Meet Bode, 19, to find out more about life as an apprentice software engineer at British Land. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
I enjoy the complexity and being able to build whatever I want with computers; there are no limits.
How did you get your job?
As part of an internship, I worked on a youth engagement project. We worked closely with British Land so that led me to know a bit more about them and the work they do.
I found their apprenticeship schemes after doing some research online. I applied and now I'm working there as a software engineer apprentice.
What skills do you use on a typical day in your job?
Every day is different. I have been working on lots of different projects, for example, I worked with a flexible work space company to create a piece of software to make it easy for people to book meeting rooms.
I use problem solving skills most days because I do things like coding.
I also need to be able to communicate well with others.
What choices did you make to get where you are today?
I studied ICT at GCSE and Computer Science at A-level. I also taught myself a lot of IT skills, for example how to make a website and develop software. I used to do it for fun. I told British Land about this experience in my interview and they found it really intriguing.
My parents really wanted me to go to university but I wasn't keen. The price was too high for me and I thought there was another option. I'm now studying a degree alongside my apprenticeship. I had to prove myself because I originally started on a two-year higher apprenticeship which did not include a degree qualification.
Top tips
- Find your passion and follow it
- Nothing is certain in life – you have to learn how to work hard through uncertainty
- Have clear examples for interviews. I taught myself how to build a website and I used this experience to secure my job.
What to expect if you want to be an engineer
- See what type of engineering role might suit you with the meet the future you quiz
- Find out more about the different areas of engineering with this guide from Tomorrow's Engineers
- Learn more about roles in engineering with the National Careers Service explore careers tool
- Discover a practical new way to study via T-levels (England-only).
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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Tips and advice
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