Software Engineer Review

I work in a devops team developing an internal tool. My day to day duties involve attending meetings, planning my work and then executing on the plan. I do frontend, backend and whatever needs doing within the team but most of the time is spent writing code.

I've learnt alot that I wouldn't have been able to on my own, especially with enterprise technologies. I joined with little experience of JavaScript and I now know Typescript. I've gained experience with Azure cloud, Databricks and MS Purview, in each case starting from 0 base knowlege and becoming proficient in day-to-day use. I've overcome many challenges (individually and collaboratively) and I've been forced to think in new ways.

The job is enjoyable but the apprentice duties drag it down. I enjoy writing code but not writing dozens of pages about my experience writing the code and how I've ticked off X Y and Z bullet points. This part only takes up one day a fortnight, so it's not so bad.

The day job is fine, absolutely no complaints. I'm given ample time and flexibility to complete my apprentice duties. The organisation around the qualification has left a little to be desired. Dates have been changed, a random bootcamp was inserted when our EPA project was meant to be, the EPA was delayed and then shortened to accomodate said bootcamp.

Support from the employer is good. I'm given ample time and flexibility to complete the apprenticeship. Everyone is also very acommodating of my relative lack of experience. Often times I've been assigned tasks where I had no idea where to start or what to do. In every case I was able to reach out, ask questions and get help with things I didn't understand. It's these sorts of tasks where I've experienced the most personal growth and development.

The support has been adequate but frustrating at times. There are regular catch-ups and we can ask our contact questions. The problem is that guidance can be unclear, requiring follow ups. Communication has also been poor at times, with important documents and emails not being sent out on time or at all. On a couple of occasions we've been asked for last minute "urgent" documents after a week with no communications from them. Our assessor was switched from BCS to A4D halfway through which required re-writing and getting manager approval on multiple documents. We were also told we needed to re-write our EPA projects to fit a specific template 3 weeks into our 6 week project (which was shortened from 9 after we started). We were not provided with the template until this 3 week point. We also only received training one day per fortnight, whereas apprentice training is meant to take up 20% of your time. I don't know if they count writing up your apprentice portfolio and reports as "training" but I wouldn't.

Not much. We did two bootcamps with our training provider. The first bootcamp was Javascript and covered all the basics of data structures, algorithms (binary search and bubble sort of course), async programming, etc.... The second bootcamp was a year later and covered exactly the same stuff but in C#. Doing real work in your day job is by far the most valuable learning here as it teaches you how things are really done and gives you good experience with industry standard tools. The training is just there to make sure you know the basics of what you're doing so you can get on with real world practical experience. If you're interested in the field, good with computers and with little prior experience then it's a great starting point. If you're passionate about the field, have experience coding and do it in your free time then it's an easy way to prove you know what you're talking about and get into the industry. Chances are alot of the training content will not be new to you and you will learn far more from your day job. The greatest value of the qualification, in my opinion, is that if you're good at what you do then you can step into a real job and prove it without having to spend 3 years at university. It's a great gateway into the industry.

There's networking events via various early-careers communities, and some outside of the company as well. Each region of early careers usually hosts their own social events regularly.

Yes

It's a great place to work full of great people and a great culture. There's lots to do and lots of opportunities to work on something interesting.

Tailor your application to BP. Research its aims and values beforehand and use them in your application. Your first day (maybe even first week) might be chaotic but once you get settled in it's fine.