Modern Apprentice Review

I do configuration of circuits on a remote platform, checks on circuit equipment to make sure they are okay to be configured on, ceases on circuits that are no longer needed on the network. I work in a team that is spread across the UK. I do however have a few of my colleagues in my office so do talk to them every day. We work on a live network so we have to be careful with what we do, so we always triple check everything we do and record all our actions as a log.

I have learnt how to interact with not only people from my team, but people across the company; this may be via e-mail, Skype IM or call. I have also learned how to manage work with education as I am going university as well. I am learning to how act responsibly when I don't know something and also I am dealing with the pressures of working on customer affecting networks (imperative to be careful when making any changes).

I do enjoy working and I have become accustomed to the daily routine. I like being given the responsibility to do work myself and then also having university work to do; it does become challenging sometimes but I feel that I am better equipped to thrive in this environment than a purely educational based one. The advice I get from working with people that have been in the company for many years is very valuable to me.

I think it is well structured as I get a day for studying every week so that I can purely focus on any assignments given to me at university on that day and my free time. Work wise it is very structured as well because I know my routine and the great thing is that if you were feeling slightly unwell or if there is an emergency, you can work from home; this applies in my role but other roles are not always the same.

I get consistent support from my employers and my manager especially. If I need any help or advice, my colleagues and/or my manager are more than willing to help me out. The support given to me by my manager has made the transition from a student lifestyle to a worker lifestyle appear seamless.

Apart from our direct encounters on the days we have to attend university, we get a lot of e-mails from our lecturers. They always encourage us to send them e-mails if we need any questions or even pop in to the university if we have to. I am personally satisfied with the support I get from them.

I think my qualification doesn't work hand in hand with the work I do but I think it will come in useful later when/if I progress in my role. My qualification does give me a wider appreciation of networks and how they work so I can get more of an insight as to why I do some of the work I do.

As of yet, there isn't much and this is something I would like to see implemented in the near future; it would help with team bonding and networking outside my workplace. Also, it is nice to do activities now and then just to relieve the pressures you deal with at work sometimes.

Yes

It is a fantastic company and one of the biggest in the UK. Not only do BT give you valuable experience, they also provide you an education with very good pay alongside it. BT as a company has many opportunities for its employees because of the diverse work it deals with (whether it be the TV side of BT, the network side of BT, people management side of BT or one of the many other sides of BT).

Be yourself and don't be afraid to express your ideas as they will be well received. BT may be a huge company but they treat everyone as individuals so do not think your voice will be lost in the crowd. Answer any questions you are asked honestly and show your amazing personality. If you have any questions, don't be scared to ask them :)