Job opportunities: Want to get into IT but have no experience or qualifications?

Burnsy2023 · 28 Jun 2019 at 15:19

I work for the Ordnance Survey and one of the best things we do is our IT Trainee programme. It's 12 months long and you'll learn how to engineer or test enterprise quality software by the end of it. It doesn't require any qualifications or technical experience, instead we look at your ability to learn, communicate and take into consideration any side projects. For example, we had someone download some open source software to a Raspberry Pi and use it for home automation. It wasn't much but it demonstrated loads of things we're after. We are also looking for one to specialise in Cyber Security - some very valuable skills.

It's one of the few programmes that will take someone with no experience and start them off on £25k.

Whilst we're known for paper maps, that's a tiny part of the Business. We really do work on cutting edge technology doing things that nobody else has done before.

If you're interested. Take a look here: https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/careers/start-career/it-trainees.html

flibbage0 · 28 Jun 2019 at 19:39

I would be interested, what's the cost of living in or near Southampton?

Burnsy2023 · 29 Jun 2019 at 14:16

flibbage0 said:
I would be interested, what's the cost of living in or near Southampton?

Err, difficult to answer that question. Compared to what? Where are you now?

Vexr · 29 Jun 2019 at 15:07

Outstanding opportunity. Would be tempted myself, but I'm starting a new job soon already. These days it seems most won't even consider you for a basic sub-£20k IT service desk role unless your qualifications/employment history are already geared that way, so this is truly something.

Ev0 · 30 Jun 2019 at 18:01

Been to the office in Southampton a couple of times as a vendor who has done/does some work with one the teams there, seems a nice place to work

Josh · 30 Jun 2019 at 18:16

Interesting opportunity, do they offer flexible working or remote working/work for home?

silvagti · 30 Jun 2019 at 18:25

Vexr said:
These days it seems most won't even consider you for a basic sub-£20k IT service desk role unless your qualifications/employment history are already geared that way, so this is truly something.

That's the brutal reality right now. Very often you can find yourself doing an IT based HND/Degree and struggle to get a job which pays more then £20k.

It's tough to get anywhere unless you're willing to basically sell your soul and commit to constant self study and training throughout your working life. Honestly, I think there are better job sectors out there if you're willing to put in the kind of effort IT demands!

It's not the safe bet it was in the 90s and 00s anymore.

malachi · 1 Jul 2019 at 11:10

Vexr said:
Outstanding opportunity. Would be tempted myself, but I'm starting a new job soon already. These days it seems most won't even consider you for a basic sub-£20k IT service desk role unless your qualifications/employment history are already geared that way, so this is truly something.

silvagti said:
That's the brutal reality right now. Very often you can find yourself doing an IT based HND/Degree and struggle to get a job which pays more then £20k.

It's tough to get anywhere unless you're willing to basically sell your soul and commit to constant self study and training throughout your working life. Honestly, I think there are better job sectors out there if you're willing to put in the kind of effort IT demands!

It's not the safe bet it was in the 90s and 00s anymore.

Yep, the market is oversaturated now. You no longer can have only a passion for IT to get your foot in the door.

dowie · 1 Jul 2019 at 15:47

silvagti said:
It's tough to get anywhere unless you're willing to basically sell your soul and commit to constant self study and training throughout your working life. Honestly, I think there are better job sectors out there if you're willing to put in the kind of effort IT demands!

It's not the safe bet it was in the 90s and 00s anymore.

I think it is a safe bet in plenty of areas, obviously you shouldn't pursue a career you don't enjoy, self study/CPD etc.. applies to many careers if you see keeping on top of your specialism as a chore/additional demand rather than something you'd be doing anyway as you're genuinely interested in the field then it probably wasn't for you in the first place.

silvagti · 1 Jul 2019 at 17:13

I think that's what's robbed me of my enthusiasm. My current IT support job has turned into very much a "Jack of all trades" role rather than any specific specialisation . To the point where it's expected that anyone in the organisation can buy in any technology they want and demand I spend my own time/money outside work learning it.

It's diversified into loads of areas I'm not overly interested. Or not to the point of wanting to spend my own time/money learning them at least. Its left me feeling slightly directionless in my IT career?

HangTime · 2 Jul 2019 at 23:17

I remember applying for a job as a Test Analyst (I think) at OS back in 2006 and put loads of effort in to the application, extensive covering letter etc; I even did exploratory testing of their production website and reported at least 3 probable defects/issues. Sadly they didn't even offer me a telephone interview, but 13 years on I guess their processes may well have changed.

coolsurfer · 3 Jul 2019 at 13:55

Excellent opportunity

Mike9000 · 3 Jul 2019 at 20:28

coolsurfer said:
Excellent opportunity

Echo that. Better than sitting on the end of a phone proving my worth for three years like I did

I'd have bitten the OP's arms off (not literally of course) for that back in 2001!

zophiel · 8 Jul 2019 at 00:10

This is an excellent opportunity, just a pity it starts in september.

We dont move to southampton / portsmouth area until october

AHarvey · 8 Jul 2019 at 10:42

Burnsy2023 said:
I work for the Ordnance Survey and one of the best things we do is our IT Trainee programme. It's 12 months long and you'll learn how to engineer or test enterprise quality software by the end of it. It doesn't require any qualifications or technical experience, instead we look at your ability to learn, communicate and take into consideration any side projects. For example, we had someone download some open source software to a Raspberry Pi and use it for home automation. It wasn't much but it demonstrated loads of things we're after. We are also looking for one to specialise in Cyber Security - some very valuable skills.

It's one of the few programmes that will take someone with no experience and start them off on £25k.

Whilst we're known for paper maps, that's a tiny part of the Business. We really do work on cutting edge technology doing things that nobody else has done before.

If you're interested. Take a look here: https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/careers/start-career/it-trainees.html

Is it a good company to work for and do they have offices all over?

I'm currently in an application support analyst role (SQL, C#) and looking at a side step into our IT Security Analyst. Earning more but only as I'm on shifts and despite the company being great, the money is known to be poor across the board.

Burnsy2023 · 8 Jul 2019 at 12:42

AHarvey said:
Is it a good company to work for and do they have offices all over?

I'm currently in an application support analyst role (SQL, C#) and looking at a side step into our IT Security Analyst. Earning more but only as I'm on shifts and despite the company being great, the money is known to be poor across the board.

It's a very good company to work for, the flexible working is awesome. Although we have offices all over, engineering is only in Southampton.

Burnsy2023 · 8 Jul 2019 at 12:47

JOSH said:
Interesting opportunity, do they offer flexible working or remote working/work for home?

Flexible working is standard. Depending on area, working from home is possible in an ad-hoc or more permanent basis, although I'm not sure how that'd work for the first year as a trainee.

Burnsy2023 · 8 Jul 2019 at 12:49

HangTime said:
I remember applying for a job as a Test Analyst (I think) at OS back in 2006 and put loads of effort in to the application, extensive covering letter etc; I even did exploratory testing of their production website and reported at least 3 probable defects/issues. Sadly they didn't even offer me a telephone interview, but 13 years on I guess their processes may well have changed.

That's pretty crap. Ironically, we really struggle to get good testers these days. We've come a long way just in the last 5 years I've been here.

Burnsy2023 · 8 Jul 2019 at 12:51

zophiel said:
This is an excellent opportunity, just a pity it starts in september.

We dont move to southampton / portsmouth area until october

That may be negotiable. I'm mentoring one of the successful applicants and I'm on holiday all of September, so one is likely to start October.

zophiel · 8 Jul 2019 at 14:12

Cool i will get my application in then, and hope to get through