Almost 40 and desperately need help with new career..

[DarrenM343]

But jobs shouldn’t be based on it, like if you need it then you go through the process to get it. It shouldn’t be a reason to hire someone.

DV clearance can take 12 months. SC clearance can take 3. Companies sometimes need people ASAP. The government has changed the rules however, especially in the case of SC cleared roles so unless they need a candidate to start within something like 4 weeks, they have to accept applications from non-SC cleared applicants. Agencies however may still put a filter on top and say "SC cleared applicants only", even if the company hiring is willing to wait longer than 4 weeks.
These days it is easier to land SC cleared roles without having it already. Used to be the case that you had to already have it most of the time. Problem is, if someone fails it, that's lost time and £ so you can understand why they prefer you to either hold it, or held it before.

 

[Nasher]

Naa the gravy train is still there, it's even harder to get now. It will probably derail eventually though.

If it's a public sector job you can often start before the clearance comes through (on the assumption that it will, if it's rejected your out). But for outsourced work many sites will not even let people on without it and they do check.

 

[DarrenM343]

Naa the gravy train is still there, it's even harder to get now. It will probably derail eventually though.

If it's a public sector job you can often start before the clearance comes through (on the assumption that it will, if it's rejected your out). But for outsourced work many sites will not even let people on without it and they do check.

Might have changed now but it varied for me. Some government contracts I had to wait for either the clearance to be granted or transferred. Others had to have someone escort me everywhere even though they knew I held it but until it was transferred to them. Going for a no 2 with someone outside waiting was not fun .
Was some good interesting work. Lips are always sealed tho

 

[Nasher]

Depends on what is on the site. If there is sensitive stuff there you might need to be escorted in case you decide to go exploring

For secret and above it's still "need to know", even for people with DV. After the whole Snowdon and wikileaks thing they started to take it more seriously.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

Just LOL if your next career move isn't male stripper.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Public sector here. You can't get north of £30k without being a manager. You could be the bestest developer or security expert evah, you still aren't getting >£30k without going down the management route.

I don't think you're looking hard enough:-

https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/lead-and-senior-site-reliability-engineers/
https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/senior-data-engineer-big-data-developer/
https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/data-engineer-big-data-developer/
https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/it-operations-analyst/

First four vacancies I found.

 

[wez130]

Always a pleasure boet, nou gaan ek lekker braai

Did someone say BBQ?

Nice one Diddums, it shows how great this forum is when it's needed, as well as all the daft banter that goes on in here! 15 years i've been here now and i probably will be for another 15 or longer lol!

 

[FoxEye]

Public sector here. You can't get north of £30k without being a manager. You could be the bestest developer or security expert evah, you still aren't getting >£30k without going down the management route.

Not sure if that's all public sector but it's 100% true where I am (local council).

I don't think you're looking hard enough:-

https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/lead-and-senior-site-reliability-engineers/
https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/senior-data-engineer-big-data-developer/
https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/data-engineer-big-data-developer/
https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/vacancy/it-operations-analyst/

First four vacancies I found.

I'm not looking at all. The original post I responded to said "public sector" was the route to "big money", before it was edited to swap "public sector" for "defence".

I know you like to score points, but you didn't even quote my whole post, just the bit that meant you could "win" the argument.

Where I work (public sector), you cannot earn more than ~£30k (it's graded) unless you have management responsibilities.

My last line was, "Not sure if that's all public sector but it's 100% true where I am (local council)." Thanks for playing.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Just LOL if your next career move isn't male stripper.

I don't think you're looking hard enough

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I'm not looking at all. The original post I responded to said "public sector" was the route to "big money", before it was edited to swap "public sector" for "defence".

I know you like to score points, but you didn't even quote my whole post, just the bit that meant you could "win" the argument.

Where I work (public sector), you cannot earn more than ~£30k (it's graded) unless you have management responsibilities.

My last line was, "Not sure if that's all public sector but it's 100% true where I am (local council)." Thanks for playing.

Wow, bit defensive there chap.

 

[h4rm0ny]

Send me your CV, I'll have a look and put you in touch with some folks, I know some fairly well and the industry is screaming for staff at the moment. You'll have to edit it to really, really emphasize your history in handy stuff but you'll have a job in no time. I started at £25k 10 years ago and now earn double that, as long as you're willing and keen there are many morons' heads to stand on to get a leg up.

This is community spirit, right here!

 

[Yaayuh!]

I'm the other way around, I'm 32, in IT and want to get out. But i have no idea what.

 

[MrRockliffe]

I'm the other way around, I'm 32, in IT and want to get out. But i have no idea what.

Find a company you like working for first

 

[Diddums]

@keenan I've sent you an email, but please send me your number. I spoke to my guy who's got a handyman role going for £25k at the moment, but we need to move quick.

 

[dowie]

^^^ what a nice bloke

 

[ttaskmaster]

NVM

 

[keenan]

@keenan I've sent you an email, but please send me your number. I spoke to my guy who's got a handyman role going for £25k at the moment, but we need to move quick.

Thanks Diddums, sorry for the late reply. I was sleeping and just got up as I'm doing overtime tonight. On my way to work now, but just replied to your email.

 

[wez130]

Nope. They said 'braai' - *so* much better than a BBQ, especially the British idea of one!!

HAHA, i expected someone to bite

 

[Zefan]

The original post I responded to said "public sector" was the route to "big money", before it was edited to swap "public sector" for "defence".

Where I work (public sector), you cannot earn more than ~£30k (it's graded) unless you have management responsibilities.

My last line was, "Not sure if that's all public sector but it's 100% true where I am (local council)." Thanks for playing.

I understand what you're a saying, in that permanent roles can't earn big bucks without management responsibility. I know this too, being in a permanent defence role myself. The problem you're having is that you didn't fully understand what he was saying.

Let's read it again:

Get in a job in defence, get trained up, get the security clearance and the contacts. That is how people get paid loads of money working IT contracts.

He's specifically talking about working in defence (the wider public sector does also use contractors) as a route to making big money working IT contracts. The difference between the permanent salaries and the annual income of the contractors I know - working in identical roles in the same teams as permanent equivalents - is in the order of a 50-100% increase.

 

[Nasher]

There are down sides as well I should mention Civil service jobs are one of the more secure ones and you do get perks. Plus from what I experienced it's a far more relaxed environment, once you reach the middle ranks you're expected to manage yourself and get on with it. As long as you are, no one bothers you. Personally I prefer a less stressful environment to more money, but that's just me.