Re: Contractors
 

It's the same at mcnicholas. At the mo there recruiting on a first come first serve bases. All u need is a driving licence. Got guys working here now who r coming out of retails jobs and have never even seen a screwdriver. All experienced guys r getting shafted with training these idiots. Most of these new starts don't even take pride in their work. To them it's just a job

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I've not been out of training long, about a month and a half, and i've got it down to 6 - 7 jobs a day (Migrates, Triples + Quads) it's hard labour but the job satisfaction outweighs it all for me... as in the customer being happy with everything is all good... yes the monety isn't great but it is possible to make a comfortable wage.

The only downside is the hours though :( i'm doing roughly 10 - 12 hours a day without lunch... but hey ho thats how it goes.

Any telecoms jobs in the Northwet
 

Any leads for telecom install /service jobs in the northwest be appreciated

Soml

Re: Contractors
 

but how long could/would you do the hours you do, years?

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totally agree 50-60 hours a week is fine for the first few weeks,but you will soon get hacked off with it your personall life is ruined because you are too tired to do anything and if you have a family you start to get grumpy and snap at stupid things which causes bust up and grief,and you wont be saying he ho for much longer

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In this day and age a job is a job, the way i see it is i can pay the bills, don't get me wrong it is knackering and annoying but it's just one of those things, like yesterday i didn't finish until 9pm because customers either weren't in, or wanted boxes in rooms furthest away from the omni :/

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I hear ya, but it eats away at you (well it did me), and it isn't long before the negatives really out way the positives.
The only thing long hours a crap wages gets you is a work force where 98% don't give a damn about the product or the company and is only thinking of how to get home quicker after cutting every corner they can get away with. In the end I felt like a slave (you are out till your done!) not a valued employee.

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Hearing the completely ****s me off tbh, I applied for a job in Gillingham (my home town) and ingot turned down!!! But iv been a telecomms engineer for 3 years now, CAT5/CAT6, co ax, phones, fibre, you name it iv done it. We are currently doing loads of work for openreach, but of that's what they are like **** em.

Re: Contractors
 

Hi mate just abit of inspiration for you as you sound in a similiar situation to what i was.

I was contracting to bt on behalf of kellys :td:. The job was getting me down and the way you were treated pretty much like a trained chimp. I then attended an interview day for virgin media and got through to the final stages in the afternoon (it felt like a cheaper version of the x factor!)

I then heard nothing for a few weeks and when i did get a reply they told me i didnt get the job. I asked for some feedback and apparently my practical skills were excellent but i wasn't thorough enough in my customer experience questions.

I've already worked for virgin in house and recognised some of the interviewers so maybe they just didnt like the look of me:D . This was when i made my decision to get out of the cabling industry.

This was all before xmas last year. I went for an interview for another job but the advert seemed a little bit vague. It was as a radio support engineer for a company that supplies radio/comms equipment to racing teams.

I got the job and have been assigned to look after williams f1 this year so will be travelling everywhere with the team. In two weeks I'll be in australia watching fast cars and pit women, I'm not bitter but if I saw any of my old bosses that treated me like poop I wouldn't pee on them if they were on fire :2up::D

So all I can say is chin up and don't stop looking to better yourself :tu:

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Yeah i get ya, on friday i had 8 jobs and didn't get home till 9pm!
The van is the biggest joke though... The company don't supply screenwash nor Oil since the fuel cards are gone... im guessing thats another i have to buy thing, and i have to pay to clean it!

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seems harsh, they won't refund you?

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pretty much the same here, worked for the MOD for 9 years installing, phone,cat5, fibre cable, testing and support, 2 phone interviews+ face 2 face, didnt get the position with VM, tried again 5 months later, was told i couldnt apply within 6 months of a failed application.
saw that fujitsu were looking for field techs, applied, got an interview, same result...failed, given up now.
customer service is what they want , not experience in the actual job.
still looking for a job....:mad:

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Yeah I am fed up with it now. I know I can do the job, I've applied for one more, if I don't get it there loss really. I've seen loads of their chavvy new techs smashin it around in their van, ****s me right off

Daryl

Your lucky mate you really are!!! What sort of qualifications and experience
Did you need for that! I would love that haha. I need a new job, anything would do me now I'm fed ip

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impossible to earn more than the n.m.w. doing 2 man work for f.t.e.l.

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Hi could someone please tell me who has the contract for virgin media in herts and beds? Thankyou.

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is it not Fujitsu

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djsaders if you have been there for 2month now u will think it only pays the bills wait till a year down the line when u think to yourself why did i choose this job! i worth for Fujitsu now and this has to be the worse contactor going the dont no what they are doing i thought mcnics was bad till fujitsu took over, I am doing 2man work myself making a good wage at the end of the week but i dont get tom see my wee boy since hes in his bed at 7, so what would i rather have money or time with wee man? think it time for wee man

Re: Contractors
 

the wee man wont be a wee man for long,how much is it worth to read him his bedtime story and tuck him in bed at night,i once turned down a fortune to work away in Belgium/Holland so i could do that,they grow up fast,my kids are now at an age where maybe if the chance came again i would say yes,

Family come first every time in my book

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Hello.I am looking for work as VM - Installers / data cabling in the area of Scotland. I have over 5 years experience in Optical Fiber, cat5, cat6, fusion, works given network, heights. if someone could help me would appreciate it.

:)

Re: Contractors
 

Thought this was worth posting: BT staff have just had a CWU newsletter through the post saying that BT have commited to going to zero third party work. They want everything back in house. I have heard for a while they are not happy with the work being done by contracting firms. The permanent BT staff aren't happy either as they are messing up the network.

The problem is BT have a 2 year deal with the contracting firms so that has to be honoured before letting them go. We are already starting to see some things coming back in house. SOME of the fibre cabinet comissioning is already back in house. Previously this was all done by contractors.

Re: Contractors
 

MrIca thanks, I will continue looking for work in Scotland and beyond.

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Thought I should let people know their current intentions as I wouldn't want people going for these jobs thinking they've got a job for life.

Re: Contractors
 

I understand your point of view. Bt does not want more contractors.

I actually have almost 7 months in Scotland looking for work with contractors, HAYS, KELLY, ASA RECRUITMENT. ETC. I have over 5 years experience with Fiber Optics, Fiber fusion, installation of telephone lines, patching, working at heights. etc. and I see that is very difficult to find something.

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Well it is coming up to that time of year again where BT start taking on new permanent staff so keep an eye on their website.

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BT have been going back to in-house on and off for years!!. They have a lot of deadwood to get rid of and some staff are just turning up to get the pay but actually have no work to do. They are redeployed eventually or shown the door but not until a long a winding process has been carried out. It happened a few years back when the exchange contractors were shown the door to be replaced in BT staff. The BT staff could not cope with 'hard work' and the contractors had to come back to finish the work off. I know, I've worked for BT as a contractor and salaried staff ...:dunce:

Re: Contractors
 

I'm mainly talking about contractors working outside visiting customer's houses doing installs. That's never happened before and that is the part in particular that hasn't worked as the contractors are paid per job (sort of), so they cut corners, steal pairs etc. I realise that exchange work and the like has been in house and not in house in the past.

Re: Contractors
 

yeah i understand that, same with my boy don't really get to see him in the week, however bills do need to be paid, and there is nothing else out there, i enjoy the job (to a point).

i do sometimes wish i could go back to web design but thats not going to happen and the job satisfaction i feel makes it worthwhile.

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has anyone heard of Comex?? i think they are covering London

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Been told by a mate of mine that Map are back on installs as of tomorrow in the north west,north east and Glasgow

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Hey all, can anyone tell me which contractor(s) are covering the instals in the North of England.

thx

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If any of you are good at half-arsing installs and fobbing off customers with the excuse: "Its a national fault, will be fixed by the morning" then Fujitsu in the North West is for you.

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Hey everyone. Had to sign up to find out the truth. But I hear rumours that mcnicholas have lost the super south. Can anyone confirm this

Re: Contractors
 

nope i still had a job this morning lol and nothing has been said

Re: Contractors
 

I also still had a job this morning and still got one next week

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I work for ftel and I can tell u something that management are shocking they don't mind calling you and f ing and geffing down the phone while you're in a customers house, which I might add the customer heard ever word of, same manager I had when I worked for map ! Nothing changes and we still get treat like **** !

Re: Contractors
 

i dont take my phone into customers houses, once i finished a job then i check the phone:)

as for th managers well some are total ****wits that are only fit for doing desk jobs, its always been the same in this industry, ive only been back in it 7 months after a 5 year break.

Map are probably the biggest joke next to Kelly's

Re: Contractors
 

managers,,,,lol
thats a laugh they can only just about use a phone never mind install one, i have never worked for a company where the tm,s try there bully tactics in virtually every breath they take, i am just hoping that by the amount of work fujitsu have screwed up virgin dont renew their contract at the end,
since they took over i have been working longer hours for less money, they dont give a toss about their workforce, anyone considering working for this mickey mouse company,, DONT DO IT

Re: Contractors
 

I have just been offered a coordinator role for the openreach engineers with quinns anyonenshed any light on this role?.was looking at engineer role but this came up

Re: Contractors
 

Can anyone please tell me which contractors cover BT contract for Brighton and Sussex areas ?
I am interested in overhead/internal fits ie OMI
cheers

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Whats that old saying when contractors change (Same S**t different colour) the only thing that changes is the top tier management so it would be business as normal in effect

On the plus side there might be more commitment to staff and training, a new van and updated PPE - or maybe not

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Anyone know wat quinns are like?

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Does anyone know how the contractors are installing the cabinets? Do they use resins to seal the base?

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hello, I am new to this. I would like to know how to apply for bt openreach? Anyone know how much does openreach engineers get paid? i it better to work for Kelly's or openreach direct??

Re: Contractors
 

Hi im going for the virgin media technician job on friday. i was wondering if anybody knows what thier payment structure is know and hours that are expected of them. Also if anything what has changed and is the job worth it.

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All depends what company Virgin have different Rules to the contractors, for example im a contractor and can work 60+ hours a week 5or 6 days a week, and im weekly paid, however ive heard actual Virgin people do 10ish hour shifts 4 days on 4 days off... soo all depends really

Re: Contractors
 

My mates a tech and he says that the VM techs also get a bonus based on key criteria based on quality metrics and 10 pounds for every customer scoring them 9 or 10 on their customer satisfaction measure.

He enjoys working there, good luck

Re: Contractors
 

What do you think?!

Openreach of course. Also far more interesting as you are dealing with faults and not just installs like contractors. Far better hours and conditions. Also you don't need to worry about your pay, it'll be the same every month unless you do some overtime, which is well paid. The basic pay is around £26,500.

Re: Contractors
 

has anyone worked for mj quinns ?what are they like.ive got a training course in march to start

---------- Post added at 21:43 ---------- Previous post was at 21:42 ----------

i might add its working on the bt infinity contract

Re: Contractors
 

I'm on the same course 18th march. But been told start time is 430pm til midnight. Is yours the same? what's the thinking unless theyre worried all candidates will ****ed still off the night before. Has anyone else attended a bt accreditation course on mj Quinn behalf?

Re: Contractors
 

Yeah that's odd, I was given the same times as well. I'm booked on the 11th March. I was a bit miffed to find that I've got to go to Liverpool to collect a van though. It said I have to be there by 10:30am, the earliest I could make it would be 11:30, no earlier trains from Peterborough.

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Oh well at Least tye information is the same for everyone. I opted for the course a week later so let me know how you get on

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Will do ;)

Re: Contractors
 

Hi there, yeah I'm starting to feel the same way after being in the industry for only 2 weeks haha. Yes the money can be good, but there is a lot of B.S. to put up with. I'm 39 now and am too old to start taking any crap. I don't think I'll stick it.

Re: Contractors
 

Openreach are recruiting around 2000 engineers this year, there will be a lot of recruiting over the next couple of years as the older guys cash in their share schemes. Keep an eye out for the jobs and make the switch from Quinn's/Kelly's.

Re: Contractors
 

The latest contractor related debacle is as follows:

Virginmedia Business and network planners have now been grounded, had their cars removed and are strictly office based.
This means scores of semi trained Kelly contractors are now out in the field planning complex Business, Network and diversion works for all you loyal Business customers.
The in house planners have years of field experience, and from what I can gather these Kelly guys are mostly untrained, are expected to 'plan' 3 jobs a day, paid a pittence and do all this detailed and complex work on a 10 inch tablet PC (Planners in house have the luxury of 2x22 inch screens)
I wonder who's bright Idea this was? (RH again)

Crash and burn imminent! Hilarity will ensue I'm sure

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Tell me about it, Not happy about it myself :(

Re: Contractors
 

What or who is RH? Right hand? Robin Hood?

Re: Contractors
 

Could be the initials of a person and has been done that way so the poster does not break forum rules.

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Indeed :angel:

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Has anyone had any dealings with comex on the cabinet upgrade side of things. I see they are taking on what sort of pay is it and whats involved

Re: Contractors
 

what area ?

Re: Contractors
 

Down south some where i know another company do north

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im in Notts area, i cant find anyone

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Notts Area is Fujitsu :)

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yeh i already did 2 years with them, thanks lol.

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Seems to me now that Virgin are massively reliant on contractors. What a shame. Are they doing ALL installs now?

I've noticed now vans that look like Virgin ones with the big logos on the side and tag lines etc but if you look on the back there is a small Fujitsu logo. What to in house engineers do now then? Repairs ? I take it contractors don't do repairs.

Re: Contractors
 

Some installs are done by VM staff. (Why is it a shame?)

Mainly

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Comex 2000 and Map are smaller contractors working with VM:)

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It's a shame that companies would think it is better to outsource work than to have a strong team of their own experienced engineers who will stay with the company years. Farming installs out to these Micky Mouse companies who have their engineers on self employed contracts IS a shame.

Don't even get me started on these self-employed contractors, as we've discussed in other threads on this forum that is on seriously shaky ground as far as tax law is concerned and I really wish HMRC would do something about it.

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surprised quimms havnt got into this area yet, right up their street!

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Haha yeah they'd love it, another telecoms network for them to mess up!

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Mc Nicholas are recruiting in my area, anyone know the pay rates for team manager and engineers roles. I am guessing they are poor because theres no mention of them anywhere on their website. last time I enquired they were paying just above minimum wage.

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are Kellys still setting on for BT

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who does the installations in Northern Ireland?

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Of course you have a point, but BT do this and look how expensive they are.

I guess you pays your money and you takes your choice!

Re: Contractors
 

hello everyone just wandering where mcnicholas do there training in s.london and what it involves I am just waiting for my training dates and have just come back to the industry after many years doing something else.

Re: Contractors
 

Rainham in essex or watford

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What does it involve ?

Re: Contractors
 

Mainly health and safety and usual basic how to use ths tools and tack the cables... Dig gardens etc... Training

Re: Contractors
 

Whats going on with the fujitsu VM contract?

Re: Contractors
 

The fujitsu contact is being taken over by McNicholas at the start of the new contractual year for the next 5 years :)

Re: Contractors
 

Glad i found this site been trying for months to get back into CATV here in UK, had 10 years experience in USA with Comcast Cable doing both residential and business accounts.

How is the pay with Mcnicholas, Just applied for the business installer job

Re: Contractors
 

Here in Nottingham, MAP have just got the contract

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http://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Mcnicholas/reviews

I applied for VM installer for Mcnicholas and I've got an interview, but after reading these reviews I don't think I'll be wasting my time going to the interview!?!

Re: Contractors
 

Crikey. But could be good interview experience if it does not cost you too much to get to the interview.

Re: Contractors
 

A ****** job is usually better than no job. As andrew said, the interview experience alone is probably worth it.

Re: Contractors
 

Counter-intuitive as it seems, this is true.

It's far easier to get a good job if you're already in a job, than if you're unemployed. So having a "******" job on its own increases your chances of getting a good one.

Re: Contractors
 

Does anyone know what the induction and trade test consists of at MJ Quinn

Re: Contractors
 

Yes, it'll begin with an induction, then move on to a trade test.

Yes but I'm wondering what to expect in them

Re: Contractors
 

Apply for Openreach they are recruiting