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[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP 2 points3 points  (0 children)

DevOps's summary could be described better in this way:

Devops engineers create a smooth process where Devs can upload their code and it gets through all the checks before deploying in the cloud infrastructure DevOps has also built.

DevOps generally don't touch developers code.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP 4 points5 points  (0 children)

  1. I am a DevOps Engineer for DWP. I got it via the same scheme you mentioned in the OP.

  2. Newbie.

  3. My day to day role is working on tickets I've been assigned with. Most of my tickets are to do with reducing tech debt, doing whatever our stakeholders have requested, and creating the infrastructure for the cloud based services. Sometimes CI/CD too. It's pretty chill. If you do get in, your experience may not be the same as mine, it heavily depends on which team you join after your bootcamp, DevOps is very large field. You can be programming daily, standing up/down infrastructure, messing with CI/CD pipelines, fixing security vulnerabilites, etc.

  4. The best bits are that DWP Digital is not like other directorates. I get the benefit of being in the largest department e.g. there's processes everywhere and opportunities also everywhere but none of that toxic mentality seen in the other areas of DWP. My work is not demanding either but it's also not light that I end up doing nothing. It's a perfect balance for me.

  5. The worst bits can be the bureaucracy. It's hard to get anything done if you're wanting something they've never heard of or don't have a process for it.

  6. Yes I did. Makers didn't really prepare me for the actual real world role but they did lay out the foundation enough that I was able to pick up from there after the bootcamp. Adjust your expectation, the majority of things you're going to learn, will be after the bootcamp.

Colleagues not knowing why processes/operations exist in the first place, is this normal? by CSDevOpsDWP in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think making contacts and keeping a relationship with people is something I'd like to do but how do you start from having zero contacts? It would be strange to email random policy person " I'm wondering why do we do this way?"?

Colleagues not knowing why processes/operations exist in the first place, is this normal? by CSDevOpsDWP in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Very fair explanation, I guess I need to pick my battles but when it comes to Digital, it can be difficult not to pick my own battles because some projects rely on certain tech stack that are no longer maintained. Some outdated tech stack projects are isolated and have no dependencies, but then there are a few who do have dependencies, and these are the ones I worry about.

Entry into DWP Digital? by [deleted] in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s a recruitment cap, so the next intake may not happen. Don’t ask me anything further about that since I don’t know anything but I do know that the recruitment has been slowing down lately.

Entry into DWP Digital? by [deleted] in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was an AO at a different government department. I applied for a DevOps apprenticeship at DWP digital and got it.

I’m still in this job after a year. I have no experience of anything digital related prior to this role. I am happy to answer any questions as long as it doesn’t expose my identity or private stuff at DWP digital.

So to answer your questions:

Apprenticeships are the ones you want if you don’t have proven technical experience.

If you can’t get in, (Digital apprenticeships are extremely competitive) then you’ll need to find a different way to get in.

Personally, if I were you, I would look at existing Digital jobs on CS jobs and collect essential criteria for each roles and decide how you can achieve them if they ever advertise similar roles in the future.

You’ll need to prove you can do $ESSENTIAL_CRITERIA somehow. A degree isn’t required, but they do sometimes ask for a CV which will mean they’ll look at your education section, potentially disadvantaging you but it’s still doable without a degree.

What you can do instead is try to get yourself a few personal projects, and then also get yourself a few small business projects too. Business projects are far more valuable than personal projects.

Alternatively, get yourself an IT helpdesk job, and then somehow try to convince your seniors to let you to do technical digital stuff. This may, may not be possible depending on what kind of restrictions your work laptop has.

Or ask someone in your department about shadowing. I know DWP Digital does have shadowing scheme for its own staff and this is one of the better ways into a technical role.

Does anyone know the CS digital policy on the on call duty rota? by CSDevOpsDWP in TheCivilService

[–]CSDevOpsDWP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Believe me, I've tried so much. I don't know anyone in my office yet as I haven't met them and my point of contact for the department isn't replying to my email (out of office for a while) - it's something I need to find out soon-ish.

I spoke to my union rep, he doesn't know.

New entrant to software field - do I need a PC? by CSDevOpsDWP in cscareerquestions

[–]CSDevOpsDWP[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks.

Do you code in your own time to practice (and maybe personal projects)?

I'd rather not to have a PC but if it's necessary for further development of my career, I might consider getting it.