Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

Engineering technician apprentice Monday - College day release for HND qualification Rest of week in the workplace doing placement work with current placement Working for project and program managers to design and integrate project management data base and tracker for all new and upcoming projects. This involves using a programming language to design. Also working on other systems level design work within placement with a much more directed scope of work.

Soft skills have improved (communications, emails, presentations). This is simply by working with different environments and having to adapt to the skills sets required and the other employees. Hard skills (programming languages; VBA, C#, VB) Qualifications: HNC - achieved HND - ongoing Functional Skills - achieved PEO - achieved

I enjoy working in my placement when they are within my skills set and i am able to contribute to the placement and not be a burden on the departments time. I have met some amazing people who are inspiring in how they work and what they have achieved. Within the apprentices I have also made some friends for life. The program is an overall good experience. there are aspects that could change such as flexible working hours as well as wider range of opportunities to experience more sectors of the company outside of the south sites.

This is a question that I feel is more suited to each placement as a question. in that respect I feel that the placements where I have not been skilled to aid in the department I am not valuable therefore not valued, but, in the placements where I am able to interdependently work on tasks I have given and helped the department in some way large or small which is a good feeling.

The first year of the program is all college based which is good to give a background knowledge skill set. there are a few changes such as to working hours (flexi time), and also to the placement decision making process that could be tightened up as well as the some extra training opportunities that could be made available for work-based and skill base courses which may benefit a lot of people.

Training provide (college) is adequate to achieve grade on the courses but i'm not sure the quality of the learning that has and is taking place. I don't feel that I have now the understanding that would take more on to a degree course but I do have the grades. I enjoy the learning and the subject are on the whole very interesting Subject wise. The lectures are knowledgeable and the system seems to be catering for the majority of the apprentices and other students at the college.

Guidance is too prevalent but this could be because we are working in departments away from the course manager. we receive information about events and they organize some meetings and events for us to attend.

The salary just about covers cost in the first year. this is an individual case for me and a couple other apprentices where by the cost of travel as the distance to the work place is more significant than most around 40 miles. means that running a car especially as a young driver and fuel costs mean counting pennies is necessary to stay in the black margin. This means that social activities out of work are minimum and holiday are a dream. Hopefully this changes on exiting the program and living becomes a bit more comfortable. The salary would allow for moving out but this would mean no social aspect to life, no car and not a great diet.

The company hosts lots of event as well as taking part in others and there are many opportunities to get involved with the company and it local community.

Yes

The experiance and the path to a role is what is the selling point the long bloated 4 year process is something that has to be endured to gain the opportunities.

make sure to take personal project that you have completed to the interview this was a significant factor in the process. Also try to make sure that you are seen in a good light. Don't try and over shadow people by force.