Software Engineer Review

I am in the role of a Software Engineer, a technical role consisting of coding, testing, developing and reviewing of data. I currently work on the DAC Inbound Team with multiple colleagues, I was transferred to this team as a data acquisition resource after being on a DA team for months prior to this move. I am helping to support the DAC team during challenging times and able to participate in knowledge sharing, transferring what I had learnt previously with colleagues asking me for help with their work, showing the worth others place in me and my ability and my understanding of processes. Having the responsibility of helping other members of the team with their work and feeling like a valued member of the team helped to really motivate me in my role and contributed to gaining more confidence in my technical ability, understanding my work and of course learning and developing my skills further. I have helped the team with creating extended metadata spreadsheets and running them alongside implementation scripts in order to transfer data with specific outcomes, working both independently and collaboratively.

I have learnt many new skills I had never done before joining Capgemini, at University I learnt java, sql and unix, and used software's such as BlueJ and Eclipse mars. Since leaving ALE and being at Capgemini full time, I have completed internal training courses for Hadoop, spark and unix shell scripting, aswell as online e-learning modules. As well as academic and technical skills, I have developed my personal and professional skills as my confidence and really grown and I am able to present in front of customers with ease and share work I have completed.

I really enjoy being on the Capgemini GAP Programme, there is a large amount of opportunity for progression and development, working full-time as well as studying is hard work but with the right balance it is very much comfortable to do successfully with the right level of motivation. I have met some great people I have worked in teams with and gained personal relationships, creating a much more comfortable environment at work having friends in your company, but Capgemini’s culture reflects the idea of people being so important in an organization and collaborative working.

I feel extremely valued here, it’s extremely motivating and confidence boosting to feel like a role model and have responsibilities that other put faith in you to be part of. Having people ask for your help or seek advice from you regarding work makes you more confident in your ability and its rewarding to feel recognised for hard work and your knowledge from involvement in projects that can then be transferred into other work.

The structure of our programme is really well managed, there is always someone to contact if you have any questions or need any help regarding the apprenticeship programme. We are kept in the loop with GAP calls that feature relevant and important people and we are kept up to date with Capgemini Apprentice events or any information we need to know. We have our university exam time tables given to us in plenty of advance and our lectures are easily contactable and provide us with all the information we need on blackboard, we have a lot of support from them, people involved in the GAP programme, as well as our own work colleagues and managers. We also receive study leave for university on campus days and exams and additional study time we need outside of work to knuckle down and revise or catch up with university work which is extremely useful and beneficial.

Our module lectures provide us with all the information we need on blackboard but are easily contactable if we need any additional guidance or help, they provide us with a lot of support and are very accessible which is definitely helpful to apprentices knowing that they’re only an email or call away if we need anything.

Our employer is also extremely supportive of the programme, managers understand the balance we have to achieve between our fulltime job and university studies and are always keen to see how we’re getting on and how we’re handling doing both which is nice, Capgemini HR are also keen to help us sort university expenses or time codes if we have any questions and. Colleagues working around me are also very supportive and happy to help me with any coursework or revision if I need help on a topic they have learnt themselves at work or university and it’s really helpful to know there’s so many people in this company who are willing to help if you need anything and are really positive about the programme.

Considering we are apprentices and also studying a degree that Capgemini pay for, we are extremely well paid. Personally I live in Telford and I am based in the @Pheonix office here so I have minimal travel costs as it’s only a 10 minute drove to and from work from my home, however for me and my lifestyle with living, social and daily costs in this location, I am paid enough to live how I would like to at the minute. The flex benefits package we receive is also really good as we get an additional pot of money to spend on useful things we may not usually think to buy without it, I personally use mine on things such as additional annual leave, travel insurance and cards that give us local discounts in shops/restaurants etc so it’s a really good bonus for us!

Capgemini feature at a few corporate events for both the company and the degree programme to promote, you are able to get involved in those if you wish to and represent the organization. There are also activities outside of work such as colleague social meet ups/nights out and its nice that work colleagues socialize and do things together additionally to spending time around each other for our daily work. There is also a really nice gym here in Telford that there are hundreds of members to, as well as the opportunity to be part of fundraising activities that they organize.

Yes

Capgemini have been really supportive of me, especially recently after an extended period of time off work due to an injury and they have shown such compassion and care regarding my recovery, as well as supporting me in my adaptations for returning to work. Despite this, anyway without the injury, colleagues, management and people of the GAP programme are extremely helpful and remember that they want you to do well and achieve your success just as much as you do and they will support you to get there. Lecturers are accessibly and people are really willing to help you so don’t be worried that they won’t, even if you struggle with the work, uni and life balance there are ways to fix any issues and all you have to do is ask. Capgemini as a whole is extremely supportive of apprentices and willing to help you achieve your goals and succeed.

To be confident in yourself and your ability no matter what, I joined Capgemini with a business management background and passion for IT but with minimal technical knowledge, however Capgemini provide you with so much support for both your academic studies as well as work progression and allow you to participate with training and develop your skills.