Apprenticeship vacancies

JCX50

JCX50

JCX50

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2012
Posts
665
Hello all,

Just wanted to ask you lovely people where I could get a Apprenticeship for a PC builder for example, with companies such as OverclockersUK.
Not sure if I should go down a Apprenticeship route or do Computer Hardware and Software Engineering at uni.

Thanks

JCX50
 
JCX50 said:
Hello all,

Just wanted to ask you lovely people where I could get a Apprenticeship for a PC builder for example, with companies such as OverclockersUK.
Not sure if I should go down a Apprenticeship route or do Computer Hardware and Software Engineering at uni.

Thanks

JCX50
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There is a massive difference between building a PC and being doing a Computer Hardware and Software Engineering degree.
 
PC building won't get you very far, unless you want to join the thousands on them on the bay, a degree will get you further doing a software/hardware degree.
 
Im doing an apprenticeship in systems and networking. It gives me 3 MTA awards and a fair few city and guilds ones, adding up to 2 level 3 certifications (equivalent to A2 level).

Its given me placement in a company that support a small client base really. My job ranges from managing their servers to fixing their PCs physically, if need be.
The job was found for me, so you can always apply to the company of your choice and see if they will take you on as an apprentice.

Im doing mine with QA.

I know there are a few locations for them, im personally in the London one. Have a look, i found mine on apprenticeships.org i believe. There's a good listing on there.
 
Avoid apprenticeships if possible they tend to be paid absurdly low wages, if your employer doesn't have enough decency to pay you a living wage you really don't want to be working for them.
 
Energize said:
Avoid apprenticeships if possible they tend to be paid absurdly low wages, if your employer doesn't have enough decency to pay you a living wage you really don't want to be working for them.
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Ofc you get paid a low wage jesus... you're getting training, you work 4days/week and you do 25% of the work that a guy in full blown possition would do.. at the end of your apprenticeship you'll have a qualification and experiance and possibly a place to work if you're good enough for employer to be worth keeping. Its a great way to make a start.

Yes a lot of places like tesco, next etc abuse it because the actuall qualification is turd and aprentices will be wasting their time at a role like that.
 
grudas said:
Ofc you get paid a low wage jesus... you're getting training, you work 4days/week and you do 25% of the work that a guy in full blown possition would do.. at the end of your apprenticeship you'll have a qualification and experiance and possibly a place to work if you're good enough for employer to be worth keeping. Its a great way to make a start.

Yes a lot of places like tesco, next etc abuse it because the actuall qualification is turd and aprentices will be wasting their time at a role like that.
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There's a difference between low salary and slave labor wages that you can't actually survive on, all non-menial jobs result in valuable experience and on the job training, yet you get at least the national minimum wage.

Unless you're 16 and living with your parents, where you have no expenses and low minimum wage anyway there's not much point doing an apprenticeship generally.

The concept of them is great ie. "instead of going into further education 16 year old goes into apprenticeship earning a small wage doing real work while receiving valuable training equivalent to further education", reality "employers looking to hire adults advertise menial unskilled jobs as apprenticeships to avoid minimum wage laws with no corresponding career prospects".
 
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grudas said:
Ofc you get paid a low wage jesus... you're getting training, you work 4days/week and you do 25% of the work that a guy in full blown possition would do.. at the end of your apprenticeship you'll have a qualification and experiance and possibly a place to work if you're good enough for employer to be worth keeping. Its a great way to make a start.

Yes a lot of places like tesco, next etc abuse it because the actuall qualification is turd and aprentices will be wasting their time at a role like that.
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A lot of them aren't 4 days a week etc. I did 12 and a half hours yesterday, 11 hours today (9-5 is normal 5 days a week)

My work is basically the exact same as one of the guys who has the position. This is only because of what I do though, currently lab customer topology ramp ups and then pass on to engineers for testing.

It really does depends what your doing....other apprentices where I work are 'in' sales. Well they can't exactly go and make a sales pitch by themselves...
The minimum wage for apprentices is shocking though.
 
Is there even any such thing an an apprenticeship for building pcs?
there's probably a college course that involves it but I wouldnt expect one for just building PC's

It's one of the easiest things in the world and for that reason minimum wage for the majority of people who do it.
 
Go uni mate. In the long run your better off with the wages and it will broaden your job search in that area of field.

Pc building is practically unskilled work and very low paid. Nearly every young generation kid these days I ask about computer bullding they know it in an out as if they been doing it for all their lives lol.

Go uni and broaden your skills In that area and get into the big firms. Good luck mate!
 
Energize said:
Avoid apprenticeships if possible they tend to be paid absurdly low wages, if your employer doesn't have enough decency to pay you a living wage you really don't want to be working for them.
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LMAO :p

Seriously dude its not a difficult concept, you get a low wage because your being PAID TO LEARN, School and college pay a lot less (they pay 0).

Its win win from the apprentices point of view as they get paid to learn and at the end can just ditch the company that supported them and find a job elsewhere (one of the reasons most companies do not want apprentices).

It is however quite difficult to get a job as an apprentice in a recession as most companies cannot afford any, we took one on the other year but had to let him go after a couple of months as it was just costing waay too much :(
 
ubersonic said:
LMAO :p

Seriously dude its not a difficult concept, you get a low wage because your being PAID TO LEARN, School and college pay a lot less (they pay 0).

Its win win from the apprentices point of view as they get paid to learn and at the end can just ditch the company that supported them and find a job elsewhere (one of the reasons most companies do not want apprentices).

It is however quite difficult to get a job as an apprentice in a recession as most companies cannot afford any, we took one on the other year but had to let him go after a couple of months as it was just costing waay too much :(
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it depends if apply at the right time tbh, my little brother left 6th form and i suggested him to take up an apprenticeship - i was working in retail and hating it.

so he went on applied to 2 roles he kinda liked and got interviews to both.. and then offers on both too :o how lucky is that..

i did the same but it was a lot harder to find the role i like because im more technical while he's creative, i found one that i liked but the requirements looked way above me plus it being an advanced apprenticeship i thought ill never get it with no GCSE's.. i applied to it and a two others..

had 3 interviews for the one i never thought i'd get and got it :o

been at it for 6month and tbh i love it, the training is great and it feels nice working and learning and getting some cash at the end of it.

but experience is whats important! having an actual AT work experience is way more valuable than money at this stage.

so we both got really lucky!
 
Phoned up about a really interesting 'job' prospect online

"Do you have a degree?"

"Yes"

"Sorry we cant accept applicants who have degrees, we wont receive any sponsorship"

Turned out to be an apprentiship, overqualified they said :S
 
Name said:
Phoned up about a really interesting 'job' prospect online

"Do you have a degree?"

"Yes"

"Sorry we cant accept applicants who have degrees, we wont receive any sponsorship"

Turned out to be an apprentiship, overqualified they said :S
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Companies rely on sponsorships/grants to offset the cost of an apprentice.
 
I did an apprenticeship in Engineering, came out with 2 HNC's, 3 NVQ's, 2 Key Skills, 1 City & Guilds, and about 15 other work based qualifications, and the opportunity to go to Uni, plus an above average wage job. For the OP though, there's no apprenticeships for computer building, because as said previosuly it's an unskilled job.
 
ubersonic said:
Companies rely on sponsorships/grants to offset the cost of an apprentice.
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I know, they just didnt advertise it as an apprenticeship on the advert, only when i rang up did they tell me so.

Found it unfair as the job role/spec seemed awesome. Shame i had to be shunned away because of a piece of paper, but rules are rules.
 
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