Apprentice Software Engineer Review

As a degree software engineer, I am involved mostly in the general business support for the company. On a low lever view, I get to experience and pick up new skills almost every day, especially as I get the luxury of changing teams every 6 moths as they provide us the ability to rotate teams around the business.

Yes, in both departments. Coming straight in from sixth form I was quite fresh to the industry with little to none experience, that meant most things I ended up working on were new to me so it was a grand learning experience. However, there were many times where skills that I had picked up from education came in handy, and I even got to expand on them whilst applying them in the workplace.

A large extent. Being an apprentice means that I am always exposed to new opportunities and great learning challenges which help me develop as a person and employee. With ample support available for us, there are hardly any times where I feel alone or lost, allowing me to constantly move in the right direction.

It is structured rather well on the high level view but somewhat poorly when it comes to the specifics. There are many great things planned for us as apprentices, such as the rotations, but sadly not everyone gets to experience them. All in all, the programme is built well with us apprentices in mind, we get loads of support and guidance at each step of the programme.

BT is incredible when it comes to guidance and support - it's available around every corner and in every possible format for the apprentice to consume, that being online or face-to-face, small to large etc. If anyone needs support, as long as they reach, the help will come and more often that not it's really good.

Similarly, as long as the individual makes the first move the support is there and available for them to utilise whenever it may be needed. This includes various library session that may help with referencing, or one-on-one sessions with the lecturers for the modules. There is enough support available for us to get help on any subject within our lives.

There is a vast collection of information that we learn from our training providers that supports us greatly with the fundamental concepts that we work on, more often that not it is rather hard to spot or utilise that knowledge at work. However, many times we have learned new concepts that can come up at work, and when that happens it really helps with confidence when working on that.

There are LOADS of extra activities available for anyone to get involved with. There can range from sports related activities to large, professional information-sharing events. There is pretty much enough extra activities available for anyone to find something that's interesting for themselves to get involved in. Almost all events are carefully planned and provide a great experience to those attending.

Yes

A great environment for learning and developing yourself, with many great people working around you that are knowledgable and always happy to help. The support available is amazing and if someone knows that they want, the opportunities and support in reaching for that objective are always there for them - making career plans super handy.

Be prepared to leave your comfort zone if you aim to get a fulfilling and educational experience from BT, there are loads of great opportunities available for anyone to seize - you just have to make the move for them. Don't be afraid to ask for support, everyone is happy to help, and once they do you fill feel a lot more confident doing what you do.