As some people may remember, I have a summer job in a school. As some of you may also (but probably not) remember it went bust last year.

Anyway, they got bought out and I've got a couple of weeks work. One now and one in August, just setting up bunk-beds etc, which isn't great compared to the full-time "handy-man" work they usually give me.

Well it turns out that while I was at uni, the company also bought another local school which takes kids from 3-18, and they are turning that school into a nursery/primary, and using it as the feeder school for the school I've worked at for the last four years the secondary. This means lots of extra pupils in September. This means lots of extra computers.

I saw LOADS of pallets of Dell gear arrive yesterday, so I went and found the network manager and explained to him that I'm studying networks at uni, and I've not got any work next month, then asked if he could use another set of hands to help setting up the extra gear. He said yes!

The only problem is that they've said they can't pay me, but they will cover my travel costs and provide lunch. I was expecting this tbh, as they're really cutting back on staffing costs hard but I'm still pretty chuffed. I think he said it was 200 machines and associated gear - switches, routers, servers, racks & cabinets, printers etc etc etc

I'm pretty excited, and I'm sure it's going to be a valuable experience. I made it pretty clear that if I wasn't going to get paid I'd expect a bloody good written reference afterwards, which I'm hoping will be really useful come September when I've got to start searching for a company who will employ me for my sandwhich year.

Free Lunch! All you have to do is lug about ten tons of gear up a dozen flights of stairs and crawl around pulling cables for a few weeks

But yes, your slavery should be a valuable experience. Here's hoping it's fun, and you get that good reference. Who knows where it might lead

Congrats man, hope all goes well for you on it. And there's always room to negotiate, make sure you get that reference.

Good man!

The experience and the fact that you did it as a volunteer will look VERY nice on your CV!

Nice one!

Well played for having the initiative to ask for a job there, even if you're not getting paid you're not spending money... and you're getting fed...

So it's still a financial win tbh =)

Congratulations. Hope you have a good time and maybe you'll get something better out of this.

Good little slave you'll go far .

Well done. Experience is important in IT. I see too many paper MCSE's who've never touched a network in their life.

Shame it's Dell

Speaking of Sandwich years, I did one many moons ago too. I somehow managed to get into Jaguar at their headquaters (back when Browns Lane was open). They paid very well, allowed me to go on the graduate programe inductions (2 weeks of tours and team building, camping, playing at MIRA test track, etc) and it was bloody brilliant! I even had a go in the Austin Power Shaguar (XKR with Union Jack paintwork) and spied the 'baddies' green XKR they used in the bond film with all the ice - dont remember the name of the film - before they sent it off for filming. Sorry, slightly off topic but dreaming of the days gone by.

Anyway, good luck with the job. Its a shame about the pay but will look really good on the old CV. Experience is so valuable. I used to work with a member of staff who has a 'paper' MCP and he could barely find his way around XP control panel.

^ Die Another Day, Brosnan's last?

It was f*cking awful

No it wasn't.

Take that back.

Experience = Good though.

I quite liked die another day, too.

Got my first day tomorrow, then taking a day off Tuesday for a funeral (where is the sad face smiley????

I'm looking forward to it.

Well done Nick.

You are an example to us all. With enthusiasm like that you will head of you own department in no time.

*goes back to catbasket*

No, sorry, DAD (says it all, really ) 'nuked the fridge' on a number of occasions - even Roger Moore thought they'd taken it too far

Hey?