Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

From second year onwards, we take part of 6 months rotation across different areas of the business. A set of priorities are agreed at the start of each rotation to match my needs and the team needs. At the moment, I'm working with systems verification, looking at a set of requirements and writing test procedures so I can then run the test in the laboratory.

It's an electronic and computer engineering degree, which is directly related to the work that is performed at the company. Before joining, I had very limited knowledge about electronics and had never written any software before, therefore, I've developed skills to write programming in C, C++, and Python, as well as circuitry knowledge.

The program can be very stressful at times, as we have to manage our work tasks as well as well as University. We do get a great amount of support that means it is achievable and very rewarding. As well as our normal jobs, we get offered a wide range of courses by the company that allows me to network with many people and also develop new skills.

GE has been doing apprenticeships for many years now, therefore most people in the business have a pretty good knowledge and understanding of your availability and goals are, this means we get many opportunities within the team. University side involves partnership between college and Uni, the communication between both is not always the best, but college usually compensates that with extra flexibility.

Good amount of support is provided. At the moment, we have a good amount of independence to find opportunities and go after them, however, whenever needed the supported is granted. Recently I struggled a little bit with stress from managing Uni and work, and I could make use of an external mentoring provided by the company.

Great support. My background knowledge for the course I am taking was almost inexistence apart from a bit of Math's. The training provider offered additional sessions, and the lecturers even held one to one sessions with me to help my understanding and to make sure my assignments were going in the right direction.

If I'm honest, it doesn't always feels like it relates at all. But in recent times, I've been experiencing several moments in which I come across a topic at work that I am now familiar to because of the learning at College. We get rotations across different areas, therefore, sometimes it may take a while till you come across a specific topic.

I have a 45min commute to work, therefore I haven't always been part of extra-curricular activities, but most recently I have joined a football group that plays every week after work. Because we are all registered as STEM ambassadors, I have had the opportunity to join several events in which I got to network with people from the wider business and also other companies.

Yes

GE is a massive company, involved in a wide range of projects, therefore there is a lot of opportunity to work with different things and to meet a wide range of people across the business. GE is not a perfect company, there is no such a thing, however they have an awareness of that and are looking for opportunities to grow and develop.

Sounds cliché, but be yourself. I've heard it once that GE strongly believes that character is very hard to teach, so they would rather hire a diverse group of people and teach them the skills then the other way round. Therefore, be open, honest about what you don't know, but also show that you are committed to learning and developing new skills.