17. No job. No GCSE's. No experience.
- Thread starter Tom2k8
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Soldato
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- 24 Sep 2005
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- Middlesbrough
Not necessarily.
I have no GCSE's or any other qualifications for that matter.
I was stuck in retail/call centres for a few years while tinkering with PC's in my spare time.
Because of that (10 years experience with PCs) I got myself into a job as an IT Tech and am currently learning for my A+ (piece of cake) Network+ and MCSEs.
Who needs GCSEs!
Soldato
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Well... I would say, is it only because you're good at it you want to work in IT? How do you know you wouldn't be good at something else if you try it out? Maybe try something you wouldn't normally think of like sales or something? Something you are good at working with at home doesn't always equate to an enjoyable job everyday.
Also, don't be presumptious about companies not taking people on without qualifications. If you sell yourself well and demonstrate a good attitude and be pro-active, someone may give you a break. If you see something you like and think you could do then apply and see what they say back.
How do you feel about education? If you don't want to do it or enjoy it or have an aptitude for study then it may not be the best option for you and there's no shame in that. I know I went to Uni about your age and under-achieved, I then worked for a few year and hated that even more so went back to Uni and had a far better attitude and experience. Maybe that would be good for you.
Whatever you decide, you are at an age where you have an absolute ton of options so don't think you HAVE to do something or another because you 'think' it is what society requires from you. The responses on OcUK don't always give the best barometer of life IMO. You can have 21 year olds saying you can't do anything without GCSEs and if it isn't that then a degree and then in a thread next week, degrees wont be what they used to be, it's experience you need nowadays or MCSEs.
You don't need to earn that much in life either, I was happiest doing a small sales job I did years ago which I earned buttons from and I earn a bit more now doing something else but again I've turned down higher paid jobs because they would be less enjoyable than my current job.
There have been good options mentioned like apprenticeships and even getting a truck licence could be interesting.
I know people in their 30s jacking in civil service jobs they have done since they were 16 and trying to get an education and starting fresh at that age.
Anyway, figure out what you would like to do and start working towards that, writing letters to IT companies asking for junior workers or whatever you have to do.
So whatever you do, good luck and keep your chin up!
As most other people said, it's definitely not too late and I'd highly recommend getting the basic (English, Math, Science) GCSE's from College which you can do in under a year.
I was in a similar situation to you, I dropped out of school due to illness when I was 10 and for the next 9 years I had pretty much no education at all, at 19 I returned to education at college and got an A* in GCSE Math, B in GCSE Science, C in GCSE English which allowed me to go on and do A-Level Math, Further Math, Physics & Computing – now I've finished a BSc in Computer Science and landed a job as a 'junior' game developer.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
I was in a similar situation to you, I dropped out of school due to illness when I was 10 and for the next 9 years I had pretty much no education at all, at 19 I returned to education at college and got an A* in GCSE Math, B in GCSE Science, C in GCSE English which allowed me to go on and do A-Level Math, Further Math, Physics & Computing – now I've finished a BSc in Computer Science and landed a job as a 'junior' game developer.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Soldato
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Try saying "Would you like fries with that?".
No experience, no qualifications, you will have to start at the bottom and work up.
Haven't read all 4 pages but I want to point out that this is not the case.
It is... and it isn't lol. Basically because you don't have a level 2 qualification... or a level 1/3 (forget how it goes) you won't have to pay a thing. If anything you will be able to get help with cash should you need it.
At least I do
Ah that is true.
I think it's a free Level 1-2 but pay for 3? Not sure.
Man of Honour
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According to tonights Sentinel McDonalds are creating 150 more jobs in Staffordshire because of the rise in customers.
Theres also a job in the back for a Trainee IT person who must know about Broadband. (not the ex OCUK'er)
Theres also a job in the back for a Trainee IT person who must know about Broadband. (not the ex OCUK'er)
It's supposed to mean that had he been sent to public school then the vast sums of money paid for an education might of meant the teachers pushed harder to get him special considerations when it came to exam marking etc.
I'm not saying public or state schools are bad just that going by what was said, in his case, the teachers didn't seem to have much motivation to help him.
Of course its all ifs and buts. Maybe a private eductaion would have helped, maybe not.
Some kids have a bad time at school, thats life. Give it a few years if need be, sort your head out and move on.
Get a plan, motivate yourself and start again. Job done.
Some kids have a bad time at school, thats life. Give it a few years if need be, sort your head out and move on.
Get a plan, motivate yourself and start again. Job done.
My friend has just got into College to GCSEs in English, Maths, Science, and then continue her Motor Mechanics studies.
She has been ill since Year 9, and she has left school this year being in on and off, she used to come in most Tuesdays which is when she did Motor Mechanics if she was feeling well enough. Even with no GCSE's you can get into College.
Now the illness has cleared up and under control she is ready to get back into education and she was offered a place from her application straight away.