Jack Condron

Job title:  Technical Switch Data Apprentice
Business Unit: BT Wholesale
Joined:  September 2005

I joined BT in September 2005 and have been shadowing Transmission and Switch Engineers in the Essex region, learning about how the network functions and is maintained. I've also spent ten weeks at BT's training centre in Yarnfield, working towards a BTEC in Telecommunications.

I came to BT because it's the world's largest telecoms company and it has an excellent reputation for apprenticeships - I knew it would give me the very latest skills in the marketplace.

On any given day I might be checking faults on a customer's telephone lines or broadband equipment failures, creating links for customers on the DDF, looking for switch faults or carrying out routine maintenance on exchange equipment. Problem-solving skills are important, so you need a logical mind. The best thing for me is that I never know what the day holds when I get to work. That's what keeps it interesting.

The people I work with are very experienced and helpful, and they've taught me a lot in the short time that I have been with BT. It makes all the difference that they're always wiling to help with things that I don't understand or haven't come across before.

BT has changed a huge amount even in the short time I've been here, primarily through the formation of Openreach. My role and working environment has changed too as some of the work that I used to do has been taken over by Openreach and staff have moved to this new area. I really enjoy being part of this fast-paced, constantly evolving environment. It's also good to know that you can do your bit - if you have an idea about improving a process of system, and your manager agrees it's both sensible and achievable, then it will be put into action.

Learn more about what's it's really like to work for BT.