Technician Scientist Review

In my day-to-day role, I would say I spend the majority of my time working in the lab, as I'm still early in my apprenticeship I am focusing on building up my knowledge and trying to carry out a variety of lab techniques successfully.

I would say at AstraZeneca we are encouraged a lot to build up our soft skills, I feel my confidence has grown leaps and bounds since joining the organisation, whether this be in presentations, how I communicate or being able to talk to a variety of different audiences

Personally, I think this apprenticeship is the best step I could have taken. I love how trusted I am to work in the lab by myself at such an early stage, it is also great that I get a degree whilst working in the job I always dreamed of.

I would say its very easy to follow the structure of my programme, 80% is on-the-job work and learning whether that's in the lab or going through my results and then 20% is off-the-job study with the university of Kent

We have a lot of support available to us as apprentices at AstraZeneca, whether that's our line manager, mentor or the specific apprenticeship team themselves, I feel I always have support should I ever need it

At the university of Kent I think they are improving a lot with how they deal with their apprentices. We have all the usual University support available to us as well as our advisors who check up on us regularly

I believe that my qualification is crucial for developing myself in my role as being a scientist apprentice requires a lot of specific knowledge to be able to even start carrying out certain experiments. I think my qualifications goes hand in hand nicely in that sense.

AstraZeneca push us to get involved in extra-curricular activities constantly, whether this be volunteering (STEM events, Careers fairs etc.), joining external groups with a driven goal to make change or set up our own activities for example, apprentice five-a-side.

Yes

I think I would recommend an apprenticeship at AZ to a friend just because personally I feel I have benefitted not only career wise but in my personal growth, their is a great social aspect here with our societies as well which make it easier to settle in.

I think being yourself is the best advice I could give, make sure in your CV's and application you show your personality through out and that you are very passionate to get the role, also don't be worried about each step of the application process just take it as it comes.