Network Engineer Review

My job role is a network engineer in the department of enterprise. The job entails of installations, faults and upgrades of cisco kit i.e. routers/switches. I work in the business sector and visit SME's to Global organisations maintaining IT services. The job can be very technical at times.

Since joining BT I have definitely learnt new skills having only been at the company for a year and half. My confidence as a whole has improved being able to talk to customers comfortable and taking on technical conversations. Being more prepared for work knowing to bring every equipment is ready to be used.

BT have provided support with getting onto courses to extend IT knowledge. The apprentice coaches have also given me extensive aid with opportunities to visit BT sites and activities in and outside work hours. We also have the opportunities to go outside the box doing volunteering jobs which BT heavily encourage.

Have to admit the first couple of months were difficult in terms of organisation and structure. It did take several months before a structure for my programme to be organised yet since it has been revised the programme has been great. As an engineer on the field we now have a set buddy/mentor who you can rely on shadowing jobs and support.

I would say my employer has really been supportive in all aspects from support on the field or even personal matters. My employer heavily supports me on my volunteering role as an army reservist I have to commit to military duties outside BT and the commitment and support from my employer has been second to none.

BT's training towards our qualifications have all been in-house so that has been one of the advantages of having our training completed be BT employers rather than training providers. We are always in contact with our set apprentice coach whom we can contact through email, Skype and even a simple phone call.

Our apprenticeship consists of working by theory and practical, which enables us to utilise what we gained from our qualifications onto the field. For example our networking skills were taught at Yarnfield Park by ex- BT engineers whom transferred their skills to the apprentices allowing us to really use what we gained from our qualifications to our specific job role.

Definitely an aspect which BT could improve on, due to the areas we cover and our patch teams we do not regularly do much social activities/sports teams. I must say that BT do advertise a lot of charity work and events for employees all over the UK and even abroad so if you do get the chance to apply it is definitely worth while.

Yes

BT's apprenticeship programme is second to none. All training is completed in house internally thus meaning being able to talk to an employee who is not third party. BT also support and encourage there employees to do volunteering in all different roles, they also support you in terms personal issues as well as work issues.

When applying for BT make sure to do your own research and know something vital that BT has provided to their customers, know your statistics when with the interviewer and mainly being confident. Always ask questions about what BT is doing to improve its infrastructure and ask about upcoming technology and why BT is the leading telecommunications provider in the UK and even the world.