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I partner with 3 of our UK Directorates on everything to do with talent development. This means ensuring that our people have access to first class development opportunities in order to build their capabilities.One of the things I’m currently working on with the wider European HR team is embedding the Telefónica Global Leadership Model. The first step in the process is to get our senior teams familiar with the new global leadership capabilities by taking them through the 360 degree feedback exercise.  Along with my other HR colleagues, I will be facilitating 1:1 feedback sessions with our senior leaders over the next couple of months.

So, what’s the best thing about working at O2?

Well, I have to say, as well as all the exciting projects I get involved in, it’s the flexibility I get.

The fact that we have a ‘time out’ policy which takes into consideration requests for career breaks is brilliant. I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to take a 6-month sabbatical, knowing that O2 would be there for me when I return.

On the 3rd November 2008, my boyfriend and I (with just two small backpacks) flew from London to New Delhi to start our adventure. We had the most amazing time!

I have now been back to work for 10 weeks and everybody has been fantastic with helping me get back into things. It now feels like I’ve never been away!

   - Vesna

Talent Development Business Partner

My name’s Dan and I’ve been working for o2 since September 2000. Initially I joined as a sales advisor but have worked my way up the chain to branch manager. I have recently changed roles and have taken advantage of a secondment into the consumer sales HR team. This involves providing advice and support to our retail managers on our CAP policy (conduct, attendance & performance). I haven’t had a background in HR and have no qualifications towards this, I did however have a lot of exposure to this working as a branch manager. The opportunity that has come my way is a real insight into how o2 make the most of people’s talents and is a great place to build your career. I intend to take full advantage of the secondment and make a career in HR within o2

Dan

 I’ve been with O2 for 6 and half years now. And I didn’t think I would have been here for this long! I started with O2 as a customer service advisor and I planned to stay for a year to pay off my student debts. But during that year I made great friends and became and Learning & Development Consultant, otherwise known as a trainer.

Starting as an advisor was quite a challenge for me. I had never worked in call centre before and I knew very little about mobile communications. MMS (picture messaging) wasn’t even launched when I joined O2! And now we are so far on from that, with the introduction of home and mobile broadband. Training was intense when I first started - 8 days training followed by live calls with customers! (Saying that, a customer wrote in to say thank you for helping him when it was my second day of taking calls!) However, I am proud to say that training has come a long way. Working for Learning & Development, new joiners have full induction training and full support in a “graduate bay” area. This helps you gradually progress with plenty of help!

I now work on a team of approximately 12 trainers. We deliver training to new employees and existing staff too. This can be training on anything from new products & services to creative thinking! I can hand on heart say I’ve never worked on a better team. We’re like one big family! All of the trainers are very approachable and most of us have been advisors at some point along our O2 journeys. Because I have been a customer service advisor this helps me when delivering induction training. I know that people can be nervous and have all sorts of previous experience. Training is very interactive and caters for all learning styles. Gone are the days when the trainer just talks and the learner listens!

From a recruitment point of view, I would say if you have the right attitude and want to provide a great service I would love to train you! My satisfaction comes from seeing a new joiner successfully complete their training and go on to become great customer service advisors!

   - Roxanne