Rating

8/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Junior Test Analyst: Write, run and analyse results of tests within the project. Communicate with peers and managers. Understand and digest information from a client through project documentation. Manage a testing cycle, ensure that correct documentation is produced, correctly identifying issues and communicating with others effectively. Smart Meter - DSP. Junior Software Developer: Analyse bugs, improve system performance and refactor existing code. Communicating with peers and managers, reporting daily to line manager with completed tasks. Understand client's requirements through project documentation. Ensure high quality of the work I produce, communicate my tasks to others and understand what is being asked of me. Smart Meter - DSP

    9/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I have had the chance to develop my technical development and project lifecycle skills, as well as learn about methods of effective interpersonal communication. I have participated in two internal interpersonal communication courses and have developed my understanding of the processes within my projects and CGI. The apprenticeship provider, QA, have provided me with the opportunity to develop my technical skills which I have been able to apply to my daily work-life. Some of the QA training courses have been more effective than others however, as they did not all offer the opportunity to practically apply the skills I was learning, leading to me not committing 100% of them to memory.

    7/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • Junior Test Analyst: I enjoyed the work I was performing, and had the chance to view a project from a tester's perspective. I worked closely with peers and managers, providing me with insight into the way in which a project operates, as well as the process of assigning, completing and reviewing tasks. I expected testing to be a rather repetitive role, and was not expecting to enjoy it as much as development work. T was wrong however, and discovered that I deeply enjoyed testing and gained satisfaction from successfully completing my tasks. Junior Software Developer: I have been working on making minor fixes and improvements to already existing code throughout my time as a developer on the DSP project. My line manager has been very accommodating, explaining or walking me through areas I do not yet understand and providing me with the resources I need to continue to expand my technical knowledge. I have found development to be both satisfying and interesting as I assumed I would, and will continue to develop within my role and individually throughout my time at CGI.

    8/10

  • 4. How valued do you feel by CGI?
  • I get a large amount of appreciation from my peers and managers. Due to the scale of my project, I do not generally receive feedback from clients or higher managers, but our teams do receive general recognition for completing large tasks.

    7/10

  • 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • As I have both progressed through the induction process, as well as guiding new joiners through it, I have been bale to determine that it is effective in meeting its aims of inducing new joiners into the process of the project. The development process of my project is excellent, with each team sticking to deadlines and effective inter-team communication boosting efficiency and workflow.

    8/10

  • 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
  • The support from my training provider has not been as in depth and involved as I think it could have, with QA sometimes taking some time to get back to me on requests or work submissions. They have been good about providing feedback post-training, as the tutors and assessors are in close-communication, but the communication then gradually decreased as time passed by, making it increasingly more difficult to get information from the tutors.

    6/10

  • 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • My management team and direct line manager has provided me with a large amount of support throughout my development at CGI. They have given me the opportunities and resources that I need to excel in the IT industry, and have offered support and guidance through my working and learning tasks.

    9/10

  • 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
  • The salary within CGI is above the average for a UK apprentice in the IT industry, which has left me satisfied as the learning and pay exceed my expectations for an apprenticeship course. Also, logistically, the location of my base office, being only a 20 minute drive away, allows an easy commute, and even opens up the opportunity for me to cycle to work.

    10/10

  • 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
  • CGI hosts a wide range of opportunities for personal development, and is actively working to inspire more people to exercise. These initiatives help members to expand their social circle and provide an opportunity to develop new skills for themselves.

    8/10

  • 9. Would you recommend CGI to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • It is a supporting organisation filled with supporting people. A perfect environment to start and progress a career in software development.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to CGI?
  • Be open to the ideas and views of those around you, they can provide opportunities for both work and friendship, creating a person that you can rely on when you are confronted by adversity and a source for new business opportunities when looking to expand your technical skills and career development.


Details

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Information Technology

South East

June 2016


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