Technician Scientist Apprentice Review

As a technician scientist in the process assurance team I am required to read environmental monitoring plates and broths to check for sterility. We ensure the manufacturers have the monitoring equipment they need for the day and then process the previous days work electronically. We check the monitoring techniques for any signs of bacteria to prevent harmful germs being given to patients.

Since starting my apprenticeship I have massively improved my online skills. I know keyboard short cuts and have a better understanding of Excel. As well as this, I have learnt how to use the company websites to quickly and easily find the information that I need in order to help with my team progress through the day efficiently.

So far I am really enjoying my role as a technician scientist apprentice. Even though my team is behind the scenes of the production of certain drugs and medicines, I love that my work helps ensure that patients are getting the best possible care. This drives me to do a good job as it could effect many people if something is missed.

I really enjoy my time at work as it helps me to learn in a hands on environment where everyone treats you as equal. AstraZeneca is very good with ensuring I have enough time to complete the work set by the university. The online learning is well structured into weeks and modules however the deadlines aren't always clear.

All of the managers and senior leaders have been very supportive and welcoming including those outside my team. They have all made me feel included and respected and I would be comfortable talking to them if I had an issue or was struggling with anything. They often ask how my university work is going and are always willing to offer help where they can.

At the start of the apprenticeship there was a lot of confusion and miss-communication about the content we were learning. As all of my training is online and self taught it makes it difficult to communicate and understand each other. Despite this I know that there are many people available to offer support including my apprenticeship advisor who was very helpful and is always supportive whenever we talk.

So far, the work I am doing for my qualification does not apply to my job role however I have not been doing it for very long and therefore haven't covered many topics. I am hoping that as I progress into the course there will be an overlap of content to help me with my job and better understand my role. Also, when I rotate to a different team it is more likely that my qualification will help as it is more directed towards those roles.

Due to the ongoing covid pandemic it have been very hard to participate in any social or face to face events. The team that I work in had a small Christmas do when the rules were relaxed which was really good as it helped get to know everyone a bit better. Apart from this, there are often online events to allow people to interact outside of their normal working team.

Yes

AstraZeneca is a great place to work as everyone is so friendly and welcoming. When you are new you quickly feel like part of the team and know that your opinion matters. You know that the work you do is helping to better the lives of others. If that isn't enough, it also has some great benefits such as healthcare, share schemes and pension plans.

Make sure you are willing to learn and progress so that you are constantly adding to the company. This is one of their values, to follow the science, ensuring that people are always looking for new ways to improve. AstraZeneca's values are important to everyone, so if they are important to you and you can follow them effectively then make sure you include it in your application.