Rating

10/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • I work as a Change and Implementation Officer, in the Department and Work and Pensions, for the Personal Indepence Benefit. Helping to bring in new changes and ensuring all items are in place to provide a smooth transition of the new change. Daily I attend meetings reviewing different aspects of changes. Working with my team and other key stakeholders to develop a change so it is ready to 'Go live'. I love my job, getting to work on new things and no day is the same.

    10/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • Having never worked in an office environment before I'm learning all the time. Since starting I have spent time on internal learning sites brushing up on Excel skills and up skilling on other internal software packages. The opportunities are endless, I have completed online learning for courses directly relating to my job role but also courses that help me personally. For example: 'How to work more effectively' and 'Developing presenting and confidence'.

    10/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • My role is great for me as I dont like being stuck doing the same thing every day. It keeps me interested and I'm always learning new things. My team are great, really friendly and welcoming. So helpful and understanding, they are always there is i need them. The company as a whole is great with lots of opportunitys to join in recreational activities or charity events. Everyone just seems happy to help and eager to get involved. I did know what to expect before I started but I'm quite happy with all aspects of my programme.

    10/10

  • 4. How valued do you feel by Civil Service?
  • I have regular meets with my line manager and team, we all get regular feedback and are always asked for our opinions on all matters. You always feel involved and your points are always addressed. Whenever I complete a piece of work I get feedback and I truely feel like a valued memeber of the team.

    10/10

  • 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • When I arrived I met the team and had a good few weeks shadowing people, learning the basics. This worked really well for me. It just made the whole process easy. I am given study leave from work to help me complete my assessments.There is plenty of time to complete assessments and they give you lots of information online to help you through tasks.

    10/10

  • 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
  • My apprenticeship mentor is lovely and always available if I have any problems. They come to my place of work to check on me and give me any additional help. There are things in place if you do have any issues and a strong support system that is carried through to my line manager.

    10/10

  • 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • I receive so much support from my team. My line manger and the 2 managers above her have played an active part in my apprenticeship and my development. All wanted me to do well and helping me stretch myself and acheive more. My mentor has helped me in general and just makes sure I understand everything as I go.

    10/10

  • 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
  • My salary is great for me. More than I was receiving in previous jobs. My placement isn't too far from home so costs are low and leaves me plenty of money to play with after bills etc. It's a great scheme for the salary as there arent many opportunities to study and work and receive a decent wage.

    10/10

  • 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
  • There are lots of opportunities to get involved with communicaty projects, sports events and voluntarty opportunites. We are actively encouraged to take on external projects or activites. I am currently voluntering as a wellbeing ambassador, encouraging others to get invloved and share information out to the team.

    10/10

  • 9. Would you recommend Civil Service to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • It's a great place to work and great opportunities to develop and progress. The help and support you receive is better than I have received in previous posts. Once you have trained there are so many different roles in the Civil Service and there are opportunites to move about.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Civil Service?
  • The application process is thorough. Practice Your english and maths before doing online tests. I attended an assessment centre as part of my interview process. I really enjoyed this day. Gave you an insight to the kind of every day tasks you will be completing. For the interview I did lots of practice before I went coming up with examples of competencies from pervious roles. This helped my interview run really smoothly and I had an answer for every questions that came my way. I did not come from an office envirnoment but I have learnt basic admin skills as I have gone along. It wasn not a problem.


Details

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Business Operations

North West

March 2017


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