Software Engineer Review
at KPMG
Degree Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Canary Wharf
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4 /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
4/5
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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
My day to day role as a software engineer involves picking up stories (tasks to be completed) or bugs (issues with the code). As we follow the agile development methodology I also partake in sprint ceremonies (project team meetings) this includes daily standups, sprint reviews and retrospectives as well as sprit planning.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The uni side is very structured with a dedicated study day once a week. The modules have been very varied and although they don't all apply to my job, they have been interesting. The lecturers have been hit and miss but on the whole I have felt able to achieve good grades. Not much structure to the coding learning but they are working on a dedicated pathway for this
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I had only briefly coded before joining the firm. Therefore the coding aspect of the job has been learnt completely on the job, I've found learning best when I am on a project rather than separate study time. I have learnt c#, javascript and typescript. Over the years I have also taken part in public speaking which has developed my soft skills
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme has a dedicated apprenticeship team which are always on hand to help. I have friends on apprenticeships with other companies without a dedicated team and there is a big impact. The team kicked the apprenticeship off with an induction week and have continued with quarterly forums until you specialise.
My team are great and are always there to support
My team are great and are always there to support
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
As mentioned above there is a dedicated apprenticeship team, as part of that you have a dedicated support advisor who is there to answer any queries. In your team you also have a performance manager and buddy. I have felt supported throughout my apprenticeship with multiple people i can contact if i am struggling
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
As mentioned earlier, BPP can be a bit hit and miss but I have noticed an improvement over the years. I now have a termly meeting with my bpp advisor to discuss any issues with the previous term and highlight any worries with the next. On the whole lecturers are good and give us their emails so we can contact them if we need further assisitance
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
As part of the degree you choose a path to specialise in, even though I chose the software engineering pathway I have not seen many links to my role. However, there have been modules relating to other roles in the project team and that has given me a better understanding of them
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
There are many committees and groups out there that you can join. Furthermore if you feel there is a gap you are free to make your own committee / group. I am part of the digital ninjas as well as IT's her future which are technology based but KPMG has a range of groups including breathe (the lgbt+ network) as well as a range of sports and leisure groups
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend KPMG to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend KPMG as I've enjoyed my apprenticeship. You get a dedicated apprenticeship team (which is not the case for as many firms as you'd think) and are able to move around the company until you find a team that suits you. You are also guaranteed a job at the end.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to KPMG?
Be yourself in the interview, KPMG has a policy to bring your whole self to work and this includes the interview. KPMG is built on its values so would be really useful to get to grips with those and think of some times where you have already shown you are following KPMG's values
