28M - Ex-police (resigned) and bankrupt - career advice?

Fireflyaway

How about training? I know of 2 ex police officers who are now self employed. They go round organisations delivering training on things such as lone working, communication, safeguarding etc. There can be good money to be earned - some trainers can charge a lot for 1 days work. You get to travel about and manage your own work load.
You must feel down but don't stew on it too long. You have age on your side and if you managed to get to 40k by 28 you obviously have talent and a work ethic so there is no reason you can't reach it or exceed it again.

Rainhands

youngbuck2 wrote: »

Unfortunately, all of the skills I attained were police specific, although I had a lot of experience interviewing victims and suspects and completing case papers.

If anyone here can suggest a career path (i.e. what training/certificates or even degree are needed) I can follow that meets the criteria (e.g. bankruptcy not being an issue) then I'd be really appreciative - it's very difficult to get focused after such a life changing period.

Can they really put your disciplinary on your reference? I thought that was illegal.

Anyway since you were in the police and have spent time interviewing people why don't you work for Mi5 as a vetting officer? You spend hours interviewing people in their homes about deeply personal matters. It seems up your alley. Plus the pay is good, starting salary is 27k I think. Good start-up. And this kind of job will introduce you to others. I don't think your dismissal should affect this depending on what it was for. Part of the job means they will ask everything about your life(even what !!!!!! sites you visit...I'm serious) and you must be truthful, if you are found to be lying they won't hire you. It's worth taking a look.

Beyond this type of work you simply have to get another qualification because, as another poster stated you will even struggle to get minimum wage work otherwise.

youngbuck2

Fireflyaway wrote: »

How about training? I know of 2 ex police officers who are now self employed. They go round organisations delivering training on things such as lone working, communication, safeguarding etc. There can be good money to be earned - some trainers can charge a lot for 1 days work. You get to travel about and manage your own work load.
You must feel down but don't stew on it too long. You have age on your side and if you managed to get to 40k by 28 you obviously have talent and a work ethic so there is no reason you can't reach it or exceed it again.

Thanks - sounds interesting, I'd probably want to research their business a bit, the input they are providing sounds very specific. Apart from general crime prevention, forensics and physical/building security advice I don't have any real specialist knowledge that I could market. Perhaps they are at the same level as me but are just stretching it out a bit. I wouldn't mind getting involved in training or security consultancy, but I'm not sure I have a great deal to offer beyond a few hours input?

Ozzuk

You have no ties, perhaps looks farther afield, oil rigs, electricity work, motorway work, different countries, bodyguard work, driving work (lots of ex police do this).

Get 40k out of your head and just look at every job going and see what kind of roles jump out at you and then look at what skills/training you need to achieve that role.

Its good to have a goal but you are holding yourself back with it, focus on getting a job or you could find yourself a year from now stacking shelves.

youngbuck2

Rainhands wrote: »

Can they really put your disciplinary on your reference? I thought that was illegal.

Yes apparently they can. The general rules around referencing is that your employer cannot mention a negative opinion about you, but they can mention negative facts about you. It is a fact that I resigned whilst the misconduct investigation was going on. My reference actually specifically says "Served between (date) and (date). Resigned whilst subject to a misconduct investigation".

They changed the rules recently, no officers will be allowed to resign whilst at any point in a misconduct investigation, I left just before the rules changed.

Rainhands wrote: »

Anyway since you were in the police and have spent time interviewing people why don't you work for Mi5 as a vetting officer? You spend hours interviewing people in their homes about deeply personal matters. It seems up your alley. Plus the pay is good, starting salary is 27k I think. Good start-up. And this kind of job will introduce you to others. I don't think your dismissal should affect this depending on what it was for. Part of the job means they will ask everything about your life(even what !!!!!! sites you visit...I'm serious) and you must be truthful, if you are found to be lying they won't hire you. It's worth taking a look.

Beyond this type of work you simply have to get another qualification because, as another poster stated you will even struggle to get minimum wage work otherwise.

I'll have a look at that first suggestion. I don't think misconduct on my CV as well as being bankrupt will look too appealing to MI5, but who knows.

I would love to get a qualification of some sort. I'm more than happy to complete some sort of certification/qualification/training/degree as long as it means something and is relevant and useful.

I keep hearing about people saying their 3 year university degrees were a waste of time and not relevant to their jobs. My brother has a BA(Hons) in English Literature and says it was the worst mistake of his life as he's struggling to get a graduate position at any company, let alone anything to do with his degree.

youngbuck2

Ozzuk wrote: »

You have no ties, perhaps looks farther afield, oil rigs, electricity work, motorway work, different countries, bodyguard work, driving work (lots of ex police do this).

Get 40k out of your head and just look at every job going and see what kind of roles jump out at you and then look at what skills/training you need to achieve that role.

Its good to have a goal but you are holding yourself back with it, focus on getting a job or you could find yourself a year from now stacking shelves.

If the most I can hope for is to stack shelves I'll be putting myself out of my own misery I can guarantee that at least.

Believe me, I have spent almost every waking minute for the past 3 months researching/ruling out possible careers for one reason or another. I don't normally post an open and honest account of my personal circumstances on a public forum asking for career advice!

Out of everything you mentioned...

Oil rigs - jobs are like hen's teeth. Unless highly skilled in drilling or a qualified medic there's no chance. Apprenticeships are like gold dust.

Electricity/motorway work - I'm looking into the possibility of a trade.

Bodyguard - A possibility - I would need to complete a close protection SIA course - I didn't get involved in anything like that in the police.

Driving work - what do you mean? Protection driving? Chauffer? Similar sort of route to bodyguard. Definately an option.


I agree I need to get £40k out of my head, it's just a real kick in the groin to go from that a few months ago, to now, on JSA. I don't want to be the guy going from minimum wage job to minimum wage job as a shelf stacker for the rest of his life. I want to buy a house eventually, family/kids etc.

Happy to work overseas though or ANYWHERE for the right job. I have no ties here.

bugslet

youngbuck2 wrote: »

Which is why I'm hoping someone on this thread can suggest another option. I am considering a trade, but it seems a big struggle having to generate my own clients from scratch. I like the idea of being self employed and having a skill but I really don't like the idea of cold calling, door to door, leaflet and business card dropping. I hate it myself personally being on the receiving end which is why I have doubts about that option.

Unfiortunately if you are self-employed, there will be an element of that to start with - after a bit, depending on the job, you can maybe rely on recommendation. I run a company and we don't advertise at all.

Probably not what you want to think of, but I'll throw it into the mix, my artic drivers earn around £36 - 39 k pa., though that involves being away from home and you have to have the right mind set. Wages seem to be edging up a bit as the predicted driver shortage kicks in. Training you could be on the road in a couple of months, but you would be lucky to walk into a decent job straightaway, you'd probably have to do the 'obligatory' agency route to get some experience.

Good luck and try not to be too despondant.

Tiddlywinks

Rainhands wrote: »

Can they really put your disciplinary on your reference? I thought that was illegal.

It's not illegal to give an accurate account of performance - resigning whilst under investigation for gross misconduct IS A FACT.

Rainhands wrote: »

Anyway since you were in the police and have spent time interviewing people why don't you work for Mi5 as a vetting officer? You spend hours interviewing people in their homes about deeply personal matters. It seems up your alley. Plus the pay is good, starting salary is 27k I think. Good start-up. And this kind of job will introduce you to others. I don't think your dismissal should affect this depending on what it was for. Part of the job means they will ask everything about your life(even what !!!!!! sites you visit...I'm serious) and you must be truthful, if you are found to be lying they won't hire you. It's worth taking a look.

Sorry but there's very little chance of this happening - there's enough competition from exemplary applicants for public sector jobs let alone those with gross misconduct allegations.

I don't think there is much chance of the OP landing a job where 'good character' is evidenced as part of the application process.

OP - you need to get real about your situation.

You have a black mark on your career history, have financial difficulties and no higher education - you are not just going to walk into a £40k job.

You'll need to start at the bottom and gain new skills.

Choose something where you can branch out on your own eventually - as then your destiny is in your hands.

Finally, you need to think hard about the circumstances that led to the gross misconduct allegation - you said you didn't have much of a leg to stand on - learn from that so that you don't make a similar mistake again.

youngbuck2

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

It's not illegal to give an accurate account of performance - resigning whilst under investigation for gross misconduct IS A FACT.




Sorry but there's very little chance of this happening - there's enough competition from exemplary applicants for public sector jobs let alone those with gross misconduct allegations.

I don't think there is much chance of the OP landing a job where 'good character' is evidenced as part of the application process.

OP - you need to get real about your situation.

You have a black mark on your career history, have financial difficulties and no higher education - you are not just going to walk into a £40k job.

You'll need to start at the bottom and gain new skills.

Choose something where you can branch out on your own eventually - as then your destiny is in your hands.

Finally, you need to think hard about the circumstances that led to the gross misconduct allegation - you said you didn't have much of a leg to stand on - learn from that so that you don't make a similar mistake again.

I was about to compliment you on how refreshing your post was to read until that last paragraph.

No need to be patronising - when I said I didn't have a leg to stand on I meant that the way the evidence was presented left me with little chance of persuading a hearings board.

I was exemplary for 95% of my career in the police, recognised for my work and achievements. A small lapse of concentration which occurred in the space of a few minutes has cost me a career I worked hard in, I certainly don't need to be patronised about what I did or didn't do and I'm certainly mature enough to understand when I've made a mistake. I find it very frustrating that I am judged on such a small portion of my past compared to everything else I have achieved/experienced - but I've realised that's life.

Anyway.

I've realised I need to reel back my expectations - you and a few others that have mentioned it are right, I'm not going to just swan into a £40k job and I will have to train/qualify in something new and start again.

I know what I need to expect now, I'm more looking for viable suggestions.

I've looked into getting into a trade via an apprenticeship but for example, being an apprentice plumber, I've read typically takes 4-5 years to qualify?! Sorry but I can't be earning £90 a week for 4 years as an apprentice, I'll be 33 when I finish and still living with parents.

Is there anything I can study part-time, a certificate/qualification that is recognised by any professions that will land me a job? Maybe becoming a counsellor or something?

Ideally I could work a part-time job to save a bit of cash and in my spare time study for a certificate/qualification that I can achieve in 1-2 years? Not necessarily the OU but something career/sector specific that's recognised (like CeMAP for mortgage advisors - something I can't do due to the bankruptcy)

Tiddlywinks

youngbuck2 wrote: »

I was about to compliment you on how refreshing your post was to read until that last paragraph.

No need to be patronising - when I said I didn't have a leg to stand on I meant that the way the evidence was presented left me with little chance of persuading a hearings board.

I was exemplary for 95% of my career in the police, recognised for my work and achievements. A small lapse of concentration which occurred in the space of a few minutes has cost me a career I worked hard in, I certainly don't need to be patronised about what I did or didn't do and I'm certainly mature enough to understand when I've made a mistake. I find it very frustrating that I am judged on such a small portion of my past compared to everything else I have achieved/experienced - but I've realised that's life.

Not meant as patronising - just basic advice... some people go through life repeating their mistakes - don't be one of them. Only by reflecting on the mistakes can we work out what we could have done differently.

Of course you'll be 'judged' by employers over your 'mistake' - stop falling into the trap of thinking you are a victim. We all get 'judged' every day. We're all a sum of our past experiences.

It's 'dog eat dog' in the jobs market - concentrate on getting any job you can and then go from there.

In the meantime, how about volunteering for a charity - maybe ex-offenders, homeless shelter etc. Your previous experiences should be useful in these areas. This will give you something to occupy your time plus will allow you to build a good character reference for future job applications.