Careers Help Needed!

FunLovinCriminal

Hi All
I will keep this short(ish) and sweet
I was a Computer Consultant for four years with a firm of Accountants, but completely self-taught. GCSE's are the limit to my qualifications but I have a "knack" with computers, and love working with them.
Anyway. I was made redundant from the Accountants as they wanted to be solely accountants, and no longer supported IT. So I fell into a job in the Prison Service - I know, complete change! While there I became their IT Support as well as being a Prison Officer. I looked after the prisons IT systems and telephony equipment, again self-taught and experience.
I met and married the love of my life, who grew homesick for her homeland in Scotland, and I gave up my career in the Prison Service, and I fell into working for a Supermarket chain. I loathe this job, all I can do to get out of bed and do (what is for me) brain numbing and tedious.
So after long walks and longer thoughts, I want to go back to what I enjoy. I.T. But I cannot even get a foot in the door.
I would love to do something like Web Design or basically anything to do with IT. Any advice on how I could do this ASAP.
I'm 37 this year, and feel if I do not do something, quickly, I may be stuck in a Supermarket for the rest of my days!!!
Cheers
FLC

princessdon

Volunteering and internship is one way.

Ring your local small charities -eg animal shelter or homeless shelter - ask if they want help with a website or secure payments cart etc or their desktop's upgraded, telephone system etc. (I don't know your skills). Many will take your hand off to help as they often don't have designated IT people

Looks good on a CV and word of mouth in this network helps, if anyone has a job they'd recommend you in a second.

LittleVoice

FunLovinCriminal wrote: »

Hi All
I will keep this short(ish) and sweet
I was a Computer Consultant for four years with a firm of Accountants, but completely self-taught. GCSE's are the limit to my qualifications but I have a "knack" with computers, and love working with them.
Anyway. I was made redundant from the Accountants as they wanted to be solely accountants, and no longer supported IT. So I fell into a job in the Prison Service - I know, complete change! While there I became their IT Support as well as being a Prison Officer. I looked after the prisons IT systems and telephony equipment, again self-taught and experience.
I met and married the love of my life, who grew homesick for her homeland in Scotland, and I gave up my career in the Prison Service, and I fell into working for a Supermarket chain. I loathe this job, all I can do to get out of bed and do (what is for me) brain numbing and tedious.
So after long walks and longer thoughts, I want to go back to what I enjoy. I.T. But I cannot even get a foot in the door.
I would love to do something like Web Design or basically anything to do with IT. Any advice on how I could do this ASAP.
I'm 37 this year, and feel if I do not do something, quickly, I may be stuck in a Supermarket for the rest of my days!!!
Cheers
FLC

So are you in Scotland now? If so, do they have any prisons there?

It seems you have worked in IT in the prison service by being someone who was able to add to the role they had while in post. That's often the way - foot in the door for one role and take on others.

Are there any IT jobs advertised locally which you feel you could do? If so, are they looking for specific experience you do not have or is it they want named qualifications?

FunLovinCriminal

Hi Little Voice
I have tried getting back into the Prison Service.
I could not transfer due to English & Wales Prison Service being separate to the Scottish version. It would mean a £18k pay drop, something I was not prepared to do for the "difficult" working conditions. It also appears they wouldn't employ me due to them having to take on my pension payments, which would be very costly to them. I do not know the full reason here, but speaking to a colleague who does work up in the Scottish PS, he tells me that I would basically be a TUPE into their system, and would be a very costly employee.
Very demoralizing to apply for jobs up here that I was doing in England, and not even getting an interview.
However, I must and will plow on.
Thanks Princessdon for the advice. I will endeavour to contact local charities to develop my CV.
Anyone else with more advice or websites they wish to be written?
FLC