Posted on 21 July 2024 by
“Businesses often face challenges when hiring experienced talent in our industry. By focusing on identifying and nurturing talent internally, we’ve been able to bridge that gap. While we still seek skilled professionals, we also prioritise developing our own team members, accelerating their growth to become experienced software engineers in a relatively short time.”
Read more about our approach to work experience below.
21 July 2024
Over the years, RDT has had the privilege of working with exceptionally talented trainees. These individuals have come to us from a variety of backgrounds—some straight from school or university, and others transitioning from different careers. We are proud to have even sponsored ‘Returnships’, helping people successfully re-enter the workforce after a period of time away.
A strategic approach to work experience at RDT
RDT’s commitment to work experience began many years ago. Like many organisations, we initially offered placements to the children of employees, giving them a chance to see firsthand what their parents did for a living. While this was beneficial for schools and parents, the overall impact on the students themselves was often limited.
Recognising this, we began to rethink our approach to work experience. We asked ourselves how we could make these opportunities more meaningful—for both RDT and the wider community—and how we could actively invest in nurturing young talent.
Partnering with schools and engaging the next generation
Our approach has since evolved into a proactive and strategic initiative. We actively collaborate with local schools, participating in career fairs, offering hands-on coding sessions, and providing personalised guidance to students at their schools.
For example, in a recent session, two of our trainees spoke to a group of sixth-form students, discussing the pros and cons of apprenticeships versus attending university. The discussion mainly focused on topics such as student debt and the social aspects of university life, giving the students practical insights into their future choices.
We encourage those interested in software engineering to speak directly with our current trainees to hear their personal stories and how they made their decisions. This level of engagement helps students make informed choices about their future.
Offering diverse, in-depth work experience opportunities
RDT now offers over twenty week-long work experience placements annually, welcoming a diverse group of students from various schools. What unites these students is their shared interest in pursuing careers in software engineering.
These placements are packed with activities designed to immerse students in real-world software development. Students hear presentations from our employees, participate in game-themed sessions that simulate our software creation process, and get hands-on experience with coding and technology. They also learn about the essential ‘soft skills’ required in the tech industry—often the most valuable takeaway from the experience.
We also provide practical support on CV building, LinkedIn profile optimisation, and guidance on the next steps, whether that’s pursuing a job, an apprenticeship, or university. Our goal is to ensure students leave with practical tools and knowledge to help them take the next step in their careers.
Nurturing future talent with follow-up opportunities
For those students who show strong interest, we offer a post-placement coding task, which is evaluated by our team. Students who submit impressive projects may be invited back for additional opportunities with us.
A second week-long placement in a technical team allows both the student and RDT to get a deeper understanding of each other. During this time, students work on real-life programming and website design tasks, participate in relevant stand-ups, planning sessions, and retrospectives, and get a true taste of life in a software development team.
Identifying and supporting emerging talent
At RDT, we believe that ethical employers have a responsibility to provide meaningful work experience opportunities to a wide range of students. These placements not only help students gain valuable skills, but they also allow us to identify and track talented individuals. We continue to engage with these students throughout their studies, helping them grow into the software engineers of the future.
By investing in the next generation of tech talent, RDT is not only contributing to the community but also building a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to make a meaningful impact in the software industry.
Read more:
Building a tech talent pipeline for the future – RDT
Navigating tomorrow’s tech horizons – RDT
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