Applications Consultant Review

On a daily basis I work with a mixture of colleagues from Capgmini, the client and other client partners to delvier IT business solutions to the client. Day to day I meet with key stakeholders from the client's business as well as communicating with internal Capgemini teams (on and offshore). This involves a mixture of face-face meetings and Skype conference calls. I also actively shadow members of the team, learn about business processes (internal and client) that I didn't understand before whilst working towards my Degree course.

My communication skills have increased significantly, because of things like High Impact Communications courses which have been organised. I've also learned new skills like increasing my knowledge in areas such as Java and SQL, this has helped me to understand aspects of engagements with clients and internal colleagues. After doing a Myers Brigg Type Indicator as a team of apprentices, we were able to learn more about our own personality types and our whole team dynamic and how to optimise this to get the most out of working together. I've also gained a foundation Diploma in RPA (Robotics Process Automation) which is something that I wasn't even aware existed until I started my apprenticeship. Another skill is independence. I regularly work away from home, in places such as London, Lincoln, Peterborough etc... (oringinally form Birmingham) On average I work away from home for 3 days a week and with this comes great independence, I've had to learn valuable skills such as time keeping (showing up to client site on time) and organisation (booking all transport, hotels and sorting expense claims when returning home).

I enjoy the fact that I'm part of a community and not just a single employee. Being an apprentice I'm part of the 'GAP Community' (Graduate and Apprentice Programes Community), this means that I have a large network of Apprentices and Graduates that run social events alongside our programmes.

My programme is structured from a degree perspective, however whilst there are set progression paths, the one which we pick is up to us. I've always been told by managers/colleagues that I drive my own career and decide where I want to go and I like that aspect of it. There is a structured degree programme broken down into modules with allocated on campus days where we attend university to study for the degree.

There always someone to support for whatever area you need support in. If you need supporting from a Degree/academic perspective there's someone who I know to contact or if you need support from a daily job perspective, on my account we have a contact who looks after the group of apprentices.

We have regular online tutorials, where we learn content, as well as Q+A sessions, where we have the opportunity to ask a subject expert any questions we may have about what we've learnt. All the content is accessible and tutors are really responsive to questions asked over email. We're also allowed to use the University library and other resources whenever we want (this is helpful for me as I live close to the University provider, however there is a programme where if you don't live close you can still access libraries from other universities in your area).

I use a lot of the information I've learnt from my qualification in my work environment. For example, we learnt about SQL databases and I then used this knowledge when having a meeting with a client to understand how they use SQL queries to retrieve data which is reported to their regulator.

Yes, there's always an event in the inbox, admitadly a lot of these are in more central locations (like London), however on my account team there is a weekly football game every Tuesday and there's always a group going out for something to eat when staying away at client site.

Yes

For me, it's given me the opportunity to get a head start on my career, meet some great people, some of which have become close friends and work towards a degree, all with no debt and whilst getting payed. You get the opportunity to be an entrepreneur and decide where you want to go with your career - there's great freedom in this.

Take every opportunity that comes, and if you don't enjoy something tell someone and they're more than willing to help you find something you do enjoy. Ask questions and don't be affraid to ask if you don't understand something - there's always someone willing to explain something/point you in the direction of someone who can.