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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

• How many people work in the engineering sector?
• What can you earn in different roles?
• What routes can you take to get in?
• Is the demand for engineers expected to grow in the future?

Watch the film to find out the answers to these questions, and much more!

Other resources

• See what type of engineering role might suit you with the
• Find out more about the different areas of engineering with this
• Learn more about roles in engineering with the
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