Software Engineer Review

I am involved in developing technology for my company as part of a software development team. This includes performing some personal learning about the technology being used and then partaking in activities such as scrum meetings, programming and testing.

My current team uses the Salesforce platform, along with ASP.NET and C#. Initially, I was not familiar with these. However, having performed some personal learning to develop my understanding of these technologies, I now use them to develop within my team on a day-to-day basis.

I am really enjoying the programme, due to the practical, hands-on nature of working within a full-scale company while doing what I am most interested in. The additional aspect of learning at university also enhances the experience by allowing for more opportunities to socialize.

There is a general overarching structure consisting of 8 weeks at university and 8 weeks in the workplace, which is very clear and easy to follow. However, there are some minor limitations with this, as the university work is much more concentrated and balancing university with work can sometimes be a challenge.

My employer is very supportive and always encourages me to reach out if I have any issues. Despite working from home, I have felt very included in the workplace, as we have been provided a robust support structure consisting of a variety of colleagues, such as apprentice buddy and tech buddy.

My training provider is very supportive. I have a meeting with the course organizer every semester where I am able to discuss my progress and raise any issues. Additionally, we are encouraged to provide regular feedback, which the lectures always address in a prompt and helpful manner.

I definitely feel that the knowledge I have gained from university has directly improved my understanding of some of the complex processes at work and has helped me to understand the reasoning behind why certain approaches are taken in development e.g. why certain technologies are picked over others.

I sometimes partake in optional meetings with guest speakers and often join team social calls. I feel that this has massively improved my social skills and helped me to feel included at the company.

Yes

I feel that Barclays is definitely a company that cares about its employees regardless of their circumstances or role within the company. I have found that Barclays values the contributions of all colleagues and provides a very comprehensive support structure which colleagues can use if they face issues or just want to know more.

I would suggest that they have a real passion for the area to which they are applying, as this is very valued with the company. I would also say that they should be as genuine as possible because Barclays is interested in not only the skills that the candidate has but also their character.