Software Engineer Review

The role involves working on coding projects that relate to the engineering team one has been assigned. It requires a person to take initiative and work with a lot of people , inside and outside the team. Sometimes , there are meetings to attend. Some days in a week, there is also the requirement to be in University for a specific amount of time. The University days are used to attend lectures and labs alongside other apprentices.

There is a mix of both learning and developing skills. For example, I have developed a skill on how I can send more formal and professional emails, that are standard in a work place. I have also improved on my presentation skills and my ability to teach myself. I have learnt skills that relate more with a working environment, such as being more aware of the information I am giving out to social media and people !

The program is a very enjoyable experience. The University and work days are spread across the week so there are always chances to learn and do new things. Things do not always remain constant, which is enjoyable. The people working in the company , whether apprentices, graduates or employees who have been present for a long time , are all accommodating and welcoming co-workers. They are always willing to lend a hand or direct you to the right place so one does not get lost

The 2 days at University and then 3 days at work weekly structure provides a stable balance of University work and Business work. Due to Covid-19, a lot of employers retracted their apprenticeship offers, however Goldman has always been on top of their organization and still went along with the program. There is a small lack of communication with the University and Goldman. there are cases where the university asks for information we cannot disclose. However, Goldman tries its best to bridge that gap.

The employers are very supportive. When starting the course, you get an apprentice buddy who is in a year or two above. We also get a mentor , who is in a different team from us and is normally a graduate and they are also there to support you. Furthermore, we stay in regular contact with our managers who aid us in both University and the work side. Additionally, Queen Mary also gives us tripartite directors, who catch-up with us every semester and make sure we are documenting our projects properly.

As we are also attending university and doing our university courses, we have exams around the same time as everyone else in the University has them. Our employers allow us to take a certain numbers of study days , which are not deducted from our allowed holiday days , so that we can study and work for our exams. We are also allowed to take the day off to do the exam. It is up to us to discuss which days work best for us to take off with our manager.

The things we learn in university, in this case coding, help us in our work lives. It helps us to think and problem solve using different methods that we have learnt. Additionally, we are exposed to the professional standard for writing and submitting formal reports. There is a work-based university module which requires one to relate the topic of their work to the practices that are ongoing in the organization. The weekly split allows us to quickly put into practice what we learn as theory.

There are many events in university as well as work that apprentices can get involved in. Due to the pandemic, those events have been unable to happen. However, this did not stop the employees in Goldman Sachs from hosting virtual get togethers, game nights, quizzes and many more. There has always been some time to network and get to know the other employees after the events. Additionally, the networks we have at Goldman Sachs keep up to date by sending regular emails and hosting regular panels

Yes

Goldman Sachs is an company who remain organized even in the most unpredicted circumstances. They are resilient in their work and very friendly to their apprentices. The whole environment is friendly and supporting. Goldman Sachs tries its best to provide the best experience for apprentices and they take in to account everything. The higher years are kind and are always around if someone needs advice. Working here is enjoyable and fun with a lot of new and exciting projects.

When one is writing an application it is important to always be yourself. In the course , there are students who are well versed in programming and those who are not. So it is important to realize that if you are chosen , you are chosen for your own ability. Additionally, an individual needs to put in a lot of effort and time in order to not be left behind and keep up with school work. Being hard-working is a big quality.