Software Developer Apprentice Review

In my day to day role as a software developer apprentice I found myself writing scripts to generate reporting systems used by finance and service delivery teams, helping automate a repetitive task. I also wrote web applications automating tasks that often took too much time in my teams day to day workflow, helping feel up their valuable time. Along with this I was also given support and as much time needed when it came to learning new programming theories and concepts.

I've been at Colt since September 2017 and to say I've learnt a lot is an understatement. They have taught me everything I know about telco companies, software development and work etiquette. Topics I have learnt vary from how to approach higher figures in the company and how to communicate correctly with different people, all the way to API and web development, programming languages such as python, node and Java, how to operate at each stage of the software development lifecycle and so much more.

I really enjoyed the program and I am so grateful for being able to benefit from it. Learning something new every day is a great way to keep the job fresh. There are so many sectors of the business to learn about, so you’ll never get bored. The day to day job is never dull and I always have the opportunity to work on something new.

The structure of the program is officially organised into 80% work 20% learn. But I certainly spent about 90% of the time learning new things whilst applying it to my job role at the same time. You are put into a team where you will contribute towards team goals and projects. On the JustIT side of things, it's a self-taught course, but the team at colt were so helpful and I managed to get the top grade out of it thanks to their support and help.

My team at colt have supported me from the second I arrived at the door! When I first joined I was nervous to ask stupid questions, they were quick to ensure me that there's no such thing. I have people on my team that will take as much time as is needed to make sure I fully understand something. Even if that means repeating it over and over. The patience and time the team at colt have for me is something I really appreciate and has benefited me massively.

Just IT's course is mostly self taught, which means sometimes you can feel a bit on your own when studying. Luckily for me I had an amazing team at colt to support me through my studies. Just IT give you all the resources you need, it just lacks a face to face interaction to explain some of the theory, I'd like to of seen more classroom style teaching.

I feel that the team at colt helped me with my qualification more that the qualification helped me at colt. The qualification lacked depth and really only covered the basics. Again, it was self taught so you get whatever you put in. I was lucky enough to have a great team that would spend time with me to tick off the checklist on the syllabus and create projects for me that would prove I understood theories and concepts.

At colt there is a wide range of extra-curricular activities. You can learn a new language with some fellow employees or you can go on the weekly run after work. There are also loads of events on around networking events and informative sessions as well as presentations from external speakers. We have a solid LGBT+ community, amazing summer and Christmas parties and this amazing annual bike ride that I'm yet to go on (one day I'll start training), last year they went from Munich to Vienna!

Yes

Colt is an amazing place to work, I'm lucky to have this place as my first and they've set the standard very high, writing this in lockdown is making me miss it even more! It's full of great people who always want to see you reach your full potential and will always try their best to help you get there.

My advice to people applying to Colt would be to be yourself in the interview process! My process was the following: - Step one: Applying online (cv) - Step two: Online Video interview (basic questions about me and why I want to work at colt) - Step three: Assessment Day - this included teamwork exercises and a face to face interview (with who is now one of my managers) - Step four: Induction Day - after successfully getting the job I had an induction day where I was introduced to my team and some other colt employees, it was a great way of settling me into the working world