Software Test Engineer Review
at IBM
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
London
Review Submitted: February 2025
Overall Rating
3.8 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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
I test patches to a a particular piece of software to ensure that the client is pleased with the product quality. Mostly working from home, with a few weeks per year on site. I attend calls and speak with developers, develop and execute tests, and assist business users.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I mostly enjoy it. The work is interesting and can be rewarding, and I get along well with my team. Most of my complaints come from the WFH culture, as it can be quite lonely after a while.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Knowledge of software testing principles and techniques, and how this relates to the rest of the software development lifecycle. Experience in a corporate environment. Communicating with a range of audiences. Working indepedently and in a team.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
I have Friday's for indepedent/apprenticeship-based learning, which my manager is 100% okay with. This means I don't have issues getting all of my work done. In-person courses well communicated well in advance and were greatly beneficial.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Lots of support. I have people I can message for guidance, or if I have any sort of problem. They have arranged mock assessments to help with my apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I have a mentor from the training provider to assist. We have frequent calls to discuss progress. I have had 5 face to face courses to help me learn the information needed for my assessments.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
It depends on your project. For me, whilst it is helpful to learn about my job role, very little of the curriculum is actually relevant to what I am doing. However, I know others that have benefitted far more than I.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Yes, there are plenty of networking/social events advertised on Slack. There are also lots of 'Business Resource Groups' that allow people to interact with others that share interests.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend IBM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The pay is good, every colleague/superior of mine would treat me equally. I get along very well with my managers and team. The working hours are flexibile and I feel respected as an employee.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to IBM?
Remember your interviewers are human - treat them as such! They want you to succeed. Emphasise experience and how it can relate to responsibilities of the job you're applying for. Express interest in IBM's endeavours. Be yourself! Cliche, but you need to set yourself apart in every way.
