career change

[Bullwinkle]

Has anyone ever come to a crossroads with their career and didn't quite know what direction to go in? If so, what did you do about it?

I want to hear about any changes people have made and the outcome of them - were they bad decisions or best decision ever made?

[Steve H]

.........Daily, but I'm too damned lazy to do anything about it.
That does not help much does it? :?

[Bullwinkle]

...tee hee.....understandable Steve......understandable.....:)

[tricky]

Yep I'm there at the moment.
The thing is, I make pretty reasonable £££ at the moment which I like.

If I change career, this inevitably will mean a big drop in pay, which I'm not ready for yet.

[SoulKiss]

At one of those at the moment a bit.

Never planned to get to where I am now - I mean look at my CV

Bank Clerk
Supermarket Checkout Operator
Insurance Support Clerk
Network Control Admin
ISDN Faults Technician
Leased Lines Fault Technicial
Senior Faults Technician
NOC Engineer
Senior 3rd Line Support Engineer
Software Developer
Network Design and Implementation.

What I REALLY want to do at the moment is something where I create something.

Could be 3D modelling, Leatherworking, anything where at the end of the day I can point at something and say "thats what I did today"

I have too many days where I work hard but seem to accomplish nothing (lining up cogs in machines so that when I turn the wheel it all works, all without anyone noticing due to a lack of drama - ie loss of any service/connectivity.

I guess I want/need more pats on the back.....

[SoulKiss]

Or I could apply for the position of Senoir Bodyguard to Bullwinkle....

But I refuse to change my nick to Rocky

[El Saxo]

Weird, I was just going to post a similar thing...

I'm at one right now. I hate my current job, but not because of the work itself, more because of where I work.

I'd really like to get into the motorcycle industry somehow but I'm not sure how. I'd love to do an apprenticeship to be a bike mechanic but at 26 I think I might be a bit too old to start, plus I might not be able to take the pay drop to begin with 'cos of existing financial commitments etc. I suppose I could do the qualifications part-time at home or something but that means paying up front for them which I can't really afford atm. :?

All in all, I feel a bit like this poor chappie --> :help:

[timwilky]

Yes, I have 3 outstanding job offers, but with 23 yrs service I really want my current employers to make me redundant and pay me off.

It will never happen though, my boss keeps being nice to me and saying please and thankyou etc. He apologises whenever I shout at him. TBH I think they are scared I will walk out. But too damm tight to make me offers to keep me onboard.

One of my programmers resigned a few years ago for a 50% increase on his current salary and I persuaded my director to match his offer. His response was if I am worth 60k now. why the **** did you not pay me it yesterday. My reply, because we pay what we can get away with, and it is in my interest to get you to accept this as I have to maintain my differential.

Swine refused it and walked anyway. Bang went my differential

[Bullwinkle]

:lol: :lol:

yeah...dont think you would appreciate the high pitched voice somehow..........

nor being a squirrel... :lol:

[SoulKiss]

:lol: :lol:

yeah...dont think you would appreciate the high pitched voice somehow..........

nor being a squirrel... :lol:

But it would allow us to identify the mystery 3rd jedi-squirrel

[tricky]

SoulKiss, If you want to stay in networks and you want a challenge, come and work at my company and see if you fix the unmanagable, frankensteins monter, useless piece of ****e known as "Our Network" :wink: :lol:

[hovis]

i was a butcher for 13 years(since i left school, then the company i worked for sold up :cry:
i was out of work for a year, then went to college now im a fittness/gym instructor & i :smt049 it

:thumbsup: :winner: :tongue: :smt079

[Steve H]

I just want Mikeys job on 'American Chopper' :thumbsup:

[SoulKiss]

SoulKiss, If you want to stay in networks and you want a challenge, come and work at my company and see if you fix the unmanagable, frankensteins monter, useless piece of sh*te known as "Our Network" :wink: :lol:

LOL - probably have seen the same, or worse inte past - ever used ICS for your network???????

[Bullwinkle]

interesting path Soulkiss!

I'm 34 and want to change direction - I dont think you are too old to do anything.....:) Me hopes.......:):):)

[tricky]

SoulKiss, If you want to stay in networks and you want a challenge, come and work at my company and see if you fix the unmanagable, frankensteins monter, useless piece of sh*te known as "Our Network" :wink: :lol:

LOL - probably have seen the same, or worse inte past - ever used ICS for your network???????

If only it was that simple :D

[SoulKiss]

interesting path Soulkiss!

I'm 34 and want to change direction - I dont think you are too old to do anything.....:) Me hopes.......:):):)

Any ideas on direction you want to go in?

[Baph]

In my case, I studied hard for a job I wanted to do, and proved I could do the job way before I got anywhere near to uni. So I was employed as a programmer, back at college, and earning quite a bit.

The problem as I saw it, was that those around me were earning more, because they'd put the time in & done the qualifications. So off I went to uni. I was offered to skip the first year, but declined. Big mistake.

I met a girl (I know :oops:) and my uni work went down hill. They were teaching me things that were second nature, so more often than not, I was in the pub. :( Dropped out of uni shortly after, and couldn't get back to the job I had in the past (which I had to leave to go to uni). Bummer.

So I started working in bars, and slowly moving up through supervisor positions etc. Eventually I got fed up of this, and this brings me to the cross roads.

The way I did it, is I looked through the local job adverts, and devised a rough plan of attack over what I was going to do to get back into IT.

The plan saw me apply for a managers position at a local Maplin, which I didn't get due to lack of managerial experience, but I got a foot in the door with a sales job. Electronics shop. I'm good with electronics, and computers, so I used the shop to my advantage. Luckily I had a great boss, who didn't mind me making some money on the side to make his customers happy. So they'd buy equipment from the shop, and if they had any problems with it, I'd at least offer to call around & sort it out for them, at their house, for a charge, or explain it in the shop for free.

After this, I left Maplin, and set up my own IT Consultancy business. This ran really strong, and I eventually got fed up of the stupidly long hours, and decided to dramatically decrease my pay, for the good of spending time with the family.

My decision was made to get a job where I am now, as a Junior Support Engineer for a small software house, supporting our own software. I was told it'd take me 6months to be useful in the department, so that was my probation time. It took me 3 months to get out of probation, and 3 steps up the ladder.

I'm now happy where I am, and the company chairman himself often asks me if I know anyone that wants a job, because he seems to like what I do so much :oops: but that doesn't stop me keeping an eye on the job adverts.

In short, make a plan of where you want to be in 10 years, and roughly what you'll need to do to get there. Be flexible on the plan, changing the goal posts, but try to never miss a goal!

HTH

(Sorry for the tone in the post, it's due to a conversation I've just had with someone - not my usual style of post, but hey)

[mysteryjimbo]

I've gone from,

McDonalds
Safeway
Factory line
Forklift Driver

Big switch comes along....

To Network Techie and finally SQL/Oracle DBA and software techie

Of course the switch was traumatic and i'm still suffering the debt consequences. I was in a good 50% less in my junior IT position to what i was working shifts as a forklift driver.

But it's turned out for the best. Things are now improving.

[Baph]

What I REALLY want to do at the moment is something where I create something.
Could be 3D modelling...
Theres a 3D modelling firm opening at Parc Menai, not 10mins from my house. Bit of a commute though.

[cuffy]

I'm thinking about being a full time comedian :D

Seriously i too am at that point in life, can't go any further than where i am in this company, have applied for a couple of production managers jobs but heard nowt back.
Also for a laugh i applied for car sales executive...reckon i could sell a fridge to an eskimo me :lol:

[Kinvig]

Same boat!!!!!

Spent too long worknig for a compny that doesn't really know what I do so therefore dont' appreciate what I do!

Haven't had any training in ages yet I'm supposed to keep coming up with cutting edge web-based solutions.

My current plan is to get my second MS SQL exam passed (next week/week after), then update my CV & job hunt.

My problem is: "Do I really want to stay in a dba/proggrammer role?"

Quite like the idea of doing something creative i.e. Sci-fi novels but think I'd need to go on a creative writing course first.

Hmm, that's it. No point moaning, I'm going to go on a course.

Ta for the inspiration.

[Baph]

That's 3 of use that are DBA/Programmer/Techies so far... and only little old me that's happy.

Oh well. :lol:

[Kinvig]

I'm happy (see other thread)

Just not sure if I want to do this role for ever & ever & ever!

[SoulKiss]

Also happy...

Just a little "grass is greener" syndrome

I have a great job that is never boring or the same day to day.

Just well is there something better out there.

Also do I really want to live in London much longer - that job mentioned in Wales would not be THAT far-fetched

And as I am Scottish I dont have to worry about the locals wanting to lynch me :P

[Kate]

I would love a career change but can't afford it. I'm a db developer (yes, another techie) and have been doing it for over 7 years and am currently contracting. I would love to have a proper go at project management or something similar but I can't afford the massive paycut it would need. Oh well, when I've paid off my debts we will see.

[Kinvig]

Also happy...

Just a little "grass is greener" syndrome

I have a great job that is never boring or the same day to day.

Just well is there something better out there.

Also do I really want to live in London much longer - that job mentioned in Wales would not be THAT far-fetched

And as I am Scottish I dont have to worry about the locals wanting to lynch me :P

If it helps, you only live down the road from me: I'll lynch you. Just ask.

[instigator]

Guess you could call my situation a mini crossroads. :? :shock:

Completed 3 year degree at University, got a BEng in Mehcanical Engineering, worked and was sponsored by a construction site company but once I graduated I dumped them deciding the industry made me thoroughlly miserable and I wanted to do something else. Perhaps in IT or anything that would mean I could work with my hands, if only for part of the day.

4 months since I graduated and I'ms till unemployed. :x :cry:

[Baph]

Also do I really want to live in London much longer - that job mentioned in Wales would not be THAT far-fetched
If you want to go for it, I can look up details, but it's advertised under job centre plus, and fish 4 jobs I think. They were actually looking for some tech's/admins, but it'd be a foot in the door.

If you land an interview, consider it free accomodation mate.

If not, it's no big loss.

Obviously a crap load of fine details would need sorting out etc.

[Tara]

I went from being a trained and qualified chef to train as a secretary which i have done for the past 16 years

[fizzwheel]

Geek till I die.

Since I left college, I've done

Bespoke Software Development
Onsite Installation / Support
Network Cabler
I.C.T. Technician for Schools in the Local Area
Worked on a helpdesk for a large company
Helpdesk Manager
Wintel Server Support
Cisco VOIP Telephone Support

I'm currently doing Data Centre Management, coupled with Wintel Server Infrastructure Design and support.

I'm also learning abit more about Unix admin.

I really like my current job, I dont have the day to day humdrum world of support to put up with, plus I get to play with new technology. The systems I'm designing will beging shortly to make a big difference to the company I work for. Its not easy and sometimes its bl**dy hard work, but I never get up in the morning and think oh great I have to go to work today, I look forward to it.

I've never really thought about a career change, cant say I ever will if my current job stays the same.

[stewie]

Whatever you do, dont leave it too long. Better to have tried and failed than spending the rest of your life wondering what if.
Good luck whatever you do.
Stew
p.s. just dont be a driver, it sucks!

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Guess you could call my situation a mini crossroads. :? :shock:

Completed 3 year degree at University, got a BEng in Mehcanical Engineering, worked and was sponsored by a construction site company but once I graduated I dumped them deciding the industry made me thoroughlly miserable and I wanted to do something else. Perhaps in IT or anything that would mean I could work with my hands, if only for part of the day.

4 months since I graduated and I'ms till unemployed. :x :cry:

Got a BEng in mechanical engineering too (and was uneployed for 7 months before I got my current job).

Working for a small building services firm at the mo, but I've recently woken up to the fact that it's a dead end job and I've learnt as much here as I'm going to.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do either. I'll probably end up in another (larger) building services firm, but I'd rather do something a bit more glamourous, for want of a better expression. Aero/auto industry, for example. Problem is, I've no experience in those fields (and my degree aint that great either).

[Tomcat]

This has struck a cord for me. Currently working 2 jobs... one pays my mortgage, but I am stuck in the office on the computer, which, not wanting to offend anyone, but I hate, it makes me tired and grumpy.

The other is at a kennels, which although I am not your typical dog lover, I love 'working' them, I love the outdoors, what ever the weather....somehow once you are out in it you can enjoy the things aroound you, but it cr*p pay. I am not watching the clock and wishing myself somewhere else all day.

Unfortunately to finish my office job seems impossible. usual stuff, mortage, kids, RESPONSIBILITY! Dont know how I got so responsible but it seems to have crept up on me. Spend half my time in the office browsing for jobs on the internet, but to no success!

[Razor]

As of tomorrow I am jobless. Which leaves me time to do things I've really wanted to do for a long time. Late mornings and huge amounts of telly watching ;)

[linco]

As of tomorrow I am jobless. Which leaves me time to do things I've really wanted to do for a long time. Late mornings and huge amounts of telly watching ;)

Sorry to hear that Razor

Daytime TV will drive you to look for another job!

Well all I have now is experience. Left school, hadnt a clue, went to tech college did a GNVQ advanced in Engineering. Now I never actually completed it but the course director put me into the day release HNC Electronics course. After 3 attempts, 2 at night classes and the first go at day release, I still havent finished it.

So all I have is 5 years experience in technical sales. Had alot of product training and i'm getting to know the automation industry more and more each day. My company isn't going to go anywhere and there is only on opportunity for me. Going from an internal sales engineer to an external one.

[El Saxo]

As of tomorrow I am jobless. Which leaves me time to do things I've really wanted to do for a long time. Late mornings and huge amounts of telly watching ;)

You mean you'll have even more time to spend on the forum? :shock: :lol:

Only kiddin mate, hope the job situation isn't too awful, without wanting to pry...

[cuffy]

I'm thinking about being a full time comedian :D

Seriously i too am at that point in life, can't go any further than where i am in this company, have applied for a couple of production managers jobs but heard nowt back.
Also for a laugh i applied for car sales executive...reckon i could sell a fridge to an eskimo me :lol:Just had a phone call and got interview next week :shock: :shock: Should i tell him a joke or two to soften him up? :lol:

[El Saxo]

I'm thinking about being a full time comedian :D

Seriously i too am at that point in life, can't go any further than where i am in this company, have applied for a couple of production managers jobs but heard nowt back.
Also for a laugh i applied for car sales executive...reckon i could sell a fridge to an eskimo me :lol:Just had a phone call and got interview next week :shock: :shock: Should i tell him a joke or two to soften him up? :lol:

As long as it doesn't start "There was this 2nd hand car salesman..." :lol:

[lukemillar]

Can someone put into laymans terms what any of these mean:

NOC Engineer
Senior 3rd Line Support Engineer
DBA/Programmer/Technician
I.C.T. Technician for Schools in the Local Area
Wintel Server Support
Cisco VOIP Telephone Support

because I don't have a clue! :oops:

[Filipe M.]

Can someone put into laymans terms what any of these mean:

NOC Engineer
Senior 3rd Line Support Engineer
DBA/Programmer/Technician
I.C.T. Technician for Schools in the Local Area
Wintel Server Support
Cisco VOIP Telephone Support

because I don't have a clue! :oops:

He's a geek. Just that.

[Jdubya]

Interesting read this thread as I was in the same place a few months ago. Since then, things have changed dramatically in my life...and a lot of thanks have to go to Gmonsta, Busasean and plenty of others on the forum for the advice given. I was stuck in a job that I was getting to hate and slowly but surely it started to show in my performance at work. I made up my mind to resign and then study something else(hadn't made up my mind what to study at that point) but then the company started cutting down on staff and as I was last in, I was forced to be first out...which kinda forced me into a corner which I wanted/needed to be in. Fortunately for me my wife earns enough to cover bills and such like but not enough for savings and life's luxuries so we'll be okay for a wee while. Currently I am looking after our daughter full-time and looking after housework (Yes....daytime TV does your head in after a while and will drive you to work or drink) and have started pursuing my hobby of photography a bit more seriously with the hope that with a little luck and a few contacts I can make a few ££ every couple of months or so from said hobby. I've also started a part-time course in PC hardware maintenance.
So from being at a crossroads to being forced out of a job, I think I'm managing okay.

[instigator]

Got a BEng in mechanical engineering too (and was uneployed for 7 months before I got my current job).

Working for a small building services firm at the mo, but I've recently woken up to the fact that it's a dead end job and I've learnt as much here as I'm going to.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do either. I'll probably end up in another (larger) building services firm, but I'd rather do something a bit more glamourous, for want of a better expression. Aero/auto industry, for example. Problem is, I've no experience in those fields (and my degree aint that great either).

Wow. Now that is a co-incidence. :shock: Two summer placements was enough for me to realise the construction industry was not for me. I am inundated with calls from agencies asking if I want a job but guess what - they're in building services. :roll: It would seem I can't even get a job in any other engineering field other than Building services! :cry:

I quite like the thought of working in IT, perhaps a field engineer or similar but you rarely find 'graduate field engineering' positions. :x

[fizzwheel]

I quite like the thought of working in IT, perhaps a field engineer or similar but you rarely find 'graduate field engineering' positions. :x

You can do it with out any graduate skills... its easy.. I did... ytou just have to be prepared to start at the bottom of the ladder. I.e. on a a helpdesk and then build some experience up. Thats what I did.

Helps if you are good at learning new stuff quickly and technology doesnt phase you. Its also good if you are good with customers. People forget this, I.T. is a service industry, you have customers who need looking after at some point somebody is going to get cross because their computer is broken and they are going to take it out on you. If you can deal with that and fix the problem then you are onto a winner.

I've interviewed alot of people with bucket loads of qualifications, Microsoft certifications etc etc. You put them on a helpdesk where they have to deal with real world problems and they cant do it. I'd much rather employ somebody who has real world computing experience than some graduate who has lots of theory but no practical knowledge.

The best way is to teach yourself, its what I did.

[instigator]

You can do it with out any graduate skills... its easy.. I did... ytou just have to be prepared to start at the bottom of the ladder. I.e. on a a helpdesk and then build some experience up. Thats what I did.

Thats the thing. Don't know if I can. Yet. Student debt and the requirement to move out soon means taking any job less than ~£17k a year is out the window. :x :cry:

It's not all about money...infact money really doesn't matter. Thats why I dumped my sponsorship. But it's sure needed to pay back the loans.

[fizzwheel]

Helpdesk staff where I work are on depending on experience, 14K - 16K... I think what your looking for might be achievable...

Remember I live and work in the Southwest, if you travel a bit then you never know what you'll find.

[Bullwinkle]

interesting situations! i've been doing admin since i left school, got fed up, did a history degree when i was 25 and back doing admin again!

Unfortunately most of the 'graduate assistant' jobs don't apply to over 30's......:(
Oh and one temp agency told me that because my background was admin, then basically I'm stuck in admin.........grrrreeeeaaat!

So bottom line is.......
1) win the lottery...
2) marry a millionaire/ess.........
3) stay in admin and be miserable for the rest of my life...
4) retrain......but at 35? hmmmmmmm............

[Jdubya]

4) retrain......but at 35? hmmmmmmm............

I'm 32... :shock:

[Bullwinkle]

ur the 'right' side of 35...:)

[Bullwinkle]

out of interest, does anyone here do Geospatial Analysis??? or similar?

[Kate]

4) retrain......but at 35? hmmmmmmm............
I wouldn't say age has that much to do with it, except responsibilities get larger, I know quite a few people who just say 'well, I'm too old to change so even though I hate it, its all I can do' and I find that sad. You spend so many hours working, its best to try and find something you like doing.

Unfortunately I can't just quit today and then figure out what to do, got way too many debts. So my current plan is to keep doing what I'm doing and pay off debts and then when the debts are paid off, then look around and see what looks interesting.

[grecian9]

I've sorta worked in IT for 7 yrs now and am currently plotting my exit. I say sorta worked as I don't feel technical at all and am almost here by accident as I just showed a bit of technical aptitude in non-technical depts and somehow ended up as an IT project manager. Very good with office apps and understand IT and Databases but it's not something that excites me. The main thing I don't like about IT is having to rely on other people all the time with so called "team work". To me IT seems like a constant war between the techies and the project managers. So at the age of 29 I'm planning to do a fast track course in Journalism. I can't afford it and the money's peanuts when you're a trainee but I love writing my Blog and have done a week's work experience at the Yorkshire Post which was ace. I forsee tough times but I wanna do something I enjoy and not hate 8 hours of everyday!

[SoulKiss]

Can someone put into laymans terms what any of these mean:

NOC Engineer
Senior 3rd Line Support Engineer

because I don't have a clue! :oops:

Well as the 2 I left were mine.....

NOC Engineer - or Network Operations Centre - basically the guy that looked after a pan-european IP backbone network that was so good that Cable & Wireless bought it, which is why/when I was shuffled to

Senior 3rd Line Support Engineer

Which is the guy that looks after the problems when

1) The call-centre monkey can't fix the problem following their scripted routines,

2) The guy on the Hell-Desk that the call-centre passed it to cant fix the problem.

3) The guy on the Hell-Desk cant fix it so passes it onto 2nd line support.

4) I get it, probably have to poke around in configs, look for wierd sh!t (tm), possibly sacrifice chickens/goats, all the while having conversations with members of the Board of a multi-national company.

Now in a much more fun job with a more relaxed way of life, reporting directly to company directors.

David

[SoulKiss]

2) marry a millionaire/ess.........

Then you WILL need a bodyguard, call me then, £100k/year and an annual budget for bike and kit and I'm there.

Can bring my own sword

David - :P

[Baph]

I've interviewed alot of people with bucket loads of qualifications, Microsoft certifications etc etc. You put them on a helpdesk where they have to deal with real world problems and they cant do it.
That's because they have an MSCE!
I'd much rather employ somebody who has real world computing experience than some graduate who has lots of theory but no practical knowledge.
Exactly the same as every other IT manager I've ever talked to. There is no substitute for experience, and a degree just means that you have the ability to learn theory.

Which is why IT can be a hard industry to get into, and why post-graduates have a hard time finding work. In a way, I'm happy I dropped out, I doubt I'd be where I am now, of held any of the interesting positions I've had without it.

Like I said a few pages back, the best way to progress from the crossroads (IMO) is to devise a plan of how you're going to get where you want to be. This might include more education, it might not. Horses for courses.

But please, don't anyone be stupid enough to sit an MS Certified course in anything. If you want to do an IT course, make it a Cisco one.

Sorry, but all the geeks on the forum will understand where I'm coming from :|

[SoulKiss]

But please, don't anyone be stupid enough to sit an MS Certified course in anything. If you want to do an IT course, make it a Cisco one.

Sorry, but all the geeks on the forum will understand where I'm coming from :|

Actually I would avoid Cisco too - I have for the last few years.

I did my CCNA (bottom rung Cisco cert) a good few years ago. I went on the week-long course, which had a pre-requisite of working with Cisco kit for about 2 years.

Did the course, did the qualification.

Then Cisco's kit started to be cr@p - their Gigabit switches couldn't actually do gigabit speeds, and they started coasting on their name, all their best engineers left to form their own company because Cisco wouldn't listen to them or their ideas.

So all Cisco could do was sell kit to IT managers who went with the "Its a known name and everyone uses it" policy all fairly low-end.

They then started putting expiry dates on the certifications, and letting "anybody" do them - well they were making a lot of money selling these certifications.

I constantly get emails from them telling me about the new certification of the day - averages at about once a week.

It has gone from being that having a CCNA meant that you were part of the Cisco organisation, to it being something that people who have never even SEEN or touched a Cisco router have - all thanks to simulators.

Buy one of the books, learn the stuff - its actually quite a good background, but I personally wouldn't pay the £80 (or whatever it is) to get the Certification. The advantage of not going for Certification is that one of the cheap 4-year old editions of the coursework will be good enough, rather than the new "Version 7" (or whatever) ones out this year.

Agree with Baph tho - apart from the odd course done while in jobs, I have no formal qualifications in what I do.

[Jdubya]

See but that's all fine and well for someone who's been working in the industry for such a long time like yourself (soulkiss) and Baph. I think the point I was trying to make in my last thread about career changes is that for someone like myself, having left a different field and trying to break into IT, the only sensible way is to get some sort of qualification behind your name like an MCSA/E or A+/N+ or something similar and then you at least have a dogs breath of a chance. All we need is a break :wink:

[Baph]

See but that's all fine and well for someone who's been working in the industry for such a long time like yourself (soulkiss) and Baph. I think the point I was trying to make in my last thread about career changes is that for someone like myself, having left a different field and trying to break into IT, the only sensible way is to get some sort of qualification behind your name like an MCSA/E or A+/N+ or something similar and then you at least have a dogs breath of a chance. All we need is a break :wink:

When I left uni, I couldn't get a job as a software engineer again because I lacked the paperwork saying I could code, it was that simple.

I made the plan to get to where I am, and now, I don't code, but I'm in IT. My stepping stone was Maplin, the bridge between pub retail, and electronics. This got me closer to those that are already in IT, and I used that (as I posted before) to get me to where I am now.

If you need a break, put yourself in the best possible position to get that break offered. It's not a matter of what you know, it's a matter of knowing people in the right places.

Thinking about it actually, an old college of mine sent me a social networking site, for people to link contacts, so you can then get in touch with someone saying basically "Hey, you know someone I know, fancy giving me a break?". Kinda like myspace, with users "chained". I'll dig out the link (can't say I've used it much, but you never know, might give some folks a break they need).

[Baph]

LinkedIn.com (www.linkedin.com)

I got that from a collegue, the only person I personally added to my 'network' was my collegue. There are now 67 people in my network, and I've not touched it since logging in.

I also have 3 job adverts, two in London, one in Amsterdam! These start at £55,000 p.a. That's START! One of the jobs is for a Head of Marketing & PR.

If anyone wants in on my network for linkedin, I don't use it, but I'll happily link you in :)

I'm now going to post this in the websites thread too. :)

[_Stretchie_]

Yeah Saxo. You know my story, I was only supposed to be gone from Resolve for 3 weeks :wink:

And as I told you on the phone it's been well worth it. As soon as you can mate get the FC UK out of ADT ASAP.

Take a risk mate, I promise you won't regret it.

[Nick762]

4) retrain......but at 35? hmmmmmmm............

I'm 44 and have just made a bit of a change of course.

Worked in IT since 1986 first in hardware, then software finally networks (which really killed it for me). I found I preferred working with people instead of machines and I thought project management could be the way to go but when I looked closer found it was even more budget and red tape obsessed than my present job. I'd got to the point where my skill set was pretty much redundant and having seen what happened to the mainframe engineers around the time I started with IT decided to jump before I was pushed.

Whatever happened I was going to have to do some serious retraining either in IT or something completely different. Fortunately financial circumstances were favourable and I had enough saved for the necessities. I'd narrowed my options down to a masters' in GIS with remote sensing, a diploma course in ODP (operating department practitioner - the guy who assists the anaesthetist) or a foundation degree in paramedic science. I was looking at September 2007 but when I called Greenwich uni about the paramedic course they told me there were still some places for this year and the rest is history. My biggest surprise was that I'm not the oldest on the course by a year or so and I'd say the average age is about 30. Like I said, I was lucky but considering they want mature students and the foundation degrees are aimed at getting older people back into further education, "they" don't make it easy. On the plus side all the tuition fees are paid by London Ambulance Service but otherwise there's very little financial support outside a student loan and if you've come through uni recently that option isn't there either.

[SV1000s]

I spent 12 years in the Army, almost 6 years at a 5 star hotel, I've taken a year out and am waiting to join the City of London Police.....can't wait!!!

[Kinvig]

But please, don't anyone be stupid enough to sit an MS Certified course in anything. If you want to do an IT course, make it a Cisco one.

Sorry, but all the geeks on the forum will understand where I'm coming from :|

Nope. Don't see where you're coming from on this on! I'm a dba/vb/vba developer with asp skills & a smidgen of C#.

Been using sql 2k since 2k but have now decided to get some actual qualifications. Passsed the SQL 70-228 2 weeks ago & in 8 days trime I'll be doing the 20-229 exam. Why?
Firstly, many jobs out there want the qualificatios. If I didn't have them then it would be harder to get a foot in the door.
Secondly, I need to boarden my sql server knowledge. We use sql server for web based stuff. Databases with less than a million rows. We don't need log shipping or other commonly used subsets. We don't use triggers or stored procedures & the use of cursors in few & far between.

Doing the course helps me to remember all the stuff that they taught on the 5 day courses that I've never relly used. This in turn gives me more confidence in my abilities & I know the areas my knowledge needs work on. etc. Basically, the ms stuff has given me more faith & confidence in my abilities that over the last few years in the this job had been lacking.

After this exam I'm may do 3 more to get the MCDBA qualification. It's better than jsut coming home & sticking the tele on!

[Baph]

In the past, everyone I've known involved with computing for work has frowned upton MS qualifications, although, granted this is more the MSCE type stuff, not the MS-SQL course(s).

Secondly, I need to boarden my sql server knowledge. We use sql server for web based stuff. Databases with less than a million rows. We don't need log shipping or other commonly used subsets. We don't use triggers or stored procedures & the use of cursors in few & far between.

Everything mentionned I use daily, and have no formal qualifications (other than CLAIT). Should you need your memory jogging with minutes left to go before an exam etc, give me a shout mate :) (Face it, you know it, just need it pushing to the front of your head again)

[Sudoxe]

Can someone put into laymans terms what any of these mean:

NOC Engineer - Geek who surfs the internet until something brakes.
Senior 3rd Line Support Engineer - Geek who surfs the internet until 2nd line support call him
DBA/Programmer/Technician - geek who plays with lots of data, a bit like google. Again lots of internet surfing.
I.C.T. Technician for Schools in the Local Area - Geek who sets up projectors, interactive whiteboards, reboots machines and installs software, occasionally surfs the internet.
Wintel Server Support - Geek who reboots pc's (ducks)

Dan

[muffles]

interesting, i have worked in IT for coming up to 4 years (since i graduated in '02), and i wonder from time to time if there will come a point where i decide i want a complete career change (since IT is a the typical 'boring' job people frown upon when you say 'ideal job').

right now, i am happy - although i have changed industries since starting work. i did almost 2 years at BAE Systems (the marconi & several-other-company one :wink: ) and that was fun, but it was in chelmsford and i really wanted to be in london. so i moved to a job at an investment bank (as you do) and currently have been enjoying that for 2 years.

to comment on a few of the points made - quality of worker (experience vs training) & qualifications needed - in my job i've done quite well for myself, but these 2 topics are things i have come across quite regularly, as i participate in a lot of the graduate interviews for my company.

i've found that they are very hot on qualifications - you just won't get an interview if you don't have the qualifications - and this is quite a sad state to me, because a LOT of the people i interview (and some i've worked with too) are absolutely shocking. the problem is, you can't just rely on an interview, there has to be some kind of pre-screening (i.e. on qualifications) because there's just too many to sift through otherwise. i guess my comment on worker quality is that it's so unpredictable, you can't base it on training or experience. the only way seems to be an interview!

p.s. i work in programming, currently using c++ (and is my main experience), plus app level db programming (i.e. not infrastructure, i'm no dba :D ).

[Bullwinkle]

yup I agree.....been looking at some re-training and they do emphasise on the qualifications and not so much on the experience. I guess they have had sooooo many people telling 'porkies' on their applications/cv's that they have to screen now.

Well going back to careers...I have decided that I am going to re-do my Maths GCSE (had a god awful teacher first time round so going to do myself justice.....) and then I will have a better chance of securing a change. :)

It seems that a lot of the careers that I have looked at are still insisting on Maths and English GCSE even though I have 20 years work experience and a degree...:(

But thank you for the useful comments - they have been very thought provoking and have provided a new angle on things for me.....:)

And at least I know for sure I ain't going into IT! :wink:

[mysteryjimbo]

If you've got the cash, perhaps buy youself a decent money making franchise and work for youself

[cmit37]

I studied Computing and Information Systems in uni but because I liked doing the stuff in my own time I had a few contracts, part time jobs, weekend jobs and summer jobs doing it:
-Building PCs
-2 summers working for new media companies as a programmer
-IT support in the uni library 4 evenings a weeks supporting MS Win, some Solaris ssh and Macs
-building websites and web development

While in uni I discovered Linux and have been trying to get a job in it ever since.

Because of my out of uni activities I grew more and more bored with what I thought was irrelevant coursework compared to the real world stuff I was studying so I left with a Diploma in Higher Education(2 years instead of 3). It didn't help that it was the summer of 2001 and the industry hadn't recovered from the dot com bubble and as a result after looking for IT jobs(support or development) for 3 months and not getting anywhere I realised that the rent needed paying and took the first job available "while I was looking for my real love IT".

This consisted in working on a building site as a labourer for 1 year and a half(only intended to be there for 1-2months) with and another 6 months on top of that doing Document Control and IT Support/administration for their small field office (5 PCs).

Lucky for me the job finished and I was made redundant. I thought that it was my chance to get back into IT and after a few frustrating interviews where I was either too "development" or not junior enough to get on the IT ladder at the bottom I was still unemployed.

I eventually found a job with my current company(big property developer) working as a Document Controller to start with while taking any opportunity in helping the IT department by building/installing/troubleshooting PC's while not busy. Unfortunately when a position did open-up in the IT department the manager recruited his buddy. That was quite a kick in the teeth and I got on with my job. As luck will have it the right people/contractors left the job one by one landing the administration, configuration and responsibility of our Document and Design management systems to me. That afforded me a title change as a Project Information Co-ordinator and amongst other things I managed to get a Linux server in (IT manager is an MS guy), built it as a trial basis so that I could build the Intranet for the company. I ended up writing my own simple CMS in PHP to handle the Intranet and it became my permanent responsibility as no one could be bothered to take on any more work themselves.

Work has been quiet for a while now and I am still on the same old wages from 2 years ago and can not ask for more until it gets busy again. I have been toying with the idea of finding a new job but I am at a cross road where if I leave I can only find jobs that are a step back (Document Controller) as I have only been in my current role for a year and I would need to pile on a few more years before I can move into some sort of project management. Although I have always held a candle lit for an IT job I believe that now I would be even less likely to get on the ladder as a few years ago.

At least it is good to hear other stories of how things go in the direction they want to go in and you eventually get to do jobs you never thought of.