Has anyone had an interview/worked for FDM Group?

Ballabriggs14

I have a phone interview in a few days, I think if that is successful I will have to go down to Cork and then if I get through that over to Manchester for training.

What would the story be re. training? Would I have to pay for my own flights and accommodation while there?

NZ_2014

Check out the likes of glassdoor.com or wiki jobs for more info

Also..

http://ukgraduateschemes.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Ask interviewer about accommodation costs.. I think they will pay for accommodation costs but not a salary. You would think that they would pay for the flights.

If they feel your not suited to Cork they may try and send you to the UK

Great way to get some experience though

Ballabriggs14 wrote: »

I have a phone interview in a few days, I think if that is successful I will have to go down to Cork and then if I get through that over to Manchester for training.

What would the story be re. training? Would I have to pay for my own flights and accommodation while there?

Ballabriggs14

NZ_2014 wrote: »

Check out the likes of glassdoor.com or wiki jobs for more info

Also..

http://ukgraduateschemes.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Jesus that sounds like a massive scam...

gill91

I have read up about this company because I was going to apply. It all sounds good until I read that you have to move to England for training that is completely unpaid. You dont get paid until you are finished training and placed on a project and that could be after 2 months or more and you have to be committed to the company for at least two years.

Maphisto

gill91 wrote: »

I have read up about this company because I was going to apply. It all sounds good until I read that you have to move to England for training that is completely unpaid. You dont get paid until you are finished training and placed on a project and that could be after 2 months or more and you have to be committed to the company for at least two years.

Yes but I think its worse than that 2 to 3 months plus 90 days waiting to get on the programme. Plus if you leave or are late for "work" by 5 mins you could have to pay back all the costs. Then a salary of £18K, first year, up to £25K second, might well have a few debts by then.

Admittedly it is a close run thing but I'm sure I've seen Pyramid Sales schemes that are more attractive.

Good Luck

LupeBrown91

I'm through to the assessment day this Wednesday. I was wondering if anybody can tell me a bit more about the last ones in Dublin/Cork?

The feedback on forums seems to be entirely UK based so I have no idea what to expect in terms of contracts, money, emigration assistance (if it's even worth it?) etc. for Irish grads.

Think I'll go to the assessment day but just be REALLY suspicious about everything. Worst case scenario is that I leave without a job...

blindsider

Unless your attendance at the assessment will cost you nothing, I'd drop it pronto.

This screams 'dodgy' at me.

If you're happy to work in the UK, why not go to London/Manchester etc for 6 months and give it a go with a legit company?

UK unemployment is now at 6.6% which is very close to 'full employment' - ours is 12.6%!

If you've either a qualification or decent experience, you'll find a job fairly quickly. You could do phone/Skype interviews with agencies etc - any friends in London? Could you 'reserve' their sofa for a few nights?

LupeBrown91

It won't cost me a penny - that's why I don't mind going along.

I'm not dead set on moving to the UK but I'm having fcuk all luck with Jobs/Grad programs over here.

I'm just out of college so I'm kinda still on holiday mode, but I can see the frustration kicking in very soon...

red_bairn

LupeBrown91 wrote: »

It won't cost me a penny - that's why I don't mind going along.

I'm not dead set on moving to the UK but I'm having fcuk all luck with Jobs/Grad programs over here.

I'm just out of college so I'm kinda still on holiday mode, but I can see the frustration kicking in very soon...

A mate mentioned FDM to me but told me if I didn't like it, I'd have to pay the money back for the course. I wasn't keen on the idea. Hope all works out for you if you decide on the UK.

I'm off to London in a few minutes. Staying with my older bro and going to a jobs fair tomorrow. I might even meet one or two companies while I'm here. There was a recruitment agency on to me earlier about a job in London so I told her wan to let them know I'd be over for a few days. Fingers crossed.

nibble

Sorry to dig up an old thread but it's still relevant I suppose. Has anyone else/the other posters had experience with them recently? I have a telephone interview with them tomorrow but it's the money aspect that's putting me off before I even get through the various hoops.

Three months or more of unpaid training is pretty rough in itself but then the potential of not being placed for another couple of months and being unpaid for that time also is quite daunting. If you're placed at all, of course. All while having signed a restrictive contract with them.

It is however an area I would like to get into and don't see a lot of options without a CS or IT degree. That was the draw for me, they'll take someone with any STEM degree for the technical programme.

LupeBrown91

The whole thing does seem a bit sketchy alright. The phone interview was a piece of p!ss and the assessment day was good for experience with different interviews, assessment tests and it's a good way to get to know the other candidates.

At the assessment day they mentioned that the accommodation would be free for the training part. I don't know any more about this however, I don't know who got the job.

I'd say go with the application and worry about the whole thing if you make it through.

nibble

True, I'll worry about that if it comes to it. What sort of tests and such went on at the assessment day if you don't mind me asking?

Amirani

I did their phone interview and assessment day last year. I was offered the job, but ended up turning it down because the contract terms just didn't sit right with me. Managed to get something I wanted more not long after.

Phone Interview: Very basic sort of stuff, it's a very light screening process based on the quality of candidates that showed up to the assessment day after getting through this. Questions will be mostly about your personality and ambitions rather than any in depth questions on technical skills or previous experience (though they'll likely explore these to a small degree).

Assessment Day: There's I think 3 written assessments - maths, logic/set theory and an MCQ on IT related topics. I found all very straightforward, particularly the maths section. In terms of standard, the maths and set theory would be equivalent to higher level junior cert. The standard of the IT MCQ is a bit higher, but given you seem to have an interest in IT, you should be fine.

Outside of the written sections, there'll be short interview sessions with 1/2 people involved in the training process. Again, not hugely challenging, they're looking for a willingness to learn and work hard. There'll also be a group discussion - you should try to make yourself seem as involved as possible here, without trying to make your fellow candidates seem stupid. Agree with and build on points that they make if appropriate - they won't only hire one of you and they want you to show some teamwork skills. Ask questions.

Their business model is pretty much taking people who either don't have IT degrees/didn't do great in university and putting them through a quite intense training program that will equip them slot into consultancy roles. The main things they're looking for is an ability to work hard and some aptitude in the area. Their contract offer is contingent on you receiving a client placement post-training. That's why they're able to take risks on less polished grads - they don't need to place the same financial investment in them as other consultancy firms.

As I said, they didn't really appeal to me, but I could see how they could if:
1. You know for sure what area you want to work in and you don't have better options available.
2. You have the financial capacity to absorb up to 4/5 months unpaid (based on training and looking for placement).
3. You're comfortable with committing to a 2 year contract, without any flexibility, if other job offers come up.
4. You're happy to work with relatively low pay in return for working for big name clients.

I will say that a LinkedIn contact of mine works with them and recently got placed in a developer role with the Financial Times. I think it's worth going to the assessment day anyway to form your own opinion, it's a learning experience if nothing else.

nibble

Thanks for the thorough reply Diego, very helpful.

I got through the phone interview this morning, pretty straightforward character/personality based stuff as you said. No technical questions at all. I'll definitely go ahead and attend the assessment day, nothing to lose in doing that.

You're pretty much describing me to a large extent Diego, graduated about 18 months ago with a very mediocre Chemistry degree. Too much partying coupled with some other issues in my life at the time led to quite poor results relative to what I could have achieved. It's very doubtful I'd get into that industry in any facet without a large amount of luck at this stage. I can't afford to go back to college on a full time basis either.

I've always been very much into tech in a general sense. I tinker around with my own linux boxes, always keep up to date with what's happening in the IT world. I think it would be a good option for me, I don't see a lot else I could readily carve out a career in that I would actually be interested in. I probably should have done somehing like CS in university from the get-go.

The interviewer I was speaking with said they will pay for flights and accommodation for the training period so that's something at least. It's a bit of a gamble but I'd be in a considerably better position than I am now if it went well.

Burkey1992

nibble wrote: »

Thanks for the thorough reply Diego, very helpful.

I got through the phone interview this morning, pretty straightforward character/personality based stuff as you said. No technical questions at all. I'll definitely go ahead and attend the assessment day, nothing to lose in doing that.

You're pretty much describing me to a large extent Diego, graduated about 18 months ago with a very mediocre Chemistry degree. Too much partying coupled with some other issues in my life at the time led to quite poor results relative to what I could have achieved. It's very doubtful I'd get into that industry in any facet without a large amount of luck at this stage. I can't afford to go back to college on a full time basis either.

I've always been very much into tech in a general sense. I tinker around with my own linux boxes, always keep up to date with what's happening in the IT world. I think it would be a good option for me, I don't see a lot else I could readily carve out a career in that I would actually be interested in. I probably should have done somehing like CS in university from the get-go.

The interviewer I was speaking with said they will pay for flights and accommodation for the training period so that's something at least. It's a bit of a gamble but I'd be in a considerably better position than I am now if it went well.

Hi Nibble,

Just wondering are you any further on with the process?

I have a phone interview tomorrow.

Ciguitar

I attended the assessment day last week and was accepted into the graduate programme starting in September however after doing some research on FDM I'm not going take the place does anyone have any appearance of cancelling a place with them any feedback would be helpful

Ciguitar

I attended the assessment day last week and was accepted into the graduate programme starting in September however after doing some research on FDM I'm not going take the place does anyone have any experience of cancelling a place, I haven't signed any training contract with them, any feedback would be helpful