Pole Tester Review

I carry out safety checks on telegraph poles within the network, I try and detect signs of decay and rot using a specialised drill. Using bespoke apps I record this data which is then fed through to the central system ensuring all records are up to date and making sure other engineers know that a pole is safe to climb.

I have learned how to plan and prioritise work as some poles are older than others and these need testing first. Also balancing workloads so that I can attend any meetings or complete any admin I may need to do. I have also learned how to communicate effectively with landowners/customers and colleagues.

I really enjoyed it, I was given full support by both my manager and assessor and was given the time I needed to complete the course and working while completing the NVQ meant that I was getting on the job experience while completing the academic work which was really useful.

Very well structured and organised. I was given days away from work where I was able to complete the work, also with the pandemic my assessor and the company switched to a virtual learning experience. This was well managed and I was given support and time to complete certain tasks.

The support I received from Openreach has been fantastic, I was given study days to complete the work, if I needed to attend any meetings or assessments I was given time to do this. My assessor was on hand for any questions that I had and any time that I felt I needed to complete the work, I was given.

I was given a lot of support from my tutor in working toward my NVQ, they were able to guide me through questions that I needed help with either by phone, email or live chat and I was supported throughout the learning journey. At no point did I feel like I couldn't approach them for help and I would recommend this way of studying to anyone.

The qualification has helped me to understand the importance of communication and time management and also how to present information. This helps in communicating with customers, colleagues and in the future will help me develop and progress within the role by taking the lead in meetings and working on projects.

With the Covid pandemic face to face extra-curricular activities have been put on hold for the time being. Although there are virtual events I have not been involved in any of these as yet. Though I will be volunteering for any five-a-side football matches in the future, I also enjoy getting involved in the local community so any events around this I will be getting involved in.

Yes

I would recommend Openreach because it gives you the opportunity to start a career within a field which is exciting and relevant. It also gives you a qualification which is genuinely useful in the day to day role and gives you a great foundation to build a strong career on.

The application process is fairly straight forward, though one aspect which is not normal is recording a video and submitting via the website. This can be slightly jarring to begin with but try and relax and get across who you are and what you can offer the company. Also be prepared for the assessment days, the interview itself is a normal interview but there are maths and English tests on the day which can be off putting. The practical test is the most enjoyable part of the assessment! The onboarding process can be lengthy, I had to wait for the best part of a year before I got a role, this is just the way the company operates (so don't quit your job until you get a start date). But once you are in the door and you are prepared to work the opportunities on offer are some of the best I have seen in a company.