Career/Life advice needed!
Discussion
To give you a brief background of my situation.
I finished a 3.5 year contract in Brussels at the beginning of December. I have been in the IT market for about 5 years. Never been to university and I am 22 years old.
So I moved back to the UK for various reasons. The unfortunate part about being in the UK was that nobody really wanted to give me a job. The contracts that I have applied for have been perfectly suited to my experience. The problem that I have encountered is that the companies with the contracts believe I am too young for the roles that I have applied for. But I can do the job and have very good references from evry client I have worked for.
Now I am looking at the different options.
1) I find a contract outside of the UK again. (Cuurently staying with my girlfriend in Zürich and finding this German keyboard impossible)
2) Get a job in the UK and go for a lower position.
3) Go to university. Something that I really do not want to consider as a possibility.
4) Something else. But I do not know what.
I would be very appreciative for thoughts and advice. There must be someone who has been in a simular dilema.
Thanks
Abels
I finished a 3.5 year contract in Brussels at the beginning of December. I have been in the IT market for about 5 years. Never been to university and I am 22 years old.
So I moved back to the UK for various reasons. The unfortunate part about being in the UK was that nobody really wanted to give me a job. The contracts that I have applied for have been perfectly suited to my experience. The problem that I have encountered is that the companies with the contracts believe I am too young for the roles that I have applied for. But I can do the job and have very good references from evry client I have worked for.
Now I am looking at the different options.
1) I find a contract outside of the UK again. (Cuurently staying with my girlfriend in Zürich and finding this German keyboard impossible)
2) Get a job in the UK and go for a lower position.
3) Go to university. Something that I really do not want to consider as a possibility.
4) Something else. But I do not know what.
I would be very appreciative for thoughts and advice. There must be someone who has been in a simular dilema.
Thanks
Abels
Why not a complete change of tack? I have recently applied to the RAF and there were a few people who were in a similar position to yourself also applying.
Why not invest yourself in the forces for a few years? Upon leaving you will have more skills and be well marketable to the civilian job markets.
Just a thought
Why not invest yourself in the forces for a few years? Upon leaving you will have more skills and be well marketable to the civilian job markets.
Just a thought
Being in IT myself and having spent 4 months last year twiddling my thumbs at home doing looking for contracts I can Sympathise, my advice, if you can work abroad then do so, as this country is on it's way DOWN!!!! please ensure though that you do not bring the money back into the UK and dont pay blair a penny.
I am 23 and have never been to uni and have been self employed all my life.
1) I find a contract outside of the UK again. (Cuurently staying with my girlfriend in Zürich and finding this German keyboard impossible)
*** German keyboards are easy, its just the z and y thats round the wrong way.
The UK's market for contracting is difficult, I have only been able to secure 1 contract there and it was brief. 2 months.This was before the market hit the ground. You may be lucky and find something but don't hold your breath.
2) Get a job in the UK and go for a lower position.
*** You wont last long in a lower position / money if you are used to working at a higher level, the stress involved is not worth it and from a career point of view its a set back. Unless you REALLY want to stay in the UK again I would avoid this option.
3) Go to university. Something that I really do not want to consider as a possibility.
** Personally I have no thoughts about going to uni. With the experience you have you should not require a degree. Even although every job I have applied for said, "Must have IT related degree". If you have the experience then thats what counts.Sometimes you will find a stubborn agency who will not put you forward for the job because of this, but its par for the course.
4) Something else. But I do not know what.
** Once an IT contractor ......
Hope this is of some help, I probably told you what you already know.
Deester.
1) I find a contract outside of the UK again. (Cuurently staying with my girlfriend in Zürich and finding this German keyboard impossible)
*** German keyboards are easy, its just the z and y thats round the wrong way.
The UK's market for contracting is difficult, I have only been able to secure 1 contract there and it was brief. 2 months.This was before the market hit the ground. You may be lucky and find something but don't hold your breath. 2) Get a job in the UK and go for a lower position.
*** You wont last long in a lower position / money if you are used to working at a higher level, the stress involved is not worth it and from a career point of view its a set back. Unless you REALLY want to stay in the UK again I would avoid this option.
3) Go to university. Something that I really do not want to consider as a possibility.
** Personally I have no thoughts about going to uni. With the experience you have you should not require a degree. Even although every job I have applied for said, "Must have IT related degree". If you have the experience then thats what counts.Sometimes you will find a stubborn agency who will not put you forward for the job because of this, but its par for the course.
4) Something else. But I do not know what.
** Once an IT contractor ......
Hope this is of some help, I probably told you what you already know.
Deester.
Abels,
Don't take it too hard. I'd been a very successful IT Contractor for the last 5 years, in web development, having done a Degree and several permie jobs beforehand. I lost a job in August (dotcom style company collapse), and haven't found work since. The market is very, very tough at the moment.
I wouldn't bother doing a degree, IMHO it helps you get your 1st job, maybe 2nd, nothing more. Having said that, I have found the knowledge I gained at Uni very useful since. Don't think I'd go there at 22 having been used to a job, it could be a tough adjustment. Are there any professional certifications in your field? They may be worth doing if you have time on your hands.
If you can find a job abroad, I'd go for it.
Anyway, good luck!
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