Junior Software Developer Apprentice Review

I work within a problem fix team, which means that I get assigned different problems relating to any bugs that have been found within a program, and then I have to find the root cause of the issue and fix it. Each day starts with a stand-up meeting, where my team and I talk about the progress they have made on their tickets. Then for the rest of the day, I might be doing a number of different tasks. I am usually talking to my mentor, who helps me to work on my current problem ticket. I also attend university for lectures on-campus for a 2 week block every term, and on Fridays I am given the day to complete my coursework.

I can't believe how much I've learnt since I started. In under 5 months, I have been taught a brand-new programming language, a completely new interface for editing programs and I've learnt how a large, complex organisation manages programming-related changes. That's not to mention the soft skills I have developed, such as teamwork, communication, public speaking, and much more.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme. I receive a lot of support from so many different people: my manager, my mentor, my training provider (NTU), the Early Careers team - to name a few. I've been given the opportunity to contribute to a real team and gain invaluable work experience, that a traditional course at university wouldn't have given me. I feel like a really valued member of the team, and I really like the level of responsibility and trust I have been given. The programming side of my role is very interesting too; I get to be creative and solve problems - it's like being paid to do puzzles all day!

My programme is well structured. It's very clear how and where I fit into the team, and about how I should divide my time between 'normal' work and university work, and there is a good balance between these. We have regular catch-up sessions with Early Careers and our managers to talk about how everything is going, which I find useful.

I receive a great level of support from my employer. I have a whole network of people I can go to for different things that I might need help with, and everyone is always very understanding and happy to help. I have my own mentor who is really helpful, and is there to support me with the day-to-day activities involved in my role.

NTU provide a really great network for support for Apprentices. There is a dedicated Apprenticeships team, and we have a Course Leader and an Academic Support Tutor who we can go to, who are both always very quick to respond and are happy to help. I also receive lots of help from the module leaders, who always make sure to give me the right amount of attention and are really invested in me as a person, and I feel that they genuinely want to see me succeed. The thing that most impresses me about the staff involved in our course is that they are all very open to feedback. They take on constructive criticism very well, and use it to improve the course. They're always looking for opportunities to improve the experience for the Apprentices which is something I really appreciate.

Studying for my degree at NTU has helped me to not only develop my programming and software engineering skills, which is something that directly links to the day-to-day activities within my job role, but it has taught me soft skills, such as self awareness and time management, that will help me throughout my career.

We've had games nights, social events, mindfulness sessions, quizzes... You name it - even lunchtime bingo sessions (where you can win actual money!). We are also often given the opportunity to attend professional networking events, for example a few months ago, the Chief Risk Officer spent an hour with the Early Careers cohort, telling us about her experiences and giving us the opportunity for any questions, which was really insightful.

Yes

Experian is a brilliant company to work for. I've been really well looked after not only since my first day, but from the moment I applied for and got the job. Since then, I've been met with nothing but people who are excited to have me onboard, and have my best interests at heart. I feel really valued and like I am part of a community. I couldn't recommend a better place to work, especially for someone who is just starting their career.

I would say to worry less about your level of technical experience and things like how many programming languages you know, and more about your attributes as a person. Technical skills can be taught, and it's great if you already have experience in this area, but what's more important to advertise is your personality and your attitude to work.