OK so now that my security is confirmed and the only thing left is to negotiate a start date, I guess it's all good to update on what the old role was and new role is! Naturally I can't say much more than what might be found online etc.
Originally 8 years as a Technical Analyst (in-house systems/IT/project technical lead etc) for Wightlink Ferries.
I really enjoyed this role and visited the island often to explore and do my shoots and made some amazing friends/work family there some of whom I regularly hang with still but the role itself got a bit stagnant in later years with no route to progress beyond my current level as the 2nd most technically capable person there. A major change last year in shift pattern due to operational needs of the business gave me the final motivation to look at what else was out there that fitted in with my work/life balance.
Applied for and got offered a position working in digital phone forensics for the police which was something I actually applied for before the above but didn't get in because no force experience which was a pre-req back then. This time round I had transferable skills on the table and forces around the country were/are now taking on civilians who have the abilities to do it and training them up.
After some months I realised it was not for me. The technical side of it is no problem and quite enjoyable but the psychological/mental and political side wasn't an area I felt suited me as a person. I also found out this role too is stagnant for anyone looking at the long term. In order to earn more, you've got to get courses and experience under the belt then move elsewhere - Most tend to go private forensic sector where the big money is but the private sector here is very cut-throat with many of the companies that have taken people on working them to the bone.
And here we are today 6 months later about to start as a senior engineer at BAE Systems. I know there is a work family atmosphere here as a family member was a project manager for them for many years before moving to a bigger city and they would always speak highly of it!
Long term goals wise, I love all things space so if in time I can get my foot in the aerospace division door then I'll be extremely chuffed
I guess any advice to others unsure about their career paths etc, many people will almost certainly have built up the skills needed for their ideal roles but may not realise it. A lot of skills are transferable between sectors even if the task they helped completed were totally different, the methodology is sill the same. Consider those sorts of aspects of your current role and see how it could fit in to a new role you're looking at and then market that as your USP in an application!
Any decent employer will see those aspects and bring it up at interview and you will be able to talk about it confidently as it's something you already know well.
