People Services Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Science
Cambridge
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
3.6 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
My day to day role is a People Services Advisor in the MyHR team. We are the first point of contact for employees regarding HR queries so answer a range of questions from 8500 employees across the UK. These vary on many different topics and come in via email, phone and our chat service.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy certain parts of my programme than others. It is all self learning which makes it very difficult when you are struggling with topics. Also due to the lack of deadlines if you loose motivation you could be stuck on a certain area for a while. The learning so far has provided a base for my role however I hope it gets more in depth.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt how to work effectively within a global organisation, large team and with other functions outside my own. My system knowledge has been developed as I've learnt SNOW and Workday which I hadn't used before. I've also learnt how to present and give good customer service in the courses I've been involved in.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme follows a very set structure which is easy to follow. Not much organisation is needed as you have to read all the resources and work through the assignments yourself. The 20% off the job a week is organised by myself and I ensure I always reach this target.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My employer is very supportive with everything I do. My manager is very hands on and we have weekly meetings to ensure I'm happy with what I'm doing and where I can discuss any issues or concerns I may have. They are also happy to give me more study time should I feel stressed with my workload.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
There is some support from my training provider. We only have 4 sessions throughout the whole 2 year apprenticeship so the in contact learning is very minimal. My tutor is helpful however can take some time in getting back to me meaning I have felt lost at times when I was really needing guidance on an assessment.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I think qualification will be very beneficial in a higher level HR role rather than the one I'm currently working in. It is aimed at people at managerial level or with a wider level of influence than the HR advisory role I do day to day. Some parts help such as how to write and manage my PDP and CPD.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
Unfortunately due to COVID this has not been possible and I have been working in this role living 3 hours away from site. I plan to move to Cambridge when the office opens back up for regular working. I have attended some online networking events such as AZInspire ones like an internal careers fair.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
There are so many opportunities within the company and lots of room to develop and grow. They are very focussed on personal improvement in general not just as an apprentice so everyone gets time to work on development opportunities. I've been very supported during my time here and enjoy my job.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
I would advise being honest in the application questions so if you get asked for further details on them you can provide a full answer.
Prepare for the interview and research the company well so it shows you have an understanding of what they do and a desire to work for them.
Also prepare for assessment days and make sure you've hit all the targets they set.
Always try to get experience from as young an age as possible even if it's just a weekend job, this shows you have drive, a good work ethic and you will gain skills from this.
Prepare for the interview and research the company well so it shows you have an understanding of what they do and a desire to work for them.
Also prepare for assessment days and make sure you've hit all the targets they set.
Always try to get experience from as young an age as possible even if it's just a weekend job, this shows you have drive, a good work ethic and you will gain skills from this.
