O2 Apprenticeships now taking applications

Solaris · 8 Apr 2009 at 14:37

http://www.o2careers.co.uk/other_departments/Advanced_Apprenticeship.php

For anyone who is interested.

Fegruson · 8 Apr 2009 at 16:21

Have applied for this the other day. Missed the deadline last year to get my application through, so have been checking every other day* since February.

*More like once a week

Solaris · 8 Apr 2009 at 16:27

Lol good luck getting in, you going for slough or leeds?

Fegruson · 8 Apr 2009 at 16:35

Leeds it is, I thought about slough with it being closer to London (not sure why I would want to be close to there like). But I think Leeds would be better. Been to Leeds a few times and liked it (nights out though, not actually seen that place in the day).

da_mic_1530 · 8 Apr 2009 at 17:01

hmmm, as a graduate would that be worth applying for? Any jobs good for me, and I don't believe it's below my station as it were, but will they?

Fegruson · 8 Apr 2009 at 17:14

16,000 as an apprentice, I wouldn't say no. Although it is just about money...

blairw · 8 Apr 2009 at 17:34

Quite similar to the scheme I'm on with Bt. We have two grad's with 2.2's who couldn't make the cut and they ain't complaining :-)

apprentice schemes are being heavily backed by the government at the moment, and more often than not lead to a good career!

malef!c · 8 Apr 2009 at 17:40

Would have to go for the Leeds office, nice place up there

Solaris · 8 Apr 2009 at 22:45

In the current economic climate this really could be worth it for a graduate. You may be punching below your weight but your starting off your career at a blue chip company which is never bad.

The work definately isn't boring and you'll be playing with kit that you hadn't even imagine existed. But that means its a huge learning curve when you get here and there will be a lot of training to do but its a challange.

The college courses challange a lot of people fresh out of doing A-levels but again support is really good on that too.

Thing is a lot of employers look for experience in the IT sector and not just qualifications, so even if you do this just to get your foot in the door the possibilitys for moving after the course are endless (hopefully we're out of recession by then).

blairw · 8 Apr 2009 at 22:50

Yep, I was doing a computer science degree at uni, dropped out and joined BT as an IT Business apprentice, so i should at the end of it have 3 years experience, a foundation degree, NVQ Level 3 and hopefully CCNA, not bad considering I will be earning (15,500, 18,000, 21,000) for the 3 years of the apprenticeship. then moving on to 26k+

Indy500 · 8 Apr 2009 at 22:53

I guess the Slough one is worth a shot...might get lucky this time. At least I have some relevant experience.

blairw said:
Yep, I was doing a computer science degree at uni, dropped out and joined BT as an IT Business apprentice, so i should at the end of it have 3 years experience, a foundation degree, NVQ Level 3 and hopefully CCNA, not bad considering I will be earning (15,500, 18,000, 21,000) for the 3 years of the apprenticeship. then moving on to 26k+

Sounds a bit like what I'm being interviewed for, except longer and more money.

mr tommo · 8 Apr 2009 at 22:56

What's so good about these?

Indy500 · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:02

mr tommo said:
What's so good about these?

Multiple qualifications in one (including industry stuff like CCNA in some cases), getting experience and good pay with a bluechip firm, and only GCSEs and aptitude required? Do you not see the attraction?

Solaris · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:05

A career with no student debt earning as much if not more as most graduates.

I found it pretty win.

Wicksta · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:09

Also the chance to work with some of the best people in the business

and Z4's in the car park with non red calipers.

</major cross thread alert>

blairw · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:16

Yeah my Z4 is on order... not! But year, it enables you too gain experience, qualifications, and finish up on more than quite a few grads too, in less time!

Ev0 · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:27

Look very good, if I was just out of uni I'd be applying for this, and if I was 16 I'd definitely be wanting to do this.

Although the 'brilliant rewards' link on that page needs sorting

http://www.o2careers.co.uk/brilliant_rewards.php

mr tommo · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:31

sr4470 said:
Multiple qualifications in one (including industry stuff like CCNA in some cases), getting experience and good pay with a bluechip firm, and only GCSEs and aptitude required? Do you not see the attraction?

I wasn't being a **** mate

. Then again with the idiots around GD nowadays, you weren't to know. What kind of wage are we talking?

Wicksta said:
Also the chance to work with some of the best people in the business and Z4's in the car park with non red calipers.

</major cross thread alert>

I genuinely dislike you

Indy500 · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:33

mr tommo said:
I wasn't being a **** mate . Then again with the idiots around GD nowadays, you weren't to know. What kind of wage are we talking?

£16,000 but I suspect that could be negotiated upwards a little depending on your background.

Whappers · 8 Apr 2009 at 23:34

Wish they would come to Northern Ireland!!