DevOps Engineer Apprentice Review

My role involves learning and implementing skills in DevOps tools and practices. This ranges from writing basic bash scripts to developing a CICD pipeline. I complete projects set by my training provider on my apprenticeship days, and spend the rest of the week developing those skills with real-life tasks sets by my employer.

Yes; I have been constantly learning and developing my skills. I started with very little knowledge in the tech industry, and so every topic introduced has been new and taught me something.

I find my programme to be very interesting and challenging. My trainer is very helpful and informative, and my boss is an incredible teacher and mentor. I do, however, have an issue with how the programme started, as it was a front-loaded apprenticeship. I found that having all the learning at the start to be almost detrimental to my experience as it was overwhelming for someone with little previous knowledge, and I am continuously finding that I could use the live sessions a lot more effectively if I had them throughout the course, when each relevant project came up.

With day-to-day work, it is well-structured. I am getting the hours and support I need. However as mentioned before, the front-loaded aspect was "detrimental to my experience as it was overwhelming for someone with little previous knowledge, and I am continuously finding that I could use the live sessions a lot more effectively if I had them throughout the course, when each relevant project came up."

I receive a good amount of support from my employer. Specifically my boss, who is very involved and active in supporting me. I find the early careers team to be lovely, but they did not have much communication with myself, or my boss in the early stages of the programme.

I receive a good amount of support from my training provider. My trainer is effective and helpful.

The qualification opens up the opportunity for learning many different tools which are used in my employers work. However, not all the tools are the same so while it is useful for my overall learning, it isn't always useful for my current role.

There are opportunities for social activities (Coffee mornings, for example) however there is not much of a naturally social atmosphere in the office that encourages networking.

Yes

Overall, they are a company that cares, I have only met kind, helpful people and they have excellent benefits.

Be enthusiastic, enjoy what you do, and work hard!