Software Engineer Review

As an IT Consultancy firm, the day-to-day role involves working at a client site to answer the needs of the project, by working in fortnightly sprints as an agile team to meet requirements. This brings many challenges but it greatly increases your skill set and I feel like I have learnt so much in my first 6 months.

Yes - I have a passion for technology but my actual experience prior to joining was limited to A-Level ICT. Since starting, both work and university have allowed me to develop a lot of technical and interpersonal skills. My existing skills have also been developed greatly. Particularly when speaking to clients and being face-to-face with colleagues in formal environments.

I enjoy the programme a lot. The skills gained are invaluable and I am in a very fortunate position to be going to university whilst gaining work experience at a top technology firm. I have met lots of great people and have had a lot of fun too and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

It is very structured whilst being flexible. Largely dependant on the fact that projects can change every few months, and consequently a new team of colleagues will be formed at a new client with new demands. But week-by-week, there are opportunities to both travel and take on tough tasks which makes the programme very rewarding.

Communication is such a big thing at the company, and I frequently keep in touch with colleagues. The apprentice leads regularly check in but most importantly I feel confident that if I had a problem I would have plenty of people to speak to. When working on a project, it also feels like I am making a contribution which I initially first feared.

I'd say that there could perhaps be more, and completing university tasks on time is one of the biggest challenges, given the need to balance workload with extra academic work. But this is something I prepared for when applying to the job and I feel that if work did become unmanageable, that my employer would support me! Additionally, I've had numerous queries throughout the uni course and I've always been able to just ask line managers and apprentice leads little one off questions and been reassured.

The qualification really helps me to be organised and also professional in my work. The step up from A-Levels has mostly been personally seen through a demand to put really effort into professionalism in work and being precise and thorough in all tasks. I have been able to apply this to my role by using this standard and expectation to ensure that I am just as thorough in day-to-day tasks.

With the majority of workers at the company being based on client-sites and therefore liable to travelling day-to-day, or week-by-week or even month-by-month, the opportunity for sports is fairly limited although this is consistently being considered across regional works. Connect-calls for all employees, learning sessions and more little activities are all technologically hosted which is more convenient and realistic which I get involved in. And social activities and networking events are consistently hosted which are always fun and inclusive.

Yes

I feel that the best thing and main recommendation I would give is just how much you learn. Both personable skills and technical skills, it feels like I am learning a lot very quickly. The company and role requires the right attitude so I would only recommend it to a friend that works hard and is open to taking on challenges - which enables the role to be really rewarding.

To be motivated by tough challenges and throwing yourself into the deep-end. Also that it's okay to fail, a theme that I have to stick to at both university and work as sometimes finding the answer to an assignment or work task relies on trial and error! Then work hard and be committed and the job will return the favour by providing invaluable experience and sets of skills.