Software Enginerring Apprentice Review

I have two roles - a student role and an Accenture apprentice role. On Mondays I'm a normal student for the whole day, attendign lectures, completing coursework and taking exams. Tuesday-Fridays I work on a project at Accenture. This role depends on what project I'm aligned to at that time and this is typically an analyst level role with options from testing to business analysis.

I've learnt an enormous amount of new skills. It's been a fantastic way to get into the world of work and kickstart my career. I've improved my necessary functional skills such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Excel, Web development, Trello, Visio, Prezi, PowerShell, Java, SQL, Python. I have also improved my communication skills (written and verbal), stakeholder management skills, presenting skills, problem-solving skills- as well as my emotional intelligence has grown tremendously. They all seem to have just happened naturally thorugh carrying out my day-to-day job and actions - they're not textbook skills (we have university to learn these!).

I love my programme. I'm constantly wanting to tell people about it. I look back on myself before I joined Accenture and would never have expected to be where I am now - after just two years. The amount you learn in a short space of time is enormous and it feels fantastic. You're constantly pushed - but you're pushed in a very supportive environment. The poeple you work with and the culture is another reason I really enjoy my programme. I love my team I work with at Accenture, my university friends, my fellow apprentice friends and the social aspect of the job too.

It's reasonably well structured now. I feel because Accenture is constantly taking on feedback from us as apprentices - they have made adjustments here and there. In the beginning there was a lot more uncertainty around pay, benefits, roles we can take up, university structure etc. Now that all seems to have evened out. I feel that it's also up to yourself as an apprentice to create your own structure too. You need to manage your time well. Overall, it's a well structured programme from the company's side and, provided you manage your time correctly, can be very well strcutured from a work-life balance too if you create your own little structure too.

A lot of support. That's one thing I have never felt short on at Accenture - the support. I have a career counsellor, a line manager on my project, a sueprvisor on my project, an aprentice ambassador, a HR manager, a scheduler, extremely supportive teammates, and fellow apprenitces in my group!

A lot of support from the university. I have the university's lecturers who are always keen on helping, a student hub at univsersity and of course, other students who are on the same course as me. The library is also open all of the time and you are free to use computers, printers, take out books and seek help from the student hub if you need it.

It works hand-in-hand very well. The other day I found myself in a lecture, learning about domain controllers, active directory, change management and even Python - all of which I had learnt from my project work. It happens very often. You'll get moments when things click and you truly discover just how relevent what you're studying is to your work- and vice versa.

A lot, yes. We have everything from a netball club, photography club, social project events, christmas parties, client dinners, leaving parties and also professional networking events - or even just a Tuesday after a long day in the office. For example, this week I'm attending a leaving drinks for someone I work with and next week I'm going to an escape room event with my team I work with (that's been organised by the client). It's great!

Yes

I'd recommend Accenture because of it's culture, the social aspects of the job, the intelligent and skilled people you work with, the excellent training and support you receive, the flexibility in the type of work you do and the type of people you work with - and even where you work.

Be yourself when you're in your interveiws, relax and really portray your passion. It seems that at Accenture (at least with apprenticeship schemes) you don't need to know a lot to start. You just need to be passionate and be willing to learn. If you're passionate, yourself and excited to learn you should be fine!