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Computer/ IT career Honest advice

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  • Computer
Last response: in General UK & Ireland Discussions
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February 12, 2011 8:48:13 PM

Hi Guys,

I live in the UK and I am in a position in life thats not great as I was made redundant around xmas time and I have been thinking about a career in computing/ IT, I enjoy everything that surrounds computing and I feel I would enjoy it and would interest me alot. I just want to make clear that if i was given the opportunity I would want to make a career out of it and I wouldnt just give up as I am determined. I have been looking at apprenticeships as I think this the best way to start and Im prepared to take the low wage to start with if it means i will have a decent career at the end. So..............

Has anyone got any HONEST advice on where to start?



More about : computer career honest advice

February 13, 2011 4:53:56 AM


I assume Job Centre Plus would be the place to enquire about apprenticeships ut you are far from alone in your quest for such a thing. I'm a PC Fixer and from my adverts, I get at least one call a week or a CV through the post from someone who's seeking an apprenticeship, some of whom are prepared to shadow me at their own expense and at no cost to me.

Sadly, as much as I'd like to pass on what I know and continue to learn daily, my back garden office setup is suitable only for one person. More importantly, I'm neither experienced or qualified to teach or even to structure a proper course.

I wish you well but I should also point out that going self-employed in this game is also not as easy as it sounds. I came to it late in life and with other business interests to support me while I built it up but it's now the only income I have and it ain't huge! Forty quid an hour sounds good but you may only see three jobs a day and might go a week without one. There's a lot of other people doing the same thing and at the end of the day, a job is only worth what it's worth and you cannot possibly charge by the hour for the all the time it takes to chase down malware, declutter and update a system that still only has XP SP1 or to eliminate all the possible faults when a motherboard is playing silly beggars.

Sorry I can't make it sound better but it is still, in my opinion, the best job in the world because it's different every day and you're always learning new stuff.

Good luck with it. :D 

February 13, 2011 7:39:00 AM

mmm I guess there is alot of people wanting the same jobs these days. I will ring the job centre plus and my nearest college and see what they have to offer. I wouldnt mind being in house for a while if its decent, maybe self employed is something for the future, would like to get as many skills under my belt as I can if possible. I did look at the main apprenticeship site and there was quite a few IT apprenticeships and I applied for them but one refused me straight away which I couldnt understand as all my grades and qualifications are more than sufficient. So I rang them out of interest and they said it is just because I am 25. Hope this will not tarnish my efforts.
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February 15, 2011 5:34:59 PM

Leeg5547 said:
So I rang them out of interest and they said it is just because I am 25. Hope this will not tarnish my efforts.




That's disgusting - a victim of ageism at 25? You could stay with the same company for sixty years.
February 17, 2011 5:53:21 PM

I believe if you are between 19 and 25 an employer can call it a "Modern Appenticeship", it allows them to pay less than legal minimum and legaly dump the staff they don't want at the end; if you are 25 or over they can't; it stinks but that's the way the employment market is going.

From personal experience, write a one page letter of introduction, put a one page (bullet-point) CV on the back, offer a full CV on request; then use local business directories and leg-work to identify companies, research them on the InterWeb and proritise the ones you want to contact first (blah, blah, blah), then mail shot them.

Job Centre Plus won't find you a job, they are facing increasing work loads and reduced staff levels, recruitment agencies are just a waste of space and time (and Oxygen!), you have to get out there and market yourself, stand out from the (big) crowd and you stand a much better chance of getting noticed; most companies are looking for people with the right attitude, skills can be taught, attitudes can't.

</Rant>
February 20, 2011 7:24:26 AM

I'm sure there's some companies out there looking for Level 1 tech support. It's not the most rewarding job ("my screen has an orange light on it please help!!") but it gets you in the door and you'll move up the ranks eventually.
February 20, 2011 5:05:07 PM

Thanks for the advice. I will try some mail shots and try and get my foot in the door!
February 21, 2011 5:36:11 AM

Leeg5547 said:
Thanks for the advice. I will try some mail shots and try and get my foot in the door!



I hate to appear negative but the realist in me can't help thinking most of those doors are going to be in India. Make sure you include Universities in your mail-shot and good luck with it.

!