Solutions Specialist Review

Network administration - maintenance of estate planning for upgrades and implementing new services at a network level including cabling and configuration of devices.

Yes - All my networking skills have been learnt on the job and through IBM sponsored courses both internal and external including cisco CCNA

Team and project work is great. I'm less keen on the company culture as its some what ridged and old fashioned.

Appreciation from my manager is brilliant and appraisals do help to see where I need to improve. Although bonuses are as the name suggests bonus its sometimes demotivating not to receive one especially when you have been recognized as performing above average

Poor. The framework for the level 4 was sent out late and I dont feel we were given enough time to juggle this and our responsibilities as IBMers. I feel in this apprenticeship the course work and documentation comes second to the job this does make it feel like IBM are using apprentices for a cheap source of semi skilled labor.

There is always budget for training courses however its often the case the "trainer" doesn't really understand what your doing in your day to day role and can't really advise you this is where a mentor is often helpful.

There is lots of support but none of it on a personal basis. One to one time is hard come by. There are however loads of reasources available to us on internal wikis etc.

Reasonably well. I have seen cases where people have been asked to move away from home for roles and there base location changed to that area meaning they had to pay there own living expenses dispite it not being there choice to live there.

Some mainly volunteering.

Yes

It will set any apprentice up with a full career path and is a great name for the CV

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