FAQs

About the Programme

General

What does a tech or business consultant do?

A consultant works in partnership with clients on specific projects, either as part of an outsourced team or to supplement an existing one. As an FDM consultant, you will be working with our clients on business-critical projects and operations often in a team with other FDM consultants. You may be working on a short or long-term project, it depends on the business need of the client.

After the two-year commitment, FDM consultants typically have three options: 

1. Remain with FDM as a senior consultant with the opportunity to work directly with our clients. Senior FDM consultants can also be considered for internal roles within the business.   
2. Secure a full-time position with FDM’s client. 
3. Walk away to pursue higher education, self-interests, or other employment opportunities.  

Regardless of the path you take, all former FDM consultants are invited to be a part of FDM’s Alumni Network where they will have the opportunity to further advance their careers by building relationships with other experienced tech professionals, as well as connecting with thousands of other people who are just starting their career through the programme. 

Please contact enquiries@fdmgroup.com with any additional questions and one of our Recruiters will respond to your enquiry shortly. 

Accredited Training

There is never a 100% guarantee, but we will not offer you a role on the programme unless we feel confident that you have the potential to be placed with one of our clients. Your interviews with clients begin while you are still in training, with the aim to have your client placement lined up before completion of training or just shortly after. 

After the Two-year Commitment:  

FDM works with prestigious clients in a variety of industries including Finance, Insurance and the Public Sector. Our Account Managers will work to evaluate roles with our clients that will align with your skills and help you thrive in your career journey. You may end up working with the same client throughout your two-year commitment, or you may be placed on various client sites during that time. 

The projects that you will be involved in will depend on the programme you undertake and the client that you are placed with. To learn more, watch the career stories of other consultants who have completed your programme or contact our Recruitment Team. 

You will have the opportunity to interview with our clients in the time leading up to completion of your training, after which, you will be available for placement on client sites. Your first day placed on-site marks the beginning of your two-year commitment as an FDM Consultant. During these two years, you could be placed on one or more of our client sites. 

Your background, experience and performance at the Final Stage Interviews will determine which training stream you are best suited for. To learn more, you can read about the training and opportunities here or contact our Recruitment Team for a full course breakdown.  

Post Training / On Client Site

Training takes place at one of our FDM Academies in London, Leeds or Glasgow. Due to COVID-19, training is currently being delivered through our online classrooms. Read more about our COVID-19 preparations here.

FDM provides all your training at no cost and this training provides you with key skills to prepare you for your time on site. In return, we expect you to be available for placements for at least 2 years, as do the clients you will work with. During the 2-year initial commitment period you will build skills and experience in your chosen field, gain qualifications and build relationships with, and an understanding of, our clients and their business. You will develop into an experienced consultant who, at the end of the initial commitment period, may join the client as an internal employee or continue to work with FDM and our clients as a senior consultant.

The Online Test and Final Stage Interviews enable us to find out more about your attitude, strengths and motivations for becoming a successful technology or business consultant, as well as your potential to thrive during training and represent us on prestigious client sites. It is also an opportunity for you to learn more about FDM’s culture and ensure that, if you are successful, FDM is the right choice for you. 

As part of the process, you will be asked to complete a Numerical Reasoning Test, Set Notation and Ven Diagrams Test, IT Aptitude Test and Verbal Reasoning Test. Upon successful completion of the online tests, you will be invited to the Final Stage Interviews. The day involves an introductory presentation about FDM and three strength-based interviews with FDM Managers from various departments within the business.  

Run Final Stage Interviews on a weekly basis. We recruit year-round with course start dates throughout the year, so our Interview Days run on a weekly basis. 

Training 

In our UK centres, your training is part of your employment with FDM and you will be paid from day one of your employment and training contract.

Assessment and Interviews  

FDM provides all your training at no cost and this training provides you with key skills to prepare you for your time on site. In return, we expect you to be available for placements for at least 2 years, as do the clients you will work with. During the 2-year initial commitment period you will build skills and experience in your chosen field, gain qualifications and build relationships with, and an understanding of, our clients and their business. You will develop into an experienced consultant who, at the end of the initial commitment period, may join the client as an internal employee or continue to work with FDM and our clients as a senior consultant.

Throughout your journey with FDM, you will receive continuous mentoring, coaching and guidance from our internal teams and various support and development initiatives. These include: 

Consultant Experience: Our Consultant Experience Team work to ensure that all FDM consultants have the proper resources, training and support needed to be successful on-site. This team also works closely with our Consultant Peer Support Network, which is comprised of a group of FDM consultants who will provide you with further guidance as you embark on your career journey. 

Mentoring Programme: The Mentoring Programme matches consultants with senior employees across the business based on their career aspirations. The initiative is designed to help our employees unlock their full potential and to provide support for long-term career development. The programme is online, allowing matches to be made throughout our global organisation. 

Consultant Collaboration Platform (Yammer): Yammer provides FDM employees with a virtual platform to connect and socialise with each other. Here consultants will find useful policies and resources as well as join a variety of groups to keep up to date with upcoming events, learning and development opportunities and more. 

Employee Networks: FDM has six employee-led networks which focus on providing our staff with opportunities to enhance their career development and personal growth through supportive communities, open discussions and learning initiatives. Click here to find out more about each network. 

Online Learning and Development: Virtual training, webinars and discussions are available to all FDM consultants, as well as e-learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning and Intuition Know-How. 

Any previous experience, qualification or accreditation will help you in your journey with FDM and long-term career. However, all candidates are required to successfully complete every component of our assessment process and their specific training pathway, so that we can confidently recommend them to our clients.  

We welcome candidates from a range of academic backgrounds including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We also accept applications from non-STEM graduates who can demonstrate a passion for working in the tech industry, particularly for our business pathways.

An FDM Consultant works in collaboration with an FDM client on specific projects, either as part of an outsourced team or to supplement an existing one. Consultants will be selected by specific clients for an agreed amount of time to plan and develop business or technology systems as well as provide expert advice related to their specialty. Consultancy is often seen as a flexible career, as projects consultants are assigned to can differ in duration from a few months to multiple years. This can lead to opportunities to travel and a variety of exciting assignments across a range of industries. 

The FDM Graduate Careers Programme consists of foundation training followed by an individual learning pathway, during which trainees will gain the skills required to become an FDM Consultant working on-site with our clients. We have training academies across Europe, North America and APAC, where we will provide you with fast-tracked skills development to launch your career in technology and business. Upon completion of your training, you will be placed on our client sites where you will work with their teams to provide services.  The duration of the FDM Graduate Careers Programme is least two years from the date of your first client placement and, as such, you will provide services to one or more of our clients over this period.   

We have entered a partnership with industry skills body TechSkills for the accreditation of our training, to provide the best possible start to careers in digital and tech. Those successfully completing our accredited programmes will become Tech Industry Gold Foundation-level certified consultants, gaining Tech Industry Gold Digital Credentials that prove they are fully prepared to enter the job market. Through our intensive training you will develop valuable employability skills and the confidence to thrive in your new career.

After successfully completing one of our accredited training programmes and being offered the Tech Industry Gold Foundation Credentials, you will be able to decide whether you would like to work towards a Tech Industry Gold Practitioner Certification. This will involve collating a portfolio evidencing the application of the relevant skills in the workplace, and, on completion of that portfolio, undertaking an assessment through a professional interview. Those who successfully prove their skills against the industry standards will be awarded the Practitioner Credential.

The Tech Industry Gold certification is recognised by employers globally and demonstrates you are qualified and equipped with the skill set required by businesses. In summary:

• Your training will be formally accredited as meeting industry standards for job readiness.
• Your CV and LinkedIn profile will be strengthened with Tech Industry Gold Credentials on completion of your training.
• You will be given the opportunity to gain Practitioner Credentials based on evidence of putting this training into practice in your employer placements.

This also means you can be even more confident in your value in the job market as a result of your FDM experience.

Our foundation programmes that are now fully accredited by TechSkills are: Business Analysis, Business Intelligence, Software Testing, Project Management, Software Development and Risk, Regulation and Compliance, Robotic Process Automation, and Technical Operations. We are committed to achieving Tech Industry Gold accreditation for all of our training programmes worldwide, with more pathways being accredited over the coming few months.

After the two-year commitment, FDM consultants typically have three options:  

1. Remain with FDM as a senior consultant with the opportunity to work directly with FDM’s clients. Senior FDM consultants can also be considered for internal roles within FDM.   
2. Secure a full-time position with FDM’s client. 
3. Walk away to pursue high education, self-interests or other employment opportunities.  

Regardless of the path you take, all former FDM consultants are invited to be a part of FDM’s Alumni Network where they will have the opportunity to further advance their careers by building relationships with other experienced tech professionals, as well as connecting with thousands of other people who are just starting their career through the programme. 

If you had a question that was not answered above, please contact exforces@fdmgroup.com so that one of our recruiters can you review your enquiry and get back to you directly. 

You will have the opportunity to work on breakthrough projects with industry leading clients across various sectors such as finance, banking, media and the public sector in either business or technical roles, depending on what stream you train in. Our Account Managers will look to place you with clients where your skills will be best utilised. 

After the Two-year Commitment: 

Hours of work are generally 09:00 – 17:30, but like all areas of business you may be asked to show some flexibility around start and finish times when on-site with a client. Some of our clients may offer more flexible working hours than others. 

There is never a 100% guarantee, but we will not offer you a role in the programme unless we feel that you have the potential to be placed with one of our clients. We try to ensure that you undertake a minimum of four weeks training before you are placed on-site, but if you are ready and the client wants you, your placement could happen earlier.

FDM provides all your training at no cost and this training provides you with key skills to prepare you for your time on site. In return, we expect you to be available for placements for at least 2 years, as do the clients you will work with. During the 2-year initial commitment period you will build skills and experience in your chosen field, gain qualifications and build relationships with, and an understanding of, our clients and their business. You will develop into an experienced consultant who, at the end of the initial commitment period, may join the client as an internal employee or continue to work with FDM and our clients as a senior consultant.

Post Training / On Client Site

Yes. The duration of the programme is two years from the date of your first client placement. We understand that this two-year commitment requires careful consideration and this is why we have an introductory period that begins on your first day of training. This period is 14 days for the Military Mountie Route and 7 days for the Advanced route and during this period, you can leave the programme immediately if you decide that it is not the right fit for you without needing to give further notice.

Training takes place at one of our FDM Academies in London, Leeds or Glasgow. Due to COVID-19, training is currently being delivered through our virtual classrooms. Read more about our COVID-19 preparations here.

We have several start dates throughout the year in London, Leeds and Glasgow. Even if you have attended a virtual Assessment Day for a particular start date, should you be successful, you may be offered some flexibility as to when you join the programme. 

Training

Depending on your background, experience and performance at the assessment, you will be selected for either the Military Mountie or the Advanced training routes. 

The Military Mountie route is our well-established business and technical training pathway. You will embark on your initial foundation training before starting your individual learning pathway, which will have a business or technical focus depending on your skill set. 

The Advanced route is designed to recognise previous experience and skill sets, and applicants will have to demonstrate this during the Advanced Assessment. This training course is five weeks long and takes a holistic approach to preparing individuals to become Project Managers working in IT environments. 

The FDM Ex-Forces Team will advise you on the most suitable route to take based on your background, experience and skill sets. 

Assessment Day

Our Assessment Days are a chance for us to get to know you whilst also allowing you to find out more about FDM and what we have to offer. We will dive into your skills and experience through a mixture of interviews, discussions, group tasks and a knowledge test, all whilst encouraging you to ask questions. Our Advanced Assessment Days will consist of a one-hour assessment and a project-based scenario exercise.  

During your time with FDM, you will have access to confidential support, guidance and structured counselling. On larger client sites, we have a Consultant Peer Support Network where an experienced FDM consultant on-site will help you to settle in your new role. We also offer a Mentoring Programme, ongoing professional development tools such as LinkedIn Learning, and other events including discussion panels, charity initiatives and team building gatherings designed to support you in your career goals. You will also have a contact in the People Team assigned to you, your Account Manager and the full support of the Ex-Forces Team to ensure you succeed. 

You will receive a competitive starting salary, professional and technical training, and the security of knowing that you have a permanent full-time job. You will work on-site with one of our prestigious clients, helping to fast track your career progression and ease your transition to the corporate world. 

No previous IT experience is required, however, you must have served within HM Forces either as a full-time employee or as a Reservist. We recruit across all ranks in the Services and this breadth of talent is a reflection on the varied requirements of our client base. 

Anyone who has served as a Regular or Reservist in the Royal Navy, British Army and the Royal Air Force can apply to FDM. 

General

We run regular Open Mornings, which gives you the opportunity to find out more about FDM and the Returners Programme. You’ll meet the team and hear from existing Returners about their experiences and their FDM journey. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and find out if this is the right programme for you.

After the two-year commitment, FDM consultants typically have three options: 

1. Remain with FDM as a senior consultant with the opportunity to work directly with our clients. Senior FDM consultants can also be considered for internal roles within the business.   
2. Secure a full-time position with FDM’s client. 
3. Walk away to pursue high education, self-interests, or other employment opportunities.  

Regardless of the path you take, all former FDM consultants are invited to be a part of FDM’s Alumni Network where they will have the opportunity to further advance their careers by building relationships with other experienced tech professionals, as well as connecting with thousands of other people who are just starting their career through the programme. 

Please contact returnerstowork@fdmgroup.com with any additional questions and one of our recruiters will respond to your enquiry shortly. 

There is never a 100% guarantee, but we will not offer you a role in the programme unless we feel that you have the potential to be placed with one of our clients. We try to ensure that you undertake a minimum of four weeks training before you are placed on-site, but if you are ready and the client wants you, your placement could happen earlier.

After the Two-year Commitment

You will have the opportunity to work across various sectors such as Finance, Banking, Media and the Public Sector, in Business Analysis or Project Management roles. Some of our consultants are also currently working in Stakeholder Management as well as Risk, Regulation and Compliance roles. Our Account Managers look to place you within roles that best align with your skill set and support your long-term career objectives.  

Hours of work are generally 9:00am – 5:30pm, but like all areas of business, you may be asked to show some flexibility around start and finish times when on-site with a client. Some of our clients may offer more flexible working hours than others. 

We will ensure that your placements are a reasonable commute from the FDM Academy. On the Returners Programme, we do not ask you to be geographically flexible outside of this area, but you may choose to be considered for other locations. 

Making the decision to go back to work can be difficult. You may not truly know if you are ready to step back into the workplace until you start the programme. Therefore, during the first week of your training phase, you can leave the programme immediately if you decide that it is not the right fit for you without needing to give further notice.

Post Training / On Client Site

FDM provides all your training at no cost and this training provides you with key skills to prepare you for your time on site. In return, we expect you to be available for placements for at least 2 years, as do the clients you will work with. During the 2-year initial commitment period you will build skills and experience in your chosen field, gain qualifications and build relationships with, and an understanding of, our clients and their business. You will develop into an experienced consultant who, at the end of the initial commitment period, may join the client as an internal employee or continue to work with FDM and our clients as a senior consultant.

The hours of training are from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday over a seven-week period. 

We have several start dates throughout the year in London, Glasgow and Leeds. Due to COVID-19, training is currently being delivered through our online classrooms. Read more about our COVID-19 preparations here.  

Training

Our Assessment Day will allow us to get to know you. We aim to find out more about your skills and experience through a mixture of interviews, discussions, group tasks and a knowledge test; all the while encouraging you to ask questions and find out more about us.  

During your time with FDM there will be an ongoing mentoring, coaching and support system available to you. Our training focuses on helping you to transition back into the workplace with the skills and confidence that you require. Once on-site, we have a dedicated team who will provide support and guidance. 

You will receive a competitive starting salary, professional and technical training to facilitate you in your return to the workplace and the security of knowing that you have a full-time job for two years. You will work on-site with one of our prestigious clients, helping to fast track your career progression and ease you back into business. 

We look for a minimum of five years of industry experience in Business Analysis, Project Support or Project Management as well as a strong aptitude and interest in business. The programme is open to anyone,  who has taken a voluntary career break of more than one year. 

If you have one or more of the certifications included in the training, we have several other options which you can discuss with the team or your Recruiter during the application process.