Quality Engineer Apprentice Review

The role primarily involves software testing, and planning for testing which is to be done in the future. This includes black box testing, an increasing focus on automation, and looking at where testing can be improved.

In the first few months, it took a while for the programme to really begin, since most of the work around me was already underway and therefore not something I could be easily included in. However, once I began being included in my team’s workload, I was able to meet a lot of the requirements for the apprenticeship early on which my learning mentor helped me with. My manager was also extremely helpful in ensuring I was able to meet the right people who could get me the work I needed later on to demonstrate I had the necessary experience to pass. The main issue from the apprenticeship provider’s side is the documentation and naming for things was often outdated and confusing to new starters. My learning mentor was able to clear this up, but it did initially make figuring out how to structure my submissions more difficult.

This is another very strong area for the programme. My employer was very supportive of my development journey and I was able to learn from the people around me to develop the skills I needed. While the workload for the apprenticeship and the role combined was occasionally a lot to handle, I was also given time to prepare for exams and courses when needed so that I was not going in unprepared.

My learning mentor provided me with support whenever I needed it, and was very helpful throughout the whole process. However, communication from the training provider in general was not always very transparent, and getting support from them outside of my learning mentor was sometimes difficult. However, most of the questions I had which actually mattered to me, I was simply able to put to my learning mentor who would be able to provide me what I needed.

The qualification did encourage me to explore more areas than I perhaps would have if I had not undertaken it, and it has helped me demonstrate that I have put in the work required to become skilled in my role. However, learning and development is also something which is already expected of employees in my organisation. So it is not so much that the qualification helps me to perform better, but that I was able to gain a qualification alongside doing things which help me to perform better which I most likely would have been exploring anyway. Still, the apprenticeship was a very good way into the organisation that allowed me to start in a position where people around me were especially happy to help me develop the skills I needed.

Yes

I would and have recommended the organisation to a friend. The company is an excellent place to learn and develop new skills. The people there are talented and the culture promotes people helping others. The progression opportunities are also very good.