Level 4 Network Engineering Apprentice Review

On a daily basis I start the morning with meeting a meeting and I work through some tickets. After this the rest of my day is mixed with online learning and shadowing/ working with colleagues on current topics. Such the Hardware refresh topic, Recycling of EOL devices, workshops, rack assessments.

Starting off this apprenticeship with only fundamental knowledge of Networking, I have learned alot, ALOT. In this field I don't think you ever stop learning, which is something I like as you have a sense of growth. Some skills I have developed so far are making configuration changes on Cisco devices, deeper knowledge of OSI and how this framework is used in Networking, Subnetting along with Binary/ Decimal/ Hexadecimal Conversion).

I enjoy it very much, its a good balance between learning and working. You may find yourself learning online a lot but its part of the field and gives you time to commit certain knowledge to memory.

The apprenticeship started off a little unorganised but I am the first apprentice the Network department has had. After some time and communication back forth with my manager and work coach from QA this has changed drastically though. Now I am involved in a lot more topics and am shadowing more often.

Much support, I am provided a licence for free to Learn online via Pluralsight and had been given some money to source my own studying sources. Sometimes talking to colleagues in Germany can feel distant but we have regular trips to Essen which helps build chemistry and makes learning more fun than doing it online. My colleagues are very response and are happy to help me if I'm stuck, I have regular Teams calls to help with this.

My work coach has been excellent.

The training from QA is good although I find myself spending more time on my own study resources and Pluralsight. The workshops QA do are so good, I wish they did more as you can be around students in the same position as you, which I feel this can lack sometimes. The qualification from QA does provide a good framework for what to learn and how to approach my studies.

Yes Apprentices at RWE are invited to a social meet for a coffee every week in the canteen and also out of work at the Local Pub. The Networking Team meets a few times a year which involve team building activities and workshops. These are the best times as you learn in person and get to meet all your colleagues you chat online too everyday. When managers travel to Swindon they host us for a dinner usually. There are lots of opportunities to engage in social events and they have a gym onsite I like to attend.

Yes

Having worked at over 8 jobs in my life before this (In my late 20s) I've found the employee care here is amazing and I've honestly never been treated better. Really motivates me to want to do better and when studies get overwhelming it reminds me to keep pushing.

When applying for RWE I did not feel I was the most technically competent out of the other candidates, so prepare to be judged on how you assert yourself and how you engage with others. Remember you're a Team and when working incidents usually need collaboration between SMEs to be resolved. Being an apprentice, I only had very basic knowledge of Networking to start so make sure you at least know the fundamentals. Also learning German will give you some bonus points ;)