Software Developer Review

I found it really enjoyable. There was always something interesting for me to do and everyone was very friendly, and all did there best to make a good working environment. There were lots of social activities organised by the company to keep everyone in good spirits, e.g. monthly cake Wednesday's, and organised lunch time walks, as well as a Sports and Social Club that was only £5 a month.

I was constantly given work that was interesting and challenging. I wasn't just told what to do, but asked what I thought, and if I had a solution. I was even asked by seniors to check their code for errors and given solo tasks to do myself. For my first project I was the primary developer on a project developing two internal sites for the company, so had lots to do.

I always felt I could ask for help when I needed it, and this wasn't one way. I was asked for guidance by others as well, which made it easier when I needed to ask for help. It felt like we were a team, and everyone helped each other out.

There was always something to do. Some days I would be able to finish early whereas other days I would work late, so they would cancel each other out, but I never felt either bored or swamped. There was always lots to do, but it was always shared out fairly so it wasn't all on one person.

I was given solo tasks, to complete myself, but I always had someone who would check it over. I also had a project where I was the primary developer for creating two internal sites for the company. It was my job to say what was possible, and what was not. What requests would be quick and easy, and which ones would take longer, as well as give a time estimate.

I have practical, applied, experience using my skills in a work place, as well as experience working in a real-life development team, rather than the university generated "Team Work" scenarios. I have experience using coding and the real world and not just in laboratory exercises, as well as experience with a well known and respected international company.

Most of the time it was fun and chatty. Fairly relaxed and everyone getting on with one another. During the COvid-19 pandemic things did get a bit more tense and fractious, but we all managed to stay civilised and got through it together. Cake Wednesday and Pizza Thursday (during the pandemic only - due to the lack of a canteen) always made everyone happy, and we often had people bringing in cake's they'd made at home.

Very. There were over 90 placement students at this company, so we had quite a bit of stuff put on specific for us. Most people had a project immediately, as soon as they joined, and those of us that didn't, didn't have to wait long for one. We even had a project just for placement students and new joiners, the Student Kickstart Initiative.

I had access to allot of online training resources, which I could use outside of work-time to teach myself anything I wanted, and inside of work-time to learn the specified skills they wanted me to learn.

Very. I would almost definitely return here.

We had online pub quizzes during the pandemic, and before then we visited London and went to a cocktail bar. We had a few big meet ups with Lunch included which were always fun as well. We also had a sports and social club, which you could join for £5 a month, and anyone could organise an event. I organised a Cocktail Masterclass for 20 people (first come first served), which was free for all sports and social club members. It was so popular it had a waiting list! There were also Christmas Dinners, Theatre trips, GO APE, and there would have been indoor skydiving, but it was cancelled due to Covid-19.

I was in Reading, so quite high. But CGI have a number of offices all over the Country, including Bristol, Birmingham, London, Gloucester and even Scotland.

I'm not much of a night life person.

Loads! The Sports and Social club had lots going on, and if none of those interested you, then you could organise your own.