Frequently Asked Questions

Companies that hire Unique graduates via our associate comapny Cerco IT (Staffing Solutions) Ltd are as different as the graduates themselves. Most are national and international corporations requiring nationwide coverage including Fujitsu Services, Computacentre, IBM, and PCServiceCall/Dixons Group. Our specialist Careers Team has hundreds of contacts across the UK.

The oldest person to retrain with Unique was 58 years old and on graduation got a full time permanent job with Compaq. Age need not be a barrier in this industry. Due to the nature of the role you will often be the face of your company, travelling to customer sites in problem solving situations. Many employers relish the maturity of graduates with life experience.

Historically, 40 per cent of graduates of the Fast Track have come from the Forces and we love to see them come through our course. We have employers that ask specifically for ex-forces graduates and you tend to have a great reputation within the industry. For some roles in sensitive environments, even basic security clearance is sought after in employees, as it can be costly for employers to seek this clearance on your behalf.

Most graduates start the Fast Track with no IT experience. We are expert in training non-IT specialist candidates and though you may not think so, you can carry your retail experience into you new role. It is often said that in IT support, 70 per cent of the time you are ‘fixing’ the customer so employers love candidates with customer service experience. This carries applies to many other skills – driving experience is particularly sought after.

You’ve learned the hard way in that you have the theoretical knowledge but not the experience to back it up. This is not your fault. Many training companies offer mind-boggling lists of paper-qualifications that won’t secure you a role in IT support. As industry experts we know what employers are looking for in entry-level candidates. Don’t despair – once inside the industry, you’ll get the chance to utilise your knowledge and I’m certain that your previous study will only enhance your career as you progress through the industry.

More difficult but not impossible and we can advise you of these facts at an evaluation appointment. Most entry-level roles are mobile and it would be impossible for you to meet employer requirements without a license. If you were keen on entering the IT industry then my advice to you would be to gain your license and then talk to us about training at a later date.

The vast majority of companies offer their customers nationwide coverage. This means that, though they may be based in London or Glasgow, they have employees all over the nation. 99 per cent of requests for graduates are not locally or nationally advertised so there may be many opportunities in your area that you have never seen. There are, in fact, benefits to living in a remote area. We may have companies waiting for candidates to cover your corner of the UK.

The Fast Track UCSN (Unique Certificate in Systems and Networking), is taught in the classroom over 3 (full-time) weeks. Training methods are practical, and the content and structure is designed to prepare you to immediately start work. You will receive an extensive compendium of course notes and materials to support around 112 hours of hands-on, instructor led, employment simulation training.

There are details providing assistance on funding on our website. You can discuss these options at the Open Day with a course adviser if you wish. Don’t forget that in pursuing the Fast Track Programme you are training for a long-term career change. People attend University for years and pay thousands of pounds to train for their specific profession. You would be training to be an IT Engineer just 3 weeks, in order to commence a career that will last for years.

If investing in your career, you need to give yourself the best possible chance of securing work. Many of the roles that IT Engineers perform are Field based mobile positions, where you may be required to complete several call-outs a day. You don’t want to write yourself out of such opportunities having trained for them.

No. You must appreciate however that there are a lot more jobs around major towns and cities than there are in rural locations. Wherever there is industry there is a need for IT Support personnel. If you are in or close to a major city, you should be well placed for IT jobs. Depending on how determined you are you may be able to move to such an area to help achieve your career aspirations. We will tell you if we think your location is a hindrance. Likewise there are many areas in the UK where we can confidently advise that you would be in an excellent location for IT opportunities.