Software Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

If it's the start of the week, I will have a meeting with my manager and tell him what I have been up to and how I am finding everything. Then I attend a standup where the team looks at tasks that are currently being done and any problems are discussed. Then I do tasks assigned to me, sometimes pairing with my mentor for the more complicated tasks. Every day I'll be working on something different and always be learning something new.

I learn a lot of theory at university and at work, I implement the knowledge I have on tasks. I developed my programming skills, learn how to use new software and work as a team. Being in a team means having good listening skills, new ideas, thinking creatively, trusting each other, good leadership, time management and work under pressure.

Last September I started working in the frontend team and I was given a project to work on a new component which is now on the Weather pages. It was getting Weather Watchers (a product part of Weather not many people are aware of) onto the Weather page. Earlier this year I finished with the Weather Watchers Slice and my team praised me for all the hard work I put into it and now millions of people use it. I also like the work-based University modules and this year is a group project where we had to find a problem at the BBC and come up with a solution for it.

And the scheme is very well structured, its a 4 years course, during term time you go to university 2 times and week and work 3 times a week. At university one of my modules is work based each term. My manager and mentor will have to plan what I'll be doing for that term and set me objectives. Which means I have a goal to meet and also have to change to exceed it. When a university is over I am in office 5 times a week and I am working on tasks that I am required as a developer to do. I have weekly meetings with my manager and mentor about how I am doing at work, the tasks I am working on and how I feel about the team and I have monthly meetings with my line manager.

The employer provides me with all the equipment I need for work and at university. My line manager is very supportive and helps me with work. It is a very diverse and comfortable environment. As an apprentice, I am required to do the same tasks as a developer would do, and I always have opportunities to improve and constantly learn. There is a lot of training, clubs and interesting events that the BBC encourages you to go to for development and networking.

The university lectures are really good, I can access the resources online and ask questions on the public student forum or even at the end of the lecture. We are also given mentors and have fortnightly meetings with the team about work and university. We are given a lot more support on the work based modules as its a specialised module of apprentices.

Some of the modules I do at university is not related to what I do at work. Some modules I learn the theory at university and be able to implement at work. I feel like I will learn more if they thought students modules that are related to what a Software Engineer as this will be useful and I would be able to fulfil my role as an apprentice.

I am part of the BBC STEM Ambassadors club. There are a lot of clubs such as football, games night, and drinks after work. There are festive events and networking events. On the BBC Staff Page, there are details about upcoming events, socials, gatherings and we are free to go and network with people. You get to meet people from different teams and different job roles all the time.

Yes

The BBC is a very diverse company and you're not treated differently. You will enjoy working here, as everyone is friendly and happy to work with you. You constantly doing different things meeting new people and learning. Not every day is the same so you will never get bored.

If you are thinking about applying for a role at the BBC, you have to work really hard to get in and never give up. When people say you can't do anything or be someone you're not, don't listen to them and follow your heart and work hard towards your dreams. Also to have goals and ambitions so you have something to look forward to and keep you going. Essentially, just believe in yourself, be optimistic about things and have the motivation to succeed.