Rail Engineer (Electrification) Review

I am an apprentice for Siemens Rail Electrification. I am in the first year of my apprenticeship, so my day to day basis entails of full time at college. With most of the time doing a PEO course (Practical Engineering skills) and one day a week dedicated to a HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

I have developed skills in practical areas where I previously didn't have them. This applies to things such as: Turning, Hand fitting and filing, CAD, Mechanical maintenance, Gas and MIG Welding, Sheet metal work and also Electrical wiring and testing.

I do very much enjoy my programme. It is very productive and constructive and is helping to advance me in areas of life and work. I enjoy working for such a great company, and working as part of an efficient team.

As a first year apprentice, I don't get a lot of time around other employees and my manager, regarding me being at college full time. However, I do feel like a valued member of the family regarding involvement and contact via emails etc.

The programme is quite well structured. Sometimes there have been complications regarding certain things, however these have easily been overcome one way or another. This therefore leads me to say that I feel the programme has been organized well.

The tutors at the college are very good and supportive. They are very good at giving feedback and ways how to improve on things such as techniques or methods. And support or guidance is always readily available. Therefore the general attitude towards support is great. The same applies for Siemens, as there are many different places that support can be gathered very easily.

Our employer likes us to be self sufficient in this first year of college-based training/learning. However, if support of any kind was ever needed, there are many people such as managers, mentors, and other people (such as NTAR associates) that are always willing to help.

I had to move away from home to take on my apprenticeship. This meant that I had to arrange a new living space near my job location. I live on my own in a flat, and the salary offered by Siemens is a big help to pay this. As well as this, the living costs and travel costs as well as daily costs can also be factored in.

There are many different opportunities inside and outside of work given by the company. For example, this can be things like 'Lunch & Learn' which is offered through Siemens, where it is possible to learn about other different parts of the business or things that are going on.

Yes

Because Siemens is a great company worldwide on a very large scale. The schemes that are put out for young people are second to none. Internally it is like one big family, and everyone gets along very well. The company is very prestigious and ambitious, and holding these two things it will go very far and you can go far with them.

The most important thing is to stay positive and be confident in yourself and your own abilities. If you get through the application process and interviews stage, on the assessment days, Siemens will WANT to make you a part of our team. You've just got to give them reasons why you are the perfect candidate and it's really that simple. It's easy to forget that the company you are applying for will WANT to hire you and that you become a big possibility for them.