Software Engineer Apprentice Review
at Amazon
Degree Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
London
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
1.9 /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!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
2/5
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Skills Development
1.8/5
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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:
3/5
Team dependent. Tasks range from coding a small alteration to a larger service, to self contained projects, maintenance tasks, document writing, etc.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
Overall experience was disjointed. Multiple manager changes, which wouldn't be an issue if there wasn't vastly different expectations for apprentices depending on the manager. Team support also varied massively; some teams don't understand that apprentices need to be trained.
The apprenticeship training was almost entirely useless, due to a degree standard not relevant to the job, and overall poor delivery of training by QA.
Workload/stress depends on manager, with some very lenient, and others less so.
The apprenticeship training was almost entirely useless, due to a degree standard not relevant to the job, and overall poor delivery of training by QA.
Workload/stress depends on manager, with some very lenient, and others less so.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
2/5
Increased coding knowledge mostly from colleagues. Training provider taught nothing useful.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
This may have improved since I started, but as I said above, the degree program was almost entirely useless. Assignments and modules did not help at all on the job. This required us to learn in our own time.
There was no effective communication to managers on the needs of an apprentice - that they NEED training, mentorship, tailored projects/tasks, and patience. Some managers understood this, but many provided inadequate support, while expecting the work of a full time employee.
There was no effective communication to managers on the needs of an apprentice - that they NEED training, mentorship, tailored projects/tasks, and patience. Some managers understood this, but many provided inadequate support, while expecting the work of a full time employee.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
1/5
Dependent on manager. Some managers provided almost none, others lots. The apprenticeship team has made good improvements in supporting apprentices when problems arise, however too much of this rests on apprentices themselves to figure out how to deal with problems..
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
QA were terrible.
* Very poor standard of 'instructors', with many knowing less than the students themselves
* Course not degree level (somewhere between GCSE and A-levels in terms of difficulty)
* Feedback for assignments blatantly made up on multiple occasions
* Non-existent admin who frequently ignored emails
* Constant admin issues e.g. grades not released, no instructor assigned for course, delays etc.
* Very poor standard of 'instructors', with many knowing less than the students themselves
* Course not degree level (somewhere between GCSE and A-levels in terms of difficulty)
* Feedback for assignments blatantly made up on multiple occasions
* Non-existent admin who frequently ignored emails
* Constant admin issues e.g. grades not released, no instructor assigned for course, delays etc.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
Not at all. The degree standard is not relevant to the software engineer job.
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
Yes, lots, as Amazon is a huge company.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Amazon to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Worth it due to salary and prestige (it looks good on your CV).
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Amazon?
You need to independent, in terms of learning skills and solving problems (both technical and non-technical). DON'T go in if you have no coding knowledge.
