Software Engineer Apprentice Review

My day to day tasks within Accenture as an apprentice is working on client based work. If I'm not on a role I apply for roles with different clients that Accenture work for, until I get a role to work on. Once I have a role I adapt my working style to the team I will be working for. I'm currently on a project for a large phone provider. My day to day tasks consist of having a morning meeting once everyone has logged on online remotely from home. In this meeting my line manager will give me the work to do work the day to complete by the end of the day or week. These tasks could be more functional and business tasks like making reports or more technical tasks like running test scripts.

I have learnt many new skills since joining Accenture. Accenture like to ensure their staff are constantly being trained on new technologies and being unskilled. This allows for everyone working for the organisation to be certified in certain skills for example programming languages or agile certified to help allow employees to understand the benefits of working in a certain methodology. Accenture also runs bootcamps to help teach new skills to employees which are transferable as well as more technical skills. Bootcamp helps teach listening and presenting skills as you train in a classroom with other employees.

I enjoy the programme a lot due to the vast variety of job roles to apply for within the business. I can constantly choice a different career path to go in if I decided I want to work more technical roles I can, or if I choice to apply for more functional roles then I can apply for it. I also enjoy that the business gives me Mondays off to learn and educate myself and then also gives me additional study days I can use to take off work to revise before an exam.

The programme structure is organised well as the programme has been up and running for over 5 years now. They constantly are taking the feedback of the apprentices to update and adapt the programme for the apprentices to make it not only a good apprenticeship scheme but also a very competitive apprenticeship to get into. Accenture are always looking into how to better are learning for the apprentices within the business to help grow and build are careers.

Accenture offer a lot of support to their employees, apprentices and contractors have less support compared to permanent employees. This is due to the reason when you're on the apprenticeship scheme you are on a yearly contract, so you aren't eligible for unpaid leave or bonuses. But once you are confirmed a permanent employee they offer a variety of support. Some of the many ways Accenture supports employees is through offering to pay for you seasonal ticket and having it taken from your pay monthly so you don't have to pay for the seasonal ticket straight upfront.

Having been to a university before joining this apprenticeship I think the training provider UEL do not offer much support for the apprentices. For example they have all coursework and exams timetable in for the same time at the end of the university season, instead of spreading out the different exams and coursework deadlines for different times within the year. I've tried seeking for help by UEL staff members and have to wait around 3-4 weeks for help.

Depending on the job role you are working within Accenture, your education may benefit your understanding with the workplace. For me personally the qualifications doesn't really help me better my performance as I doesn't match the job role I do on the day to day bases. However if you get a developer position which relates to the module I'm learning then the degree would really benefit my learning. Comparing myself to another apprentice with a more technical role, I see how they developed and adapted their skills faster than myself due to currently being in a developer job role.

Accenture offer extra curricular activities too, such as events and networking events, however due to Coronavirus it has been limited due to the circumstances. Just last week I had cocktail club with y fellow work colleagues online, they simply asked for my top 3 choices for cocktails and posted it in the mail for me.The University also offers a variety of extra curricular activities or societies that you maybe interested in joining, however this maybe hard to juggle with work too.

Yes

I would recommend this apprenticeship if you wish to get a free degree without debt, however I would like people to consider the things they will be given up on when accepting this job. I was told during block modules weeks you would be able to stay in university accommodation as live like a university student however this wasn't true. When accepting this job you have to make sure that you understand you will be working full time and studying part time. Its also important to understand how the business operates and makes money. Working within consulting is stressful in the sense that if you're not on a project or chargeable management will be passing the blame to you not portraying yourself well over the fact that they aren't helping you find a role.

Accenture likes to know that you have researched the business and what they do. So, it’s important and vital that you prepare yourself by researching and understand the background of Accenture. It’s important to understand what Accenture stands for and if you stand for the same. If you don't think you share the same values as Accenture, then it might not be the place for you. In an interview it’s important to ask as much questions as possible to understand if you would enjoy working in the environment the business has set out.