Rating

9.6/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • On the job, actual work experience with a team who are willing to help grow and nurture new members, whatever their experience. This is coupled with gathering evidence from my usual daily tasks to reflect on my growth over the two years. Areas that are required for the apprenticeship are covered by both a learning plan, training days, and if ever required the task manager helps cover. at least 20% of the job is on purely the apprenticeship, either training days, portfolio building or any other activity that would not be classed as on the job.

    10/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • Communication skills with clients of all levels, Programming skills such as Python, Ansible and the use of lambdas. Understanding of the environment architecture, before I had no idea how to read one of these drawings, but after getting used to the environment and being led through the drawing, I can now understand how it relates.

    10/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I have found the programme to be an excellent way for me to get into a career I love. I am enjoying the work, and find it to be the best job ive ever had. Though at times there is an intense amount of work to achieve, it may be hard, but has never been overwhelming, especially with the amazing team who assist each other.

    10/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The majority of the programme makes sense, being on the job is the best way to actually learn, giving real world examples and experience. I believe the criterea could of been laid out in a better way at the start of the programme, which would of made it easier to collate all the evidence at the end.

    9/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • I have found excellent support from all areas of IBM. My Early Professional Manager (EPM) has been always available when needed, and guiding me on my path for the apprenticeship. My Task Manager has always known how to assist me on any problems, and even if he didnt have the specific technical skill, he knew who in the team did and could arrange to get their assistance. My task manager was also very lenient on the apprenticeship side, understanding my need to go on training days, and would always allow time to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship work. Also helping me keep a great work/life balance.

    10/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • I have found that the courses and learning plan provided have helped me greatly work towards my qualifications. I have found that over the course, it has been tweeked in areas as we give feedback on what went well and what could go better. I can surely say that each iteration of new apprentices will find a better system in place as it gets updated and improved

    9/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • The training given by my provider has helped shape my knowledge around my role, and also gives me access to additional training that I wish to persue that will help my understanding of my role. I have gained experience of the greater picture, which has helped me understand my part and areas I can improve on.

    9/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • There are many social activities that go on, weekly newsletters are sent out for any additional training days people would like to go on. There is also the Global Challenge, which gets teams to work together improving health and wellbeing. Christmas parties and other social events always crop up in different sectors, and the company promotes social activities of teams especially when good works have been completed. There is an amazing ethos of team and relationship building, going on nights out and meals.

    10/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend IBM to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • This has been the best job I have ever done, and the apprenticeship was my way of getting into the career. Though I have experience in some areas I use to this day, many of my skills were built up to a better standard by going through a training entryway.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to IBM?
  • Make your CV stand out, look at the values and beliefs of the company, and what areas have you done in life that you can reflect and showcase. It is not all about how high your grades were, but how hard you tried to achieve them. When you get to an assessment center, you need to clear your mind about this being a competition, they want to hire team workers not sole winners.


Details

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Information Technology

Hursley

June 2020


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