Career in the Forces? (IT Related)

MrLOL said:
sorry but thats just not true

To get into IT, its quite common for them to start at the bottom, getting an IT juniors job, or 1st line helpdesk job (call logging basically) earning about 11k a year. You do that for a year, and then move on to something that pays better. Either internally or changing jobs. You do another job as an experienced 1st line, earning about 13-14k (actually solving problems and making a contribution to the technical workload) Then after 2 years you can progress onto something else with more experience

Trouble is, after 2 years in the forces you're still going to be on the 1st line helpdesk with about 13k a year because you've got no relevant experience. You cant go straight into server support and networks etc.. that earn the big money ( ~20k) unless you've got like 2 years experience and a proven background. These sort of jobs usually expect you to hit the ground running, and will have a long list of pre requisite technologies you must have proven experience of.

My mate left the signals with exactly this problem, and had 10 years experience in the forces, but was doing the same job as me that i'd got after a years experience.
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How is it not true? You've just agreed with me!

I was saying, you will not join the Army and come out higher up than everyone else. All i meant was employers like a person who's been in the forces, given the way they have been disciplined.

Although honestly, i joined an IT based job straight from being a Chef with no qualifications, and i earn more than the quoted "server support big money".
 
whoever was resitting second year.. DONT.
I did summer resits in 1st year and 2nd year and i regret staying at uni, it just holds you back. Your degree is pretty much worthless for most forces jobs no doubt.

Most of them only care about GCSEs and thats it.


Zefan, how did you psychometric go? I did BRILLIANTLY. Can do what I want, had a good talk with one of the guys after saying really, great, big time well done. Full marks? ;)
 
peetee said:
think ill bin off the commission idea now, i want to do engineering and cant go officer without an eng degree. Even the basic Eng pay is brilliant.
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Im telling you right now go for the commission, if you don't get it, at least you tried, once your in you will regret not going for it.
 
I can't believe I've missed this thread!
I'm booking an appointment tomorrow at my local requirement centre. I'm planning on joining as an officer, have a hons degree in computing, but just can't seem to get a computing related job. Always loved the RAF life style having grown up in it.
 
aceface57 said:
I can't believe I've missed this thread!
I'm booking an appointment tomorrow at my local requirement centre. I'm planning on joining as an officer, have a hons degree in computing, but just can't seem to get a computing related job. Always loved the RAF life style having grown up in it.
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Best of luck, enjoy the money..pention...benefits of being an officer
 
Do you definately want to do something computing related, maybe look for something more exciting that you can get into because of your degree?
Sorry if you enjoy it, its just after my 3years at uni I definately dont want to do computing stuff :D
 
Something I have heard, is within the best part of 2 years all the ICT jobs will be outsourced.

Some will be kept trained for deployments, but most will be merged into other jobs.

Kimbie
 
thats fairly unlikely, as if it was going to be around 2years time they would have stopped the intake of that by now. Its not financially feasable to train the people to work for a few months is it?

a lot of jobs in the forces are infact already outsourced though, so some probably would be.
 
peetee said:
thats fairly unlikely, as if it was going to be around 2years time they would have stopped the intake of that by now. Its not financially feasable to train the people to work for a few months is it?

a lot of jobs in the forces are infact already outsourced though, so some probably would be.
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No its true, although you join as an ICT tech you are part of Trade Group 4 which is ICT, Comms, Electronics etc. So they would move you around in TG4.

What will happen is the ICT people will be moved into their own unit, then do a years detachment with the outsourced company then come back into the forces, and then be replaced one at a time with a civvie and at the same time moved, or PVR out and go work for the outsourcing company.

Kimbie
 
Ive been crushing the urge to join the RAF to do IT for years, seeing as I've wanted to be in the RAF as a pilot for as long as i can remember; but thats not going to happen anytime soon though!

Slowly but surely the idea is seeming more and more appealing... I think I'm going to wait till i finish my degree and then if I still feel the same way I'll go for it.

it seems like the whole armed forces ICT will be comprised of OcUK!
 
joeconway said:
Ive been crushing the urge to join the RAF to do IT for years, seeing as I've wanted to be in the RAF as a pilot for as long as i can remember; but thats not going to happen anytime soon though!

Slowly but surely the idea is seeming more and more appealing... I think I'm going to wait till i finish my degree and then if I still feel the same way I'll go for it.

it seems like the whole armed forces ICT will be comprised of OcUK!
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Exactly the same position.

Except im wanting to go in intelligence or air traffic control (weird)
 
Nikumba said:
No its true, although you join as an ICT tech you are part of Trade Group 4 which is ICT, Comms, Electronics etc. So they would move you around in TG4.
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Sounds good to me, comms, electronics etc will do me fine. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm going to try to go in to the TCW (Tactical Communications Wing) which I am certain will never be outsourced :p
 
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