Andrew joined CGI in August 2013 on a 12-month industrial placement as part of a degree in Computer Science. Andrew is studying at Newcastle.
“I chose to take a year out between my second and third year and after some research decided that CGI looked like a great company to gain some valuable experience with.
As my degree is in Computer Science, I was keen to pursue technical roles at CGI. Since joining I’ve gained valuable experience and insight into systems testing which involved executing test-scripts and logging the outcomes for analysis. I also took part in a project which involved installing and configuring Oracle servers and databases. Most large corporations – including all 20 of the world’s leading banks – use Oracle, so gaining skills in this area is invaluable.
Having said that, the most important skills to have here at CGI are adaptability and flexibility, especially as you’re out of your comfort zone for many roles, and indeed your base-location from time to time.
My advice to anyone considering the Industrial Placement Programme would be to have an open mind and, once you’ve joined, not to be afraid to accept work that doesn’t sound very appealing or you haven’t done before, because there’s always support to help you. The people here understand that you won’t be an expert at everything. Plus it will more than likely lead to more interesting things, and you might be surprised at how much you enjoy doing something different."
