time for change

Options
s.legh
s.legh Posts: 1 Newbie
in Employment, jobseeking & training
hi guys,

i'm a 30 year old chef from kent. i've been working in kitchens since i was 14 years old and am ready for a change and have been for some time. i was until recently in training to join the royal marines but due to a seperation that is no longer an option as it would mean little to no contact with my daughter.

obviously because of my training i'm well above average in strength and all round fitness. i'd love to use this to do some good but the police force requires education that i don't have as does the ambulance service. the fire brigade is almost impossible to get in to from what i can see so i'm feeling a bit lost.

not sure if anyone out there can tell me what to do with the rest of my life but it doesn't hurt to ask :)

cheers for reading!

Comments

  • AstroTurtle
    AstroTurtle Posts: 290 Forumite
    Options
    Don't rule out the police/ambulance based on Grade requirements. A strong personal statement along with an application can go a long way if you have valid reasons or even alternate skills you have instead of those grades.

    Still apply for them and see how you get on the worst they can say is no. But you won't know unless you try.

    Have you thought about private security at All? Bodyguarding, debt collection?
    Save £12k in 2019 -
  • ssparks2003
    ssparks2003 Posts: 809 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper
    Options
    Get the level of education that you require?
  • nicechap
    nicechap Posts: 2,852 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Options
    You are mistaken about grades to join the ambulance service.

    http://jobs.londonambulance.nhs.uk/job/UK/London/LONDON/London_Ambulance_Service_NHS_Trust/Emergency_Service/Emergency_Service-v923875?basic=&_ts=268

    TRAINEE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE CREW, vacancies across London (so just up the A2/A20)

    ....

    Are you looking for a rewarding and exciting role within the UK!!!8217;s busiest ambulance service?

    Our staff respond and provide excellent care for more than one-and-a-half million patients every year. Working for us is an experience like no other.

    In return you will be working with very established and experienced team. You will receive hands on experience across the spectrum in the service, protected training and continued professional development through individual learning accounts.

    We will also provide you with detailed induction which is tailored to your role.

    Whilst you do not need a medical background for this role, you will need to be able to demonstrate your ability to work with people from all walks of life, handle stressful situations, be flexible in your approach and have basic computer skills. You will have experience of dealing with and communicating effectively with members of the public; be self-motivated, enthusiastic and able to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
    Originally Posted by shortcrust
    "Contact the Ministry of Fairness....If sufficient evidence of unfairness is discovered you’ll get an apology, a permanent contract with backdated benefits, a ‘Let’s Make it Fair!’ tshirt and mug, and those guilty of unfairness will be sent on a Fairness Awareness course."
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,030 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Options
    ssparks2003 wrote: »
    Get the level of education that you require?
    This. Whatever it is you haven't got, there'll be a way of getting it ...
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Fireflyaway
    Fireflyaway Posts: 2,766 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post
    Options
    You could have another 30 years of work ahead so go and invest a bit of time now to get a career you enjoy! I was accepted into the police and I don't have great qualifications. There were entrance exams, interview and fitness test and upon passing that I was accepted. Different forces require different things. If its math / English you can do an evening course at a local college. Sometimes they are free.
  • StevenB12
    StevenB12 Posts: 269 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Post
    Options
    You don't need an 'education' to join the Police force. While it is preferred that you do have some schooling etc, it is not necessary. You go through their own screening questions etc before they decide if you are suitable or not.

    Failing that, prison service jobs are also on the rise, especially with Sodexo as they have pretty much all of the main security contracts with prisons etc in this country, so that my be an avenue for you to go down if you want to work in that line.

    If you were interested in the Royal Marines, then I suggest you keep an eye out here - http://www.mod.police.uk/apply/index.html

    Pretty much the armed response side of the Police. You can apply straight to that without having to have been in the Police previously, as they go on to more specialist roles such as guarding Nuclear/Naval bases etc, dog handling and in general just more specialist roles.

    As for the Fire Service, I live in the North East of England and I think in the past 8 years (I also want to join up if the opportunity comes a long) I think I have seen ONE vacancy advertising for Fire Fighters and that station was about 60 miles away from me. At the moment in my area anyway, they are recruiting for a lot of retained/on call Fireman, I think the retainer is about 2500 hundred per year, plus 11 an hour when you are called out. Obviously you get the same training and it puts you in a prime position for when a vacancy does come up, but it's very much a second job to supplement a main one.
  • Tabbytabitha
    Tabbytabitha Posts: 4,684 Forumite
    First Anniversary
    Options
    Savvy_Sue wrote: »
    This. Whatever it is you haven't got, there'll be a way of getting it ...
    nicechap wrote: »
    You are mistaken about grades to join the ambulance service.

    http://jobs.londonambulance.nhs.uk/job/UK/London/LONDON/London_Ambulance_Service_NHS_Trust/Emergency_Service/Emergency_Service-v923875?basic=&_ts=268

    TRAINEE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE CREW, vacancies across London (so just up the A2/A20)

    ....

    Are you looking for a rewarding and exciting role within the UK!!!8217;s busiest ambulance service?

    Our staff respond and provide excellent care for more than one-and-a-half million patients every year. Working for us is an experience like no other.

    In return you will be working with very established and experienced team. You will receive hands on experience across the spectrum in the service, protected training and continued professional development through individual learning accounts.

    We will also provide you with detailed induction which is tailored to your role.

    Whilst you do not need a medical background for this role, you will need to be able to demonstrate your ability to work with people from all walks of life, handle stressful situations, be flexible in your approach and have basic computer skills. You will have experience of dealing with and communicating effectively with members of the public; be self-motivated, enthusiastic and able to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

    Just because academic qualifications aren't listed as a requirement, doesn't mean that you'd be likely to be accepted if you have none, particularly as the ambulance service in general is moving towards being all graduate.
  • another_casualty
    another_casualty Posts: 6,506 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    Fitness instructor ?
  • bouicca21
    bouicca21 Posts: 6,514 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    The Met just require a GCSE English at C or above. Your opening post is coherent and punctuated, though it lacks capitals and (like many people) you can't spell separation. So your written English is pretty good. Contact your local adult education college, they are bound to have courses designed for people like you.
  • nicechap
    nicechap Posts: 2,852 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Options
    Tabbytabitha wrote: »
    Just because academic qualifications aren't listed as a requirement, doesn't mean that you'd be likely to be accepted if you have none, particularly as the ambulance service in general is moving towards being all graduate.

    I'm afraid you're mistaken.

    The advert I linked was for a Trainee Emergency Ambulance Crew, which after training and a year or so on the road experience leads to being an Emergency Ambulance Crew (EAC).

    I think you are referring to Paramedics, not all ambulances have paramedics and not all paramedics have a degree, but more and more now do, and, at some point in the future having a Paramedic Science degree will probably be a pre-requisite for registration.

    However, in London, EACs, and the previous qualification, technician, can enrol in an in- house course to become paramedics (but its not a degree course).

    Having said all that, having a decent level of literacy and numeracy will make the job an awful lot easier, as will having some sort of science background such as biology GCSE. But as the advert says, being able to talk to people from all backgrounds is key to the job.
    Originally Posted by shortcrust
    "Contact the Ministry of Fairness....If sufficient evidence of unfairness is discovered you’ll get an apology, a permanent contract with backdated benefits, a ‘Let’s Make it Fair!’ tshirt and mug, and those guilty of unfairness will be sent on a Fairness Awareness course."
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 343.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 235.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 608.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 173.1K Life & Family
  • 247.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards