Digital Apprentice Review

I am a digital apprentice, working in both the Informatics and Material Science fields within Pfizer. Within informatics, I help to digitalise our day to day processes by connecting equipment to cloud services, working with new technology to enhance performance, and create solutions to make work more efficient. Within Material Science, I assist with experiments on new Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients to discover their properties to better understand how they can be used in medicine.

I have developed my skills with technology greatly, learning new techniques within software I had never used or with new technology, and developing my existing skills with techniques I never knew before. My connection in Material Science has improved my scientific knowledge and my skill within a laboratory workspace including general policies but also specific equipment use.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme as it allows me to get hands-on experience within the workplace whilst I work towards attaining my degree by allowing me to perform an exciting job and connect well within the Pharmaceutical Industry with connections within my company but also a better understanding of the industry as a whole. Although it is tough to manage employment and a degree, it provides invaluable skills as you balance both that set you up better for the future.

There is plenty of structure within the programme, as both the employment and education sets time framed goals and plans to help me develop both in the short term and the long term. There is plenty of opportunity to develop outside of the basic structure, but plenty is learnt and undertaken within the structured plans.

My employer has given plenty of support in both better understanding the work I do on a daily basis but also assisting me in undertaking my degree studies, giving me connections who can help me with specific issues I have in both areas of my apprenticeship and making sure I can handle what I am being assigned.

My training provider is also very supportive, with consistent meetings with my assigned mentor within the provider to make sure I am understanding my employment responsibilities and also my university responsibilities, helping if I struggle, giving me connections that I can reach out to for assistance, and working with me to find better solutions to improve my work performance.

My qualification assists with my job role as it helps me attain a better understanding of the industry and the data I work with, and the behaviours and skills that I develop in attaining my qualification directly assist my work performance within my role and help me to perform better day to day.

There have been plenty of opportunities to get involved with within my work, as I have been involved in the engagement team within my department which sets up all extra-curricular activities. This includes setting up team-building exercises, networking opportunities for various roles, and formal celebrations to bring the department together. There has also been various sports teams or groups to get involved with to share passions outside of work with colleagues.

Yes

The work environment is amazing, the people around you are more than willing to help you settle in and understand the work that the company does, everyone is prepared to assist you in learning how to perform to the best of your abilities, and the general work that you do always seems to have a great impact.

Definitely go straight for it, make sure to let them know what about you stands out compared to other candidates, and go into detail about the small specific things that show that you can go above and beyond, as Pfizer excels in innovation and seeks out keen minds that can develop and innovate where others wouldn't.