Technology Degree Apprentice Review

Currently my day-to-day job role includes formatting slide decks to make them look presentable to the client. However, my role varies depending on the project that I am on and who the client is. Previously I was creating dashboards in PowerBI and prior to that I was coding in Typescript.

Whilst on the university side, I have learnt many skills, the main one being coding as I am on a Computer Science course. I have also learnt other skills typical to any degree such as essay writing, referencing, etc. Whilst on placement, I have learnt soft skills such as client interaction, presenting, etc.

Whilst at university I appreciate the experience and knowledge I gain however it is an extremely challenging course so "enjoy" is a strong word when considering the hours put in! I enjoy the placement side for the most part - however there isn't always much technical work available for us apprentices so that brings it down somewhat.

The overall structure of the programme works really well for me. When I am at university I can focus on that and don't have any PwC work to do and equally, when working at PwC, I don't have to balance the project work with coursework. I feel this allows me to make the most out of both parts, experiencing what work will be like post university.

Whilst I don't have any work from the employer at university, the support I receive from them still continues. All employees, including the apprentices, have a "buddy" and a "career coach" that can support us on a one to one basis as well as a "relationship leed" that look after us as a cohort.

As mentioned previously, we still have access to the same level of support when on placement and while at university. They also have weekly sessions with us where other apprentices shared their experiences on placement. As well as this there are three meetings in every year of the course to discuss our personal progress

At university we learn technical skills and problem solving as well as theory behind computing. On placement this hasn't always been applicable as most of the skills required for me have been consulting skills and general soft skills. However, I did have one project where I was coding in an unfamiliar language and I would not have been able to do this without learning coding at university

Yes, there are many optional events that you can sign up for. Some of the networking events involve travelling to various cities around the country to meet people based at different locations. There are also sporting teams and charity events you can get involved with - the biggest charity event being "one firm, one day" or OFOD

Yes

PwC have a structure with a very clear route for promotion and personal development. However, they also highly encourage networking between levels and often hold sessions between apprentices/interns/associates with Directors and Partners. They expect high quality from their employees but also balance this by ensuring good wellbeing and work life balance.

Ensure you do your research. This helps for a few different reasons - the first is that there will be questions during your interview that will test your understanding of PwC as a firm as well as their values in their people and what they deliver. The second is that PwC is a huge firm with a wide range of job roles so have a look which is best suited for you (this doesn't matter as much as I am told there is a lot of opportunity to switch between areas within the firm)