Apprentice engineer Review

What I do in my role is to make sure I maintain trains properly so they meet the standards and requirements they are supposed to. We ensure we do this so our customers are safe at all time because they are the most important. A day to day task in this job will involve a lot of maintanance task such checking and testing doors, changing wheel sets, changing pan heads etc. A lot of these job will come under different exams such as z,s,a exams etc.

Yes I have learned new skills such as using my initiative more often now because an experienced engineer cannot be with you at all times, so if I’m confident with a task that needs to be comepleted I will get on with it. Also my communication and teamwork skills are developing further because I’m constantly working with others who are much more experienced and older than me, I had to communicate with them effectively so I know what I am doing and asking questions all the time.

I enjoy this programme a lot because not everyday is the same. One day I will be under the train inspecting it to ensure there are no loose components etc, the next day I may be in the roof changing the pan heads. There’s still so much too learn and a long way to go yet but I cannot wait.

My programme is well structured as I always know what I am doing as my manger lets me know before hand. Before I started I knew the first year I was going to be colllege and after that for the remaining 3 years on day release, If I have any question I go to my manager and she sorts it out for me.

I receive a lot of support from my employer as they have invested a lot in me and I want to pay them back, so if I have any problems or needs support they will do everything they can to help me overcome the problem or give me that boost to further me.

We receive a good level of support as I understand why because they don’t want to spoon feed us. They want us to work on our own and engage our brain with the work so we can get an insight to the industry we are stepping in which I very much enjoy. I have been doing really well at college.

I feel my qualification helps me perform better as it gives me an step in to the real world instead of being thrown in the deep end. My qualification gives me the skills and confidence to help me do well in the workplace as we do both theory and practical at college which is really good.

There are extra curricular activities in my work place that take place. We sometimes go for dinner after a long hard week of work and sometimes even organise a football session which is very good as this increase communication and teamwork skills which is good for everyone. Really good atmosphere.

Yes

Because it’s such a good company and once you come out the apprenticeship programme the opportunities are endless and you never know where you could end up, because you will have a lot of experience and will tend to build a lot of skills which may be needed in another role which my catch your eye.

If you can before you apply try get some experience in the industry as this could give you a boost in the application. Be honest in your application and tailor your CV to the job description. Just be yourself and get some experience of how the application process runs so your prepared.