Explore: Engineering

Core Network Planner
Vodafone

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Fran W

00:00:04 My name is Fran W and I’m a core network planner for Vodafone. What that means is I do a quality assurance role, so I design and develop techniques that allow us to quality assess the core network.

00:00:18 I knew when I got to GCSEs I had a strong aptitude in things like maths and chemistry, etc, so I just sort of went down that route and made the natural progression from GCSEs to A level. I actually did quite a lot of A level subjects. I did chemistry, physics, maths, further maths, design and technology, and computing. Engineering seemed like the right choice for me. It was like… but obviously I wasn’t aware of all the different disciplines and I wasn’t sure what was going to suit me, so I decided I wanted to do a general engineering degree, and that’s only offered by a couple of universities across the country, one of them being Cambridge, so I thought ‘why not?’

00:01:02 I put together an application for Cambridge. I had support from my teachers. I got through to the interview stage. That was me. Four years down the road I graduated from Cambridge in June 2008.

00:01:18 I really enjoyed the whole university experience. Definitely in the first couple of years I did seize the opportunity to be a typical student. I went out and enjoyed the social scene, joined different clubs. I ran for the university. I played football for my college. But it was hard work, don’t get me wrong. Especially in the final two years, I really did sort of knuckle down. There was lots to do.

00:01:44 In the first year I was quite fortunate my parents supported me quite a bit, but I decided I didn’t want their help. I found myself an engineering job in the summer but they also offered me sponsorship, so that really did help me out quite a bit. I worked for an engineering consultancy in building services, so I was looking at doing thing such as laying cables in buildings, lighting. I was aware from the placement that I did that it wasn’t my passion. And, looking at what I specialised in, I knew that I would probably enjoy a career in telecommunications and I sort of explored that role further in my final year. It was through that that I decided that I would definitely want to go down the road of working in telecommunications really.

00:02:36 My mum is in the Metropolitan police force and my dad is military. My father had a big influence on what I wanted to achieve. From an early age, he knew I was good at maths and he encouraged me to go down that route, really. He helped me the best he could until, you know, it got to the point that he could no longer do the work that I was getting set at school. He gave me all the support he could do along the way.

00:03:08 I definitely do think I’ve struck a good work/social life balance. I find time to go out on the weekends with my friends. I also go out with my colleagues sometimes for dinners, or, you know, the fair was in town so we went to the fair. I go to the gym three times a week. Vodafone has its own gym on site. I also go climbing, indoor climbing –that’s local to here – and I also run for Newbury Athletics Club. I usually train with them twice a week and I also swim.

00:03:48 In five year’s time, I would like to have my own team that I manage, and just be actively involved in the project and the work that they’re doing.

00:03:58 End

Fran W is a Core Network Planner for Vodafone. “I wasn’t sure what was going to suit me, so I decided I wanted to do a general engineering degree… I really enjoyed the whole university experience… I did seize the opportunity to be a typical student.” Now, as well as designing and developing techniques that allow Vodafone to quality assess the core network, she thinks she has “struck a good work/social life balance”.

More information about Telecommunications engineers

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£40,560
average salary

The UK average salary is £29,813

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44
average weekly hours

There are 37.5 hours in the average working week

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96%  male 
4%  female 

The UK workforce is 47% female and 53% male

Future employment

Future employment?

Description
? Telecommunications engineers install, maintain and repair public and private telephone systems and maintain, test and repair telecommunications cables.
Qualifications
There are no formal academic requirements, although entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification. Apprenticeships and traineeships combining work experience and practical training are available at NVQ/SVQ Levels 2 and 3.
Tasks
  • Installs internal cabling and wiring for telephone systems and fits and wires junction and distribution boxes;
  • Fixes connecting wires from underground and aerial lines to premises and connects cable terminals to inside wiring;
  • Installs telephones, switchboards and coin operated phone boxes;
  • Uses testing equipment to locate defective components of circuitry and makes any necessary repairs;
  • Tests installation and makes any further necessary adjustments;
  • Assists with the erection of wooden poles or steel towers to carry overhead lines;
  • Connects cables and tests for any defects;
  • Locates and repairs faults to lines and ancillary equipment;
  • Erects and maintains mobile telecommunications infrastructure.
Employment by region
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Top 10 industries for this job
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Telecommunications 17048
Specialised construction 9464
Legal & accounting 5550
Computer programming, etc 2498
Head offices, etc 1818
Repair & installation 1460
Civil engineering 1247
Retail trade 1213
Electrical equipment 1073
Public admin. & defence 1057
Employment status
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