Software Engineer Review

I work as a full-stack developer as part of a 6 person scrum team. I am responsible for investigating, developing and testing user stories on a day-to-day basis. I work to support the junior developers on my team in order to deliver all required work for each sprint. Other responsibilities I hold include interviewing graduates, training/mentoring graduates and junior developers, and debugging issues from test environments.

In the 2.5 years I have been at CGI my project has supported me from going from zero commercial technical skills to being a full-stack developer. I am confident at all stages of the software lifecycle including communicating these both internally and externally to clients. All of my new skills have been developed in the workplace and not as a result of my University study.

I don't enjoy the University portion of my programme. When I signed up, the course was pitched to me as a Software Engineering course, it is not this. The course is an interesting blend of business and IT but this is not something I wanted to study and I feel the course was advertised incorrectly leading to my dislike for the University portion. My work as a whole, I enjoy, however this enjoyment is impacted by the poor compensation package offered to degree apprentices.

The programme structure has improved over the last year, and with new leadership is continuing to improve. The link between University and your workplace depends solely on your project's knowledge and understanding of the degree apprenticeship. In my case, I was their first degree apprentice so there has been some struggle there with conflicting deadlines and stress.

There has been a large decrease in communications from the apprenticeship team over the last two years and this has led to me feeling quite isolated. In my workplace role I received lots of support from senior developers however unfortunately, our project has lost a large portion of it's experience which has led to me receiving less support as I support the junior members.

The support over the last year has significantly improved. It depends on your lecturers as to the type and level of support they offer but Winchester's university wide Academic Services can be quite helpful. The feedback on assignments is what takes this from a 9/10 to a 7 as it is not helpful.

My qualification has hardly supported my ability to perform better in my role. It has made me aware of a few business skills that I may not have experienced in the workplace, but these have not been particularly helpful. I have had only one module in three years where I have felt like I have learnt valuable technical skills, but again this was because I didn't have exposure to it in the workplace, and some time spent independently learning would've been just as valuable as any of the lectures I had. I am excited to finish the apprenticeship so I have the time to study what is relevant to help me progress in my role.

Loads! CGI offer a fantastic sports and social club where I attend a number of events. We host weekly basketball and badminton sessions, they organise food/drink events all year round, and a range of other random activities ranging from candle making to airsoft. I have nothing bad to say about this.

Yes

Depending on the project you join, it is a fantastic way to start your career in a comfortable supportive environment. It can be great for training in the workplace through undertaking additional qualifications. Employers expect many candidates to have a degree now so whilst I don't think my degree has benefitted my skills development, it will allow me to tick another box.

Be yourself - cliché I know. We want you to be a good candidate, we are rooting for you not against you! If you put something on your CV I will ask you about it, so please don't lie. I'd rather you were honest about your skills than I ask questions and it comes out that you actually didn't know anything.