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

pupgrum

youngbuck2 wrote: »

Perhaps I should just erase any mention of working for the past 8 years and pretend I went travelling/volunteering abroad or something? I still have good references from before the police..

Won't work if the job requires a background check, checks that look at your passport, ask for proof of residence in your alleged holiday places, and proof of how you funded travelling for 8 years, proof of volunteering. 8 years is too long a gap. Regardless of what job you go for, unless you can explain that huge gap no employer will hire you.

If you stick with your claim you only made a snide remark to a member of public, you're going to have to explain why you left pending an disciplinary investigation when at most you'd get a written warning. I can't see any employer not questioning this. You can ignore the negative posts and only listen to the people encouraging you, but that's not going to help. Sugar coating doesn't bring results.

youngbuck2

pupgrum wrote: »

Won't work if the job requires a background check, checks that look at your passport, ask for proof of residence in your alleged holiday places, and proof of how you funded travelling for 8 years, proof of volunteering. 8 years is too long a gap. Regardless of what job you go for, unless you can explain that huge gap no employer will hire you.

If you stick with your claim you only made a snide remark to a member of public, you're going to have to explain why you left pending an disciplinary investigation when at most you'd get a written warning. I can't see any employer not questioning this. You can ignore the negative posts and only listen to the people encouraging you, but that's not going to help. Sugar coating doesn't bring results.

Why are people dwelling on this? I explained in several posts that of course there was more to it than that but I'm not going to explain it all on a public forum surely that's understandable?

I would prefer if people focused on what careers I should look at rather than what I'm going to say at interview - I have prepared for that and will fully explain the circumstances to any prospective employer. It wasn't just a snide remark, but to explain it any more than that is irrelevant.

Transformers

youngbuck2 wrote: »

I really like the idea of learning a trade, but very apprehensive working as a sole trader/self employed trying to find work to earn a living - no experience of cold calling, generating clients/work, advertising myself etc.

The answer? Man up! If no-one will offer you a job then your can sit and wait or you can try to create your own.

Frankly, you have little to lose and a lot to gain.

youngbuck2 wrote: »

Why are people dwelling on this? I explained in several posts that of course there was more to it than that but I'm not going to explain it all on a public forum surely that's understandable?

I would prefer if people focused on what careers I should look at rather than what I'm going to say at interview - I have prepared for that and will fully explain the circumstances to any prospective employer. It wasn't just a snide remark, but to explain it any more than that is irrelevant.

And I'd prefer to be taller, slimmer and richer but, hey, that's not realistic.

Like it or not, you presented yourself here as having made a minor error but then you have expanded on that as the thread has gone on. I appreciate that you don't want to give the full account of events here but you must accept that the real reason for your resignation is very relevant to your chances in certain professions.

Yes have a long term plan but you need to be prepared to do whatever it takes just to get back into work - you still don't really seem willing to do anything (legal of course).

youngbuck2

Transformers wrote: »

The answer? Man up! If no-one will offer you a job then your can sit and wait or you can try to create your own.

Frankly, you have little to lose and a lot to gain.



And I'd prefer to be taller, slimmer and richer but, hey, that's not realistic.

Like it or not, you presented yourself here as having made a minor error but then you have expanded on that as the thread has gone on. I appreciate that you don't want to give the full account of events here but you must accept that the real reason for your resignation is very relevant to your chances in certain professions.

Yes have a long term plan but you need to be prepared to do whatever it takes just to get back into work - you still don't really seem willing to do anything (legal of course).

How much more discussion does it need? I'm not going to go into anymore detail, I will discuss it with my potential future employer when appropriate. The fact I have a reference mentioning gross misconduct is the issue, not the specifics of it (I have already mentioned it was nothing involving racism/bigotry etc).

End of. If you're so hung up on that point then stop contributing to this thread which I created specifically to look at career options not the intricacies of why I resigned. You know enough.

youngbuck2

For those that are interested..

Having researched these a fair bit, and having considered what is most feasible and most suited to my situation, I'm torn between:

Retail/Hospitality/Management (in the long run) - Apply for a part-time entry-level job in either retail or hospitality/restaurants. At the same time, begin studying for a BA(Hons) Business Management degree with the OU. Over the next 3 years whilst I complete my degree make as much progress as I can can, gaining valuable experience, potentially try and land a supervisory/junior management role within 3 years using my experience and previous work history show clear intention that I wish to pursue this as a career not just as a student/temp job.

-or-

Health & Safety Advisor/Consultant - Gain any job I can to gain a more recent reference. Over the next few months/year, study for and pass the NEBOSH National General Certificate (required for most entry level H&S jobs). During this period also volunteer for unpaid work with a Health & Safety role/shadowing someone in this role if possible - this will add to my CV and experience. After a while, having completed the certificate and relevant unpaid experience, apply for full time entry level H&S role. Gain further experience and study for the NEBOSH diploma before trying to progress.



Out of those two options, which sounds the best for me and most realistic?

torbrex

I can point you towards a job which may turn into a career if you are suited, it is a zero hour contract to start but the higher you go, the more chance of being salaried.
It is with OCS as a stocktaker/counter start at the bottom and work your way up, any kind of athourity will get you to supervisor level, computer knowledge will get you to analyst level and aptitude will get you to count manager level.
They have their fingers in many pies so take a look.

gettingready

Ok - I would vote for some sort of a training role for you.

That is the most realistic way to get to the income you want to be honest - with minimum outlay.

Yes, you would need some certification for it but is is doable.

health and safety training
first aid
soft skills
it training

Do some research into those and see how you feel.

As a contractor trainer you would be laughing at the 40k you now feel is way out of your reach.

You are very well spoken, clearly confident - you could do really well.

I left a 43k, permanent job in 2010 - the last 2 years I had "final written warning for gross misconduct" on my file. Completely unfair and unjustified - still, someone has done this to me and there was nothing I could do. Neither could Unison (which was useless to be honest). For 8 years I had nothing but praise for my work, never had any trouble at work till the management changed and some insecure person decided I was a threat (I was not) and found a way to "put me in my place". It was so unreal that even now I do not believe it happened but it did happen to me so for a change I actually do believe you (without details) that things like that happen as it happened to me.

I was off work for about 14 months having no idea what to do but once I shook it off and aimed well ....

Saying that, I stayed within my field (I am a trainer on specific bespoke systems, mostly clinical but also bespoke and additionally bilingual which helps with some contracts) but went contracting on a daily rate. I work via my own Ltd company which may not be an option for you at the moment due to the BR but have a look at working via Umbrella - perhaps this would be an option, not sure so pls check.

If you are not tied up to a place, you could potentially take a contract anywhere in the UK and even after accommodation cost still be ok.

With big systems roll outs, agencies often take lots of floorwalkers and train them u on client's site on the basics of the system - this is how I know some people got their first contracts.

The lowest I have seen was £20.00 per hour for a shift work including nights and weekends etc, that was in London. It may not be much and no self respecting trainer would take that role on but it is a good way to get in.

You have to be very convincing with an agency that you REALLY want to get into that particular field (clinical systems in particular).

Also Ms Office/Windows trainer. Have a look at TAP IITT (Trainer Assessment Programme from Institute of IT Training) as well as MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) for a start.

Health and Safety and First Aid.

Training for Mental Health staff - safety, restrain etc etc.

Frankly, with your background, ambitions and the way you come across - I personally would not think of going into into manual (trade) jobs, you will be mentally bored.

For a start try speaking to Ideal:

http://www.idealts.co.uk/home/about-ideal/

http://www.realpublicsector.com/our-divisions/healthcare-nhs

I personally do not work with them as they do not pay enough but I know a lot of people who had their first contracts via those 2 agencies.

They cover whole UK.

Give yourself 1-2 years experience and we are talking 250-400 per day.



Good luck

EDIT - You could have Ltd after you are discharged from BR, in the meantime I believe you could work via Umbrella but please research on some contractors forums or ask on the small business section on MSE here to be sure.

Good explanations and a forum here:

http://www.contractoruk.com/

Some more links:

TAP - you have to attend

http://www.trainingfoundation.com/page/what_we_do/taplearningsystem.html

MOS - you can learn yourself and pay for exams only

https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-gb/mos-certification.aspx

youngbuck2

gettingready wrote: »

Ok - I would vote for some sort of a training role for you.

That is the most realistic way to get to the income you want to be honest - with minimum outlay.

Yes, you would need some certification for it but is is doable.

health and safety training
first aid
soft skills
it training

Do some research into those and see how you feel.

As a contractor trainer you would be laughing at the 40k you now feel is way out of your reach.

You are very well spoken, clearly confident - you could do really well.

I left a 43k, permanent job in 2010 - the last 2 years I had "final written warning for gross misconduct" on my file. Completely unfair and unjustified - still, someone has done this to me and there was nothing I could do. Neither could Unison (which was useless to be honest). For 8 years I had nothing but praise for my work, never had any trouble at work till the management changed and some insecure person decided I was a threat (I was not) and found a way to "put me in my place". It was so unreal that even now I do not believe it happened but it did happen to me so for a change I actually do believe you (without details) that things like that happen as it happened to me.

I was off work for about 14 months having no idea what to do but once I shook it off and aimed well ....

Saying that, I stayed within my field (I am a trainer on specific bespoke systems, mostly clinical but also bespoke and additionally bilingual which helps with some contracts) but went contracting on a daily rate. I work via my own Ltd company which may not be an option for you at the moment due to the BR but have a look at working via Umbrella - perhaps this would be an option, not sure so pls check.

If you are not tied up to a place, you could potentially take a contract anywhere in the UK and even after accommodation cost still be ok.

With big systems roll outs, agencies often take lots of floorwalkers and train them u on client's site on the basics of the system - this is how I know some people got their first contracts.

The lowest I have seen was £20.00 per hour for a shift work including nights and weekends etc, that was in London. It may not be much and no self respecting trainer would take that role on but it is a good way to get in.

You have to be very convincing with an agency that you REALLY want to get into that particular field (clinical systems in particular).

Also Ms Office/Windows trainer. Have a look at TAP IITT (Trainer Assessment Programme from Institute of IT Training) as well as MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) for a start.

Health and Safety and First Aid.

Training for Mental Health staff - safety, restrain etc etc.

Frankly, with your background, ambitions and the way you come across - I personally would not think of going into into manual (trade) jobs, you will be mentally bored.

For a start try speaking to Ideal:

http://www.idealts.co.uk/home/about-ideal/

http://www.realpublicsector.com/our-divisions/healthcare-nhs

I personally do not work with them as they do not pay enough but I know a lot of people who had their first contracts via those 2 agencies.

They cover whole UK.

Give yourself 1-2 years experience and we are talking 250-400 per day.



Good luck

EDIT - You could have Ltd after you are discharged from BR, in the meantime I believe you could work via Umbrella but please research on some contractors forums or ask on the small business section on MSE here to be sure.

Good explanations and a forum here:

http://www.contractoruk.com/

Some more links:

TAP - you have to attend

http://www.trainingfoundation.com/page/what_we_do/taplearningsystem.html

MOS - you can learn yourself and pay for exams only

https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-gb/mos-certification.aspx

What a brilliant post. Thank you for taking the time to reply. Whilst I need to remain realistic, this was a very encouraging post for me and I will certainly be looking into everything you have suggested. I feel I should write a more substantial reply but I have nothing to say apart from :T.

gettingready

No worries, as i said - I have been there so fingers crossed for you.

gettingready

If you are not getting far with agencies to start with - always an option to get some volunteer placement in a hospital, even as HCA and then learn one of the systems they use this way. By being nice to the nurses you can get very far