Associate IT Project manager Review

I currently work as an IT project manager, where I coordinate projects delivering a better digital solutions for Workplace and cybersecurity. My day to day responsibilities include managing the scope, time, resource and cost to project delivery and helping to coach delivery teams to stay motivated and push on towards delivery goals

Throught the L5 Future Talent Operational department manager apprenticeship, I have learnt skills that allow me to become a better team leader. This has involved exploring topics such as Self awareness, Communication, leadership styles, operational goals and ethics and financial management This has helped me learn new skills and put them into practice during my day to day role

I really enjoy this programme - the topics explored are very interesting and it gives you more space and time to reflect on how you work and how you could improve in day to day tasks. It also offers lots of opportunities to network with people both internally and externally to my company

The structure to the content is brilliant - the topics are in a good order and the module tasks are put together well. The structure of how you put together course evidence is too complicated. Throughout you are asked to complete - Course questions, professional discussions, activities/techniques - a professional development log to show how you have added to your learning - your own progress assessments - your coach gives progress assessments - boomerangs - add in more evidence of how you have fullfilled criteria - a project proposal & brief - Learning event briefs & reflections It is too much to pull together at the end into a coherent piece of evidence for End point assessment.

My astrazeneca line manager is included in the course process and attends quarterly reviews on performance. They have been supportive throughout the process and have offered work opportunities to practice the techniques which I might not have exposure to day to day. For example how finance management works in the Astrazeneca environment.

A brilliant level of support is provided by the Future Talent Team. From day 1 you are assigned a learning coach to help guide you through the process. The coaches (in particular Shoshana and Shenay) have been incredibly approachable and helpful. The communications from the Future talent team have been timely and very helpful

The content has been extremely relevant to my day job. In honesty, with the sheer amount of content to consume has been difficult to keep up with. We're constantly filling in reports and so it's been difficult to find time to embed it into my day to day role.

Yes there are company employee resource groups on a huge range of areas and interests. e.g. charity groups, LGBTQ+ and inclusion and diversity groups. We also have a scheme called Plan 100 or Gig IT which allows you to network across other areas and gain work experience in areas that are of interest

Yes

It's a brilliant company to work for. You have opportunities to join brilliant, inclusive teams. You work with people from all over the world who's ultimate goal is to bring life changing medicines to patients. It's hugely motivating and the reason that gets me up out of bed in the morning.

Be yourself - let your personal passion shine through in your application and interviews Once you fill in your application, re-read it and check for any mistakes or any opportunities to cut down the number of words If you don't have work experience that matches the questions they ask you in the interview - don't panic - you can use experience from outside of work (e.g. charity work, hobbies)