tester Review

As a tester, I assure the quality of a product before it is released to customers. This involves understanding the customer's expectations, writing the tests in collaboration with the internal project team, on or offsite testing execution of these tests, addressing defects raised and retesting. This ensures the product is as bug and defect-free as possible before being released to customers and provides confidence on the quality of the products we provide.

My soft skills have drastically improved, my confidence in public speaking and also self-confidence in the sense that I can say that something is working/not working after testing it without being in any doubt. I have a great understanding of who to go to with specific issues, and throughout my on-the-job experiences I have also been passing my apprenticeship courses and gaining relevant IT qualifications that will undoubtedly support my abilities within my role.

There was definitely a learning curve that was challenging to begin with, and experience within the role itself helped to eventually overcome that. My whole programme has been very enjoyable, I have met so many new and interesting people, I have personally developed both within my role and as a person, I get along great with my team, the company culture is excellent and overall my expectations have been surpassed, no question about it.

From the very beginning, my programme was presented to me by my then-assessor who made it absolutely clear step-by-step the process of my apprenticeship, module by module, course by course, and gave me access to all the learning resources, introduced me to my trainer...everything was clear right from the very beginning. My assessor did change toward the end of my apprenticeship but he was able to catch up very quickly without issue.

My manager as well as the wider team are always available for any queries or support that I need. In the beginning, we are assigned a mentor that guides us through the first few weeks on the job and introduces us to everyone and familiarises us with the office and team and company culture etc. Help is always there if I ever need it!

My training provider is the source of all my learning, and provide me with all the resources I need to pass. I do also do wider reading outside of my training sessions just to really assure my confidence prior to going into the exam, but this isn't necessary as all the content required to pass is taught within these sessions.

My qualification helps me to understand the technical aspects and expectations of all the different ways and approaches to testing, so I can understand in a real project what is happening and what to expect to happen next. But it also provides an understanding on the types of testing I don't typically do too, such as non-functional testing, which is a great transferrable skill.

Absolutely! I personally set up an apprentice football team at the headquarters, but there are many different social clubs available as well, like chess or online gaming, or even books, golf, if that's what you're into. There are also apprentice evening/seminars where those interested in doing an apprentice come in, usually with their families, to talk to us about our apprenticeship and what to expect.

Yes

I have learnt so much from Vodafone through my apprenticeship, met so many like-minded people, developed my professional network extensively, and improved my soft skills drastically. I think Vodafone helped to support my personal development and I am all the better for it. Thanks Vodafone!

The Vodafone onboarding process has really made it abundantly clear to me that Vodafone look at personal attitude and soft skills over any relevant qualification or degree you may have. I applied for my apprenticeship with no IT qualification whatsoever, so I suppose my point is to just be presentable to your interviewer as a professional and confident person, regardless of any qualifications, or lack thereof, you have.