...career... stuck :(

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Mp4

Mp4

Mp4

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Joined
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Hi all,

Well this will probably sound sad but, I really have no idea what to do with my career life.

I’ve been with Sainsbury’s for 9 years now (part time / now full time for past 3 odd years) I’ve been through college and gained my A levels , I have been looking for a new job within IT for the last 6-7 months now, but having no luck what so ever. I have helped a few hotels around my area with installing wireless internet & websites (domains and used dreamweaver to get the design etc) but that’s as far as it’s gone for me since I left college 3 odd years ago. I can’t seem to focus on one path or what I want to achieve I’ve been to two weddings in the last two weeks and have had fun taking pictures of the family and my cousins and nephews with my DSLR but I’m still 100% novice at photography.

All a bit meh really :(
 
I think you'd find a surprisingly high number of people are the same. Most just don't bother to do anything about it.
 
Mp4 said:
I’ve been through college and gained my A levels , I have been looking for a new job within IT for the last 6-7 months now, but having no luck what so ever.
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What exactly have you been doing? What type of roles have you been looking for? Have you actually spoken to any companies?
 
Have you chased up any applications and asked for feedback from the companies? it would only take one nice one to tell you what they are wanting and it would really help you out.
 
Aye :( kinda sucks really!! i really don't know what to do tbh , stuck at Sainsbury's (not really a place for a career at the store i work at) but tbh most of the people that work at Sainsbury's came from tesco ..lol

oddjob62 said:
What exactly have you been doing? What type of roles have you been looking for? Have you actually spoken to any companies?
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Well anything to get me in to IT , i was looking at support desk or 1st line tech , and no i haven't spoken to any companies at all , just been looking at allot of websites and local papers

kbc said:
Also... what did you study at A-Levels? Did you do a degree?
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a list of the last 3 years at college

• City & Guilds - Level 3 Advanced Diploma for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support)

o Plan for the delivery of ICT Support Services and assist in the acquisition of ICT Systems (Credit)
o Customer support provision (Distinction)
o Install, configure and integrate networked hardware and software (Distinction)
o Repair centre procedures (Distinction)
o Maintain equipment and systems (Distinction)

• City & Guilds – Level 2 Diploma for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support)

o Maintain equipment and systems (Distinction)
o Customer support provision (Pass)
o Install and configure equipment and operating systems (Pass)
o Networking (Distinction)
o Maintain equipment and systems - MC (Pass – no higher grade possible)
o Customer support provision – MC (Pass – no higher grade possible)

• City & Guilds – Level 2 Diploma for IT Users

o IT Principles (Distinction)
o Using the internet (Distinction)
o Integrated applications (Pass)
o IT Principles – MC (Pass – no higher grade possible)
o Web site design (Distinction)

• GNVQ – Information & Communication Technology (Intermediate)
o Information resources.
o Modelling numerical information.
o Handling information.
o Networks and communications.
o Hardware and software.
o Design project.
o Information resources.


iraiguana said:
Have you chased up any applications and asked for feedback from the companies? it would only take one nice one to tell you what they are wanting and it would really help you out.
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Not had a single replay from any CV's that i sent out.
 
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id thought resurrect this thread as i never go round to doing this .. and well i'm in the same boat as when i posted it

my CV , in RTF format - and i didn't make my c.v i got it done via a " professional" which is pants tbh ..lol

www.gslade.ukfsn.org/cvocuk.rtf

as for covering letters , i don't have any as i have no idea what to type up when it comes round to it.

and now i'm just looking for any job with in IT to gain experance
 
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GO and register at a job agency.

I did when I got fed up of my job and within a month I was working at a top 25 website design and build agency in the UK. Now I have my foot in the door the sky is my limit :) (albeit I am in the sales and accounts side of things rather than the IT and design)

They will help you with your CV and do all the work looking for jobs for you. Don't hesitate, just go and do it the next chance you get.
 
3 pages = bad. Cut down to 2.

Put your Education stuff above your employment history, as it is not really relevant. Having said that, you mentioned something about local hotels and wireless networks, put that down (can you get references from them?) as network consulting or whatever, then you may have a case for leaving employment at the start. Lose the personal statement, that stuff goes in a cover letter. Don't blow your education up so much, keep it concise. Outcomes/diplomas gained are more important than courses taken. Although the limited career/education may impede that.
 
Questions for SS, I am with a job agency but they are utter pants!! , I’ve had totally bad experience with them, and I went to Brighton for the day also and spent ages trying to find one that actually deals with IT, it was all mainly a care nurse type jobs so didn't end up with a great deal either

Anyone want to shred my C.V apart go ahead I want to improve on it as I know it was a waste of time getting one done, even if I can use a default template and chop and change the one I already have. As for cover notes I have no idea what to type or to add to when applying for a job , going to have to bare with me as this is only my 2nd (main) job I’ve applied for in 9 years.

An odd questions

For those people in IT how do you keep up with technology?

& what is your easy way of learning?


I have a huge comptia A+ book which is about 2 years old now and I could never take the whole information in.

personally for me I think if I hear something and repeat it then ill gradually remember it. So are there any audio / video / dvd I can watch or listen to gain more knowledge? As I feel really rusty not going in to IT right after college and having a 3 year gap
 
looks like your more qualified than most of the people who work on our helpdesk.
Where are you based I'm sure you could get some it work easy if you applied yourself. Maybe try and do a roll out or something.
 
South East , Eastbourne.

At this moment in time if im overqualified for any IT job is a bonus

I just want to get my foot in the door. I think a helpdesk would be the 1st start.
 
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Mp4 said:
An odd questions

For those people in IT how do you keep up with technology?

& what is your easy way of learning?


I have a huge comptia A+ book which is about 2 years old now and I could never take the whole information in.

personally for me I think if I hear something and repeat it then ill gradually remember it. So are there any audio / video / dvd I can watch or listen to gain more knowledge? As I feel really rusty not going in to IT right after college and having a 3 year gap
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Question 1.
Firstly to say I was very lucky to get into IT. I was messing around fixing peoples PCs and it became a compulsive hobby. Then we moved to Cardiff and I was temping in a big Building Society - now I work in Gloucester at another big building society. It was luck but if you're passionate about something then you will find work. The way I learn is by doing things - it's a massive hobby as well as an occupation - that's how I learn. I come home and then install Windows Server 2008 and Exchange and then mess until I've broke it. Then fix it, etc.

Question 2.
As for an easy way of learning - I would recommend having a look into Microsoft Exams (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) but you'd need to be really good at supporting XP and the Applications. As it's two exams and perfect for 1st line support I'd suggest getting the books and then perhaps doing the exams (£103.40 each inc VAT). Keep pushing for some basic helpdesk work and try and get feedback (as stated elsewhere).


The best advice I think is don't give up - keep pushing and you will get there - look out for Junior jobs as well.



M.
 
m4cc45 said:
Question 1.
Firstly to say I was very lucky to get into IT. I was messing around fixing peoples PCs and it became a compulsive hobby. Then we moved to Cardiff and I was temping in a big Building Society - now I work in Gloucester at another big building society. It was luck but if you're passionate about something then you will find work. The way I learn is by doing things - it's a massive hobby as well as an occupation - that's how I learn. I come home and then install Windows Server 2008 and Exchange and then mess until I've broke it. Then fix it, etc.

Question 2.
As for an easy way of learning - I would recommend having a look into Microsoft Exams (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) but you'd need to be really good at supporting XP and the Applications. As it's two exams and perfect for 1st line support I'd suggest getting the books and then perhaps doing the exams (£103.40 each inc VAT). Keep pushing for some basic helpdesk work and try and get feedback (as stated elsewhere).


The best advice I think is don't give up - keep pushing and you will get there - look out for Junior jobs as well.



M.
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Thanks for your words there and recommended exams etc i shall look in to this for sure.

As i already work full time (39hrs) i do find it hard to try and cram anything in & as i've said i cant take in reading that much as i just forget it , and if i do read allot i get bored :o

after xmas i'm going to try and get a shoddy pc for about £300 that i can play with and ruin to pieces and try and learn more about windows server etc & more i hope
 
yourmomma said:
you could do any of these http://www.jobserve.com/JobListing.aspx?shid=BE0CA3FD1D938D38 Dont worry if you don't have all the skills. As long as you have good telephone manner and wear a suit to the interview.
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Thanks for that i shall have a proper read in a sec .. just scanned and and noticed that ... all 3 of them need skills for


Windows 2000/Windows 2003/MS Exchange, Citrix


which i have no experance with .. apart from Xp which im using now

& also

any experience of SBS advantageous. A basic understanding of TCP/IP, WAN & VPN connectivity ( well ofc TCP/IP) but wan & vpn i again have no idea
 
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ok maybe not the 2nd one. The 1st and last you could easily do. Both say citrix is nice to have but not required. If you read between the lines they are both more interested in candidates with good communication skills. For a 1st line helpdesk role like that your not gonna be required to know everything about windows 2000/2003 and windows is windows at the end of the day so you could easily blag it if the questions got tough.
I started in IT 8years ago with nothing but a degree in politics and am now a geeky developer and still have no qualifications other than a course in how to lift things.
Bung your CV in whats the worst that can happen?
 
Mp4 said:
Questions for SS, I am with a job agency but they are utter pants!! , I’ve had totally bad experience with them, and I went to Brighton for the day also and spent ages trying to find one that actually deals with IT, it was all mainly a care nurse type jobs so didn't end up with a great deal either
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Thats a shame it didn't work out for you with them. Maybe I was just lucky, but I have been to two and they have both been great.

Try Brook Street if you have one near you, or Kellys.

Both were very good with me.
 
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