Quest Magazine

Independent resettlement & recruitment guide for Armed Forces & Veterans

‘Without CNet I would not be in the role I’m in today’

‘Without CNet I would not be in the role I’m in today’

ARTICLES

15 Jul, 2021

… so says Peter Granger, who in this feature discusses his CNet resettlement training and how it helped to shape his career upon leaving the Armed Forces …

Name: Peter Granger
Current job role: Solutions Architect and Data Centre Manager
Certifications: Certified Data Centre Design Professional (CDCDP®), Copper and Fibre Optic Cable Installation
Forces career: Royal Navy – Weapon Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance)
Time served: 14 years
Rank: Leading Hand

Tell us about your time in the Royal Navy? I joined up from school at 16, in 1987, joining HMS Gloucester a year later, and was part of Op Granby 90–91. A Leading Hand course followed and then HMS Ark Royal for two tours of the Adriatic. With HMS Southampton and Illustrious I also saw tours of the Gulf and a year with the careers centre in Chatham before leaving in 2001.

What CNet resettlement training did you take, and how did you find the learning experience? I completed the Copper and Fibre Telecommunications course with CNet (known as CableNet back in 2001), learning about copper and fibre termination and installation, followed by a two-week placement with a company to gain invaluable work experience.

How did the certification and qualification help you get a job on leaving the Forces? The programmes gave me the confidence and skills to apply for jobs in the telecoms field when I left the Forces and had completed my training.

Tell us a little about your current job and what it entails? I am currently the Solutions Architect for Kantar Media. Since leaving the Forces, I have been employed mainly in large data centres. I am looking to reduce the Kantar DC estate globally and consolidate its environment into five global sites. Currently, it has more than 200 smaller sites, most of which are no longer fit for purpose. We are discovering the server estate and then moving to cloud where possible. Any remaining devices will move into colocation data centres.

Did you face any challenges when settling into your job after leaving the Forces? I did find it hard to adjust to a new way of working, and civvies do not always ‘get’ the banter. However a data centre is in many ways a lot like a ship, so working there felt like home!

What advice would you give other Service leavers thinking about the next steps in their career? Believe in the skills you have learned in the Forces – not just any technical skills, but leadership and management too. The work ethic the Forces brings is often more valuable than having the technical knowledge of other candidates, so sell all those extra skills you have. I look for these extra qualities when recruiting for my positions as I can always train someone to use any technical skills they may be lacking, but a work ethic and attitude is invaluable.

Any additional comments on your CNet learning experience? Without CNet I would not be in the role I’m in today. The training I received from CNet has shaped my career.

CNet’s resettlement programmes are available to those who are planning to leave the Armed Forces. If eligible, they can apply for funding with ELC, which varies depending on years’ service. CNet’s network cable infrastructure technical education programmes are the only industry dedicated programmes to award both official certifications and internationally recognised qualifications. They provide credentials that are sought after and required within job role specifications across the UK and beyond.

At CNet, we understand that selecting where to spend your resettlement grant is a big step. That’s why we have a resettlement team who are able to help every step of the way as you make this important decision.

Click here to find out more about CNet’s resettlement programmes.

About CNet

CNet Training is the global leader in technical education for the digital infrastructure industry, comprising the data centre and network infrastructure sectors. It is proud to be the originator of the Global Digital Infrastructure Education Framework (see weblink below), which forms the benchmark education for the industry across the world. It maps professional education programmes to actual career routes and progression throughout the industry, perfect for Service leavers as new entrants or for those looking to enhance their existing skills, knowledge, industry-recognised qualifications and official certifications throughout the industry. All programmes are eligible for ELC funding.

Find out more

01284 767100
www.cnet-training.com
ELCAS Provider Number: 1267

Click on this link for details of the Global Digital Infrastructure Education Framework.