Software Engineer Review

I am an apprentice software engineer, currently learning to be an app developer. I entered this role without any prior experience and therefore still have a lot to learn, meaning I am not often given work to do specifically on my team's app as of now, but am still learning and practising within my team. I do this in several ways, including pairing with other team members on tasks they are doing and making practise applications.

As mentioned above, I have never done anything involving app development prior to starting this apprenticeship. Throughout my time on this app team, however, I feel that I have learned a lot about how app development works as well as developed a good knowledge of Android Studio and IntilliJ. While still not to a high enough standard that I can independently work on tickets, this has put me ahead of my programming classes at university, allowing me to spend time helping my classmates and therefore helped to improve communication skills.

When entering the BBC I expected to be further into my job role than I am now at a much faster rate, but looking back this seems rather unrealistic. I would like to be doing more for my team, but I know that this will change over time and become more useful as time progresses. All of my coworkers are incredibly friendly and the working environment is quite open and positive - there is a clear passion for the product without being too formal. I feel this helps to make the programme far more enjoyable than in a more formal workplace.

I feel that the BBC takes the time to make sure all of the apprentices here are valued and feel comfortable in our job roles, offering plenty of opportunity through regular one-to-one meetings to ask for feedback and set goals in order to improve and feel more comfortable in our job roles. It's clear that our views are cared about and valued.

My team have never had an apprentice which made it quite difficult for them to figure out what to do regarding my training at first, but I feel that they have figured out a structure for my learning at this point and come to me for feedback in order to improve this further for potential new apprentices in the future, which I appreciate. The university side of my course feels rather poorly organised, however. We have already had to change to a new e-portfolio host site after facing many bugs and issues with the first, have missed workshop sessions due to teachers booking rooms too small to hold us all, and have not received important information from the university when we were supposed to. This makes it feel quite hard to trust the university's reliability when it comes to information.

Classes held at the university are well-structured, giving us plenty of time in lessons to do the work and ask for help if needed. Several teachers on my scheme are also open to holding additional support sessions on Saturdays for students who would like extra help with assignments, as well as being available through calls or email.

My overall line manager, team line manager and mentor all hold regular catch-up meetings with me in order to ensure I am happy with my current progress, ask what I am doing at the moment and offer me help in order to further advance my career and learning. All of them have taken this in their stride and been incredibly helpful and friendly about it.

As I still live at home with my parents, I do not have many living costs to be concerned with, however travel can be quite costly. In order to reduce cost as much as possible I only take the bus, but this takes two hours each way which results in having to get up very early and get home rather late, especially when there's traffic. This limits the amount of social events I can attend and results in a rush to get out of work as soon as I can. I would like to move closer to the workplace, but my current salary is not enough for me to be able to realistically move closer.

Throughout my team and department, there are plenty of opportunities for social gatherings and team lunches outside of work, as well as opportunities with my apprenticeship to visit other places and discuss what it is like working at the BBC. Unfortunately due to the length of my commute and the infrequency of buses late at night I am unable to attend most of these, but the options are still there. This also typically leaves me only with weekends to socialise with friends outside of work.

Yes

The working environment at the BBC is very laid-back and friendly, with plenty of people willing to help if asked. Moving across departments and disciplines is also encouraged in order to try out new things, learn new skills and gain confidence. It seems like quite a rare opportunity I feel glad to have.

Be confident and relax during interviews - the BBC's working environment is not too formal and the interviewers are easy to talk to. Be honest about your current skills and make sure you vocalise what aspects of work you already have knowledge of or want to learn more about, because people will listen and take this information on in order to give you the best experience possible. Take any opportunities to learn more that you're given, especially to go to new teams - every team has a different kind of workflow and new products to try working on, meaning everything is a new and unique experience.