IT project manager Review
at AstraZeneca
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Macclesfield
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.6/5
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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:
4/5
IT project manager
- I help to manage the schedule, costs and resources allocated to projects
- I also monitor risks and work to mitigate them to make sure the project stays on track
- I also act as a bridge across different stakeholders to make sure they are looped into progress & expectations are met
- I help to manage the schedule, costs and resources allocated to projects
- I also monitor risks and work to mitigate them to make sure the project stays on track
- I also act as a bridge across different stakeholders to make sure they are looped into progress & expectations are met
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
Loving it! I started on the apprenticeship scheme a few years into working at Astrazeneca and I wish I'd joined sooner. It's teaching me important grounding skills and informing a lot of the "Buzz business language" I've heard of but never fully understood where they came from.
In addition, I'm also building a wider network with people from within the business but also externally across other companies
In addition, I'm also building a wider network with people from within the business but also externally across other companies
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Learning new skills:
- technical understanding - networks, cloud computing, Telephony (soft phones)
- Cost/financial management
Developing existing skills:
- Self awareness & self management - building resilience & personal development plan
- Business understanding - commercial market access & sustainability, Early phase Science & data science, IT service ITIL structure & working across those different stakeholders
- People management - influencing, diplomacy, empathy and collaboration
- technical understanding - networks, cloud computing, Telephony (soft phones)
- Cost/financial management
Developing existing skills:
- Self awareness & self management - building resilience & personal development plan
- Business understanding - commercial market access & sustainability, Early phase Science & data science, IT service ITIL structure & working across those different stakeholders
- People management - influencing, diplomacy, empathy and collaboration
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
It's really well organised
- I have a dedicated learning coach guiding me through the programme and offering constructive feedback on module work
- Personal learning progress is logged in a system called "Aptem" - it means I can track the amount of time I spend on modules and where I am in the learning journey
- I have a dedicated learning coach guiding me through the programme and offering constructive feedback on module work
- Personal learning progress is logged in a system called "Aptem" - it means I can track the amount of time I spend on modules and where I am in the learning journey
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
A lot of support - my employer approached us to offer the apprenticeship due to extra funding available.
My line manager is also involved in the process and able to support me as I progress through the modules.
By looping them closely into the process, it's also given me the chance to carve out dedicated time in the week to take part
My line manager is also involved in the process and able to support me as I progress through the modules.
By looping them closely into the process, it's also given me the chance to carve out dedicated time in the week to take part
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The programme offers lots of support
- We have a dedicated coach who guides us through the programme, arranges reviews with managers, group study sessions
- We also have workshops that are dedicated to specific topics for deeper dives e.g. Communicate & business language, interpreting personality assessments, building credibility and influence, effective collaboration
- We have a dedicated coach who guides us through the programme, arranges reviews with managers, group study sessions
- We also have workshops that are dedicated to specific topics for deeper dives e.g. Communicate & business language, interpreting personality assessments, building credibility and influence, effective collaboration
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
So far it has helped me to build awareness about myself - I understand how I come across to others better and how I might react in certain work scenarios. As a result, I think this will help me to collaborate with others more effectively and be a more credible leader.
It has also helped me in my soft skills (e.g. communication, influence) to help me be a more effective people manager.
It has also helped me in my soft skills (e.g. communication, influence) to help me be a more effective people manager.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Tonnes! There are groups who support all walks of life and are located in many geographies around the world e.g. charity groups, groups dedicated to LGBTQ+ awareness and diversity and inclusion, music groups, religious groups, cultural groups, car enthusiasts, sustainability awareness groups - you name it! There is buckets to get involved in
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Astrazeneca is an incredible company who shares and cares about my own personal passions and career. They support you through your own personal development and invest a huge amount into their emphasis on early talent.
As well as this, you join an amazing global community of people who encourage each other, support each other on our learning journeys and build an amazing great place to work. Could not recommend it enough!
As well as this, you join an amazing global community of people who encourage each other, support each other on our learning journeys and build an amazing great place to work. Could not recommend it enough!
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Don't be scared about reaching out to people. Continue to be curious, and grab any opportunity that comes your way.
And also remember to invest in your own learning. We will be working for a long time and the work environment will continue to change. Your personal learning is so critical to make sure you are up to date and happy at work - look at life at work as a source of creativity and a way to follow your own aspirations and passions.
And also remember to invest in your own learning. We will be working for a long time and the work environment will continue to change. Your personal learning is so critical to make sure you are up to date and happy at work - look at life at work as a source of creativity and a way to follow your own aspirations and passions.
