Age 21 barely worked a job and no qualifications
Discussion
Im 21 and have never really worked in a customer facing job (only instructing people every few minutes from the window/headset with quads) like alot of the people posting in said thread they had, bars/shops/paper rounds etc. This gives them references for future employment.
Growing up I lived in the middle of no where so prior to having a moped/car working was not going to happen unless I walked 10 miles to town and 10 back, no buses/public transport of any type. Simply, I didnt need too either so I didnt. Only did things like cutting the lawn or helping paint the shed and so on.
Age 16-19 I was in college while helping out my mums newly started offroad business, just sort of bits and pieces like helping sort out her social media and cleaning the cars/quads. Was abit of a lazy s
t if im honest about myself.
Age 20-21 I worked full time for my mums business as an offroad instructor/quad instructor/website creation/mechanic/dumper driver, just abit of it all but never trained in anything so cant do any of them as an actual job so thats where the next bit comes into it. Did however have my own flat for a year which was nice but I wanted to go back to education so had to give it up due to location.
Since age 17 ive built garage sheds, drove dumper trucks, got a trailer licence, helped renovate a house into an office in the states, worked the odd weekend for my step mums events business in the states during what my dad called "holidays", basic mechanics (changing starter motors/water pumps is about the limit), website creation, marketing, about to try my hand at spraying cars as well, drawing up basic house plans, landscaping. All of these are useful life tools but dont help me get a good job/career.
With no real future ahead of me I was stumped as what to do, so im starting uni in the fall (hopefully, got an interview in March) and will just be shy of 22. During uni I dont plan on working due to buying and selling cars in my spare time for money. Have done this the last few years and have always made a few £100 per month with this on on top of my student loan (living in scotland so uni is free, loan is for accomodation + a little more on top. I dont expect to need a "normal" job to survive, which gives me time to enjoy the uni experience.
Is this going to hinder my chances of getting a job when I come out of uni as I have no real references/previous experience beyond my year and a half employment for my own mothers business? Its all things which have been to either help my mum/dad/step mum, not really things I can put on a CV so I look like a lazy bum who hasnt done much since leaving school.
Sorry for the long thread but trying hard to figure out where im going in life.
Growing up I lived in the middle of no where so prior to having a moped/car working was not going to happen unless I walked 10 miles to town and 10 back, no buses/public transport of any type. Simply, I didnt need too either so I didnt. Only did things like cutting the lawn or helping paint the shed and so on.
Age 16-19 I was in college while helping out my mums newly started offroad business, just sort of bits and pieces like helping sort out her social media and cleaning the cars/quads. Was abit of a lazy s
t if im honest about myself.Age 20-21 I worked full time for my mums business as an offroad instructor/quad instructor/website creation/mechanic/dumper driver, just abit of it all but never trained in anything so cant do any of them as an actual job so thats where the next bit comes into it. Did however have my own flat for a year which was nice but I wanted to go back to education so had to give it up due to location.
Since age 17 ive built garage sheds, drove dumper trucks, got a trailer licence, helped renovate a house into an office in the states, worked the odd weekend for my step mums events business in the states during what my dad called "holidays", basic mechanics (changing starter motors/water pumps is about the limit), website creation, marketing, about to try my hand at spraying cars as well, drawing up basic house plans, landscaping. All of these are useful life tools but dont help me get a good job/career.
With no real future ahead of me I was stumped as what to do, so im starting uni in the fall (hopefully, got an interview in March) and will just be shy of 22. During uni I dont plan on working due to buying and selling cars in my spare time for money. Have done this the last few years and have always made a few £100 per month with this on on top of my student loan (living in scotland so uni is free, loan is for accomodation + a little more on top. I dont expect to need a "normal" job to survive, which gives me time to enjoy the uni experience.
Is this going to hinder my chances of getting a job when I come out of uni as I have no real references/previous experience beyond my year and a half employment for my own mothers business? Its all things which have been to either help my mum/dad/step mum, not really things I can put on a CV so I look like a lazy bum who hasnt done much since leaving school.
Sorry for the long thread but trying hard to figure out where im going in life.
When you go to uni there will be opportunities to become involved in the social side of things or even voluntary work.
Organising social events, playing sports etc are all good things to put on your CV, if it's customer facing experience you need then a few months behind a bar or waiting tables will do you the world of good and you'll be paid too.
My daughter started a degree at 23 and being older than the rest of her year has been a big advantage, like you she was already comfortable living away from home and able to fend for herself, making it easier to concentrate on achieving good marks.
I think you will be fine, you have three years to build up an interesting CV especially if you can find a part time job connected with your chosen subject.
Organising social events, playing sports etc are all good things to put on your CV, if it's customer facing experience you need then a few months behind a bar or waiting tables will do you the world of good and you'll be paid too.
My daughter started a degree at 23 and being older than the rest of her year has been a big advantage, like you she was already comfortable living away from home and able to fend for herself, making it easier to concentrate on achieving good marks.
I think you will be fine, you have three years to build up an interesting CV especially if you can find a part time job connected with your chosen subject.
Edited by kev b on Sunday 21st February 12:11
Just to put things into perspective for you. I have no real qualifications to speak of either. IME they don't stand for a lot. Nothing beats real world experience rather than reading crap in a classroom.
At 15 I started helping at a Japanese car importer and engine builders. Learned a lot there which has helped me with a lot of car knowledge. Never bothered with qualifications, I learned "hands on". I was being paid minimum wage but to a 15/16 year old it was great! Playing with subaru's/evo's and other such cars and getting paid for it. Learning pretty much everything about car maintainance and engine building that has helped me no end over the years.
Moved to n.ireland when I was 17. Looking for a job I started a job centre scheme putting me in a workplace. The employer never paid me but the job centre did. I worked on a golf course as a green keeper. The scheme lasted for 6 months and the golf course decided they wanted me to stay on so employed me. They paid for me to go to college once a week so that got me NVQ(not very qualified
) level 2 in sports turf management. They then paid for me to do my pesticide application tests. So I am now qualified to use self propelled sprayers(tractor mounted and purpose built sprayers). During the Spring/summer months I would be out on the golf course. During the winter months I would stay with the Mechanic rebuilding all the equipment(again, no qualifications, just hands on experience) I loved the job but my boss was a complete wker. Stayed there until I moved back to England.
At 24 back in England I was job hunting again. A job came up at a car auction. I knew nothing at all about them, I had only been to one once in my life. It was cars, I can fix them and drive them so how hard can it be? Mentioned having mechanics experience and even though I had no qualifications, that got me the job. I started just doing normal day to day stuff. Then started booking(dealing with customers and their money) for the car sale. An auctioneer retired from our general sale(household st) so I said I'd have a go. I've now been doing that(auctioneering) for 3 years. One of our car auctioneers is knocking on in years now so I most certainly will be keen to jump on that opportunity. I am now taking home £365/week and I have absolutely no relevant qualifications.
I'm still there now 9 years later, I get on with everyone really well. My boss is a rally driver so help with the cars and get to drive them too which is a bonus. They are generally great people to work for.
Personally, I couldn't sit in an office all day, every day. It would bore me to tears. But I think I've done ok for myself with no qualifications for any job I have ever applied for. I would say most employers these days are fairly realistic. A piece of paper means nothing. It means you've passed a test. It doesn't necessarily mean you can do the job.
Sorry for the long winded reply but all I'm saying is qualifications aren't the be all and end all. Apply for jobs, show you are keen and willing to learn. Show an interest even if really don't care for it at all.
You are still young, plenty of time for you yet.
At 15 I started helping at a Japanese car importer and engine builders. Learned a lot there which has helped me with a lot of car knowledge. Never bothered with qualifications, I learned "hands on". I was being paid minimum wage but to a 15/16 year old it was great! Playing with subaru's/evo's and other such cars and getting paid for it. Learning pretty much everything about car maintainance and engine building that has helped me no end over the years.
Moved to n.ireland when I was 17. Looking for a job I started a job centre scheme putting me in a workplace. The employer never paid me but the job centre did. I worked on a golf course as a green keeper. The scheme lasted for 6 months and the golf course decided they wanted me to stay on so employed me. They paid for me to go to college once a week so that got me NVQ(not very qualified
) level 2 in sports turf management. They then paid for me to do my pesticide application tests. So I am now qualified to use self propelled sprayers(tractor mounted and purpose built sprayers). During the Spring/summer months I would be out on the golf course. During the winter months I would stay with the Mechanic rebuilding all the equipment(again, no qualifications, just hands on experience) I loved the job but my boss was a complete wker. Stayed there until I moved back to England.At 24 back in England I was job hunting again. A job came up at a car auction. I knew nothing at all about them, I had only been to one once in my life. It was cars, I can fix them and drive them so how hard can it be? Mentioned having mechanics experience and even though I had no qualifications, that got me the job. I started just doing normal day to day stuff. Then started booking(dealing with customers and their money) for the car sale. An auctioneer retired from our general sale(household s
t) so I said I'd have a go. I've now been doing that(auctioneering) for 3 years. One of our car auctioneers is knocking on in years now so I most certainly will be keen to jump on that opportunity. I am now taking home £365/week and I have absolutely no relevant qualifications.I'm still there now 9 years later, I get on with everyone really well. My boss is a rally driver so help with the cars and get to drive them too which is a bonus. They are generally great people to work for.
Personally, I couldn't sit in an office all day, every day. It would bore me to tears. But I think I've done ok for myself with no qualifications for any job I have ever applied for. I would say most employers these days are fairly realistic. A piece of paper means nothing. It means you've passed a test. It doesn't necessarily mean you can do the job.
Sorry for the long winded reply but all I'm saying is qualifications aren't the be all and end all. Apply for jobs, show you are keen and willing to learn. Show an interest even if really don't care for it at all.
You are still young, plenty of time for you yet.
Slow said:
Im 21 and have never really worked in a customer facing job (only instructing people every few minutes from the window/headset with quads) like alot of the people posting in said thread they had, bars/shops/paper rounds etc. This gives them references for future employment.
Growing up I lived in the middle of no where so prior to having a moped/car working was not going to happen unless I walked 10 miles to town and 10 back, no buses/public transport of any type. Simply, I didnt need too either so I didnt. Only did things like cutting the lawn or helping paint the shed and so on.
Age 16-19 I was in college while helping out my mums newly started offroad business, just sort of bits and pieces like helping sort out her social media and cleaning the cars/quads. Was abit of a lazy st if im honest about myself.
Age 20-21 I worked full time for my mums business as an offroad instructor/quad instructor/website creation/mechanic/dumper driver, just abit of it all but never trained in anything so cant do any of them as an actual job so thats where the next bit comes into it. Did however have my own flat for a year which was nice but I wanted to go back to education so had to give it up due to location.
Since age 17 ive built garage sheds, drove dumper trucks, got a trailer licence, helped renovate a house into an office in the states, worked the odd weekend for my step mums events business in the states during what my dad called "holidays", basic mechanics (changing starter motors/water pumps is about the limit), website creation, marketing, about to try my hand at spraying cars as well, drawing up basic house plans, landscaping. All of these are useful life tools but dont help me get a good job/career.
With no real future ahead of me I was stumped as what to do, so im starting uni in the fall (hopefully, got an interview in March) and will just be shy of 22. During uni I dont plan on working due to buying and selling cars in my spare time for money. Have done this the last few years and have always made a few £100 per month with this on on top of my student loan (living in scotland so uni is free, loan is for accomodation + a little more on top. I dont expect to need a "normal" job to survive, which gives me time to enjoy the uni experience.
Is this going to hinder my chances of getting a job when I come out of uni as I have no real references/previous experience beyond my year and a half employment for my own mothers business? Its all things which have been to either help my mum/dad/step mum, not really things I can put on a CV so I look like a lazy bum who hasnt done much since leaving school.
Sorry for the long thread but trying hard to figure out where im going in life.
Alot of that would look fine on a CV. It reads like an interesting and varied job and you don't need to mention is was your mums business.Growing up I lived in the middle of no where so prior to having a moped/car working was not going to happen unless I walked 10 miles to town and 10 back, no buses/public transport of any type. Simply, I didnt need too either so I didnt. Only did things like cutting the lawn or helping paint the shed and so on.
Age 16-19 I was in college while helping out my mums newly started offroad business, just sort of bits and pieces like helping sort out her social media and cleaning the cars/quads. Was abit of a lazy s
t if im honest about myself.Age 20-21 I worked full time for my mums business as an offroad instructor/quad instructor/website creation/mechanic/dumper driver, just abit of it all but never trained in anything so cant do any of them as an actual job so thats where the next bit comes into it. Did however have my own flat for a year which was nice but I wanted to go back to education so had to give it up due to location.
Since age 17 ive built garage sheds, drove dumper trucks, got a trailer licence, helped renovate a house into an office in the states, worked the odd weekend for my step mums events business in the states during what my dad called "holidays", basic mechanics (changing starter motors/water pumps is about the limit), website creation, marketing, about to try my hand at spraying cars as well, drawing up basic house plans, landscaping. All of these are useful life tools but dont help me get a good job/career.
With no real future ahead of me I was stumped as what to do, so im starting uni in the fall (hopefully, got an interview in March) and will just be shy of 22. During uni I dont plan on working due to buying and selling cars in my spare time for money. Have done this the last few years and have always made a few £100 per month with this on on top of my student loan (living in scotland so uni is free, loan is for accomodation + a little more on top. I dont expect to need a "normal" job to survive, which gives me time to enjoy the uni experience.
Is this going to hinder my chances of getting a job when I come out of uni as I have no real references/previous experience beyond my year and a half employment for my own mothers business? Its all things which have been to either help my mum/dad/step mum, not really things I can put on a CV so I look like a lazy bum who hasnt done much since leaving school.
Sorry for the long thread but trying hard to figure out where im going in life.
Just taking the college/part time work it can look fine, something along the lines of:
2011 - 2015
Attended college doing xxxxxxx.
Part time job in start up offroad business. Resposibilities included:
> Marketing.
> Social media.
> Vehicle preparation and basic maintenance.
> Vehicle safety checks (an assumption by me that you would look them over when you clean them!)
Do a similar paragraph for your full time job there, and then one for uni, including the fact you trade cars to make money. That would show your history is filled with education and good tranferrable work experience.
Big up everything you've done but don't lie.
I have had 3 distinct careers in my time, and changed at age 24, then 32. At 22 the world is your oyster.
98elise said:
Slow said:
Im 21 and have never really worked in a customer facing job (only instructing people every few minutes from the window/headset with quads) like alot of the people posting in said thread they had, bars/shops/paper rounds etc. This gives them references for future employment.
Growing up I lived in the middle of no where so prior to having a moped/car working was not going to happen unless I walked 10 miles to town and 10 back, no buses/public transport of any type. Simply, I didnt need too either so I didnt. Only did things like cutting the lawn or helping paint the shed and so on.
Age 16-19 I was in college while helping out my mums newly started offroad business, just sort of bits and pieces like helping sort out her social media and cleaning the cars/quads. Was abit of a lazy st if im honest about myself.
Age 20-21 I worked full time for my mums business as an offroad instructor/quad instructor/website creation/mechanic/dumper driver, just abit of it all but never trained in anything so cant do any of them as an actual job so thats where the next bit comes into it. Did however have my own flat for a year which was nice but I wanted to go back to education so had to give it up due to location.
Since age 17 ive built garage sheds, drove dumper trucks, got a trailer licence, helped renovate a house into an office in the states, worked the odd weekend for my step mums events business in the states during what my dad called "holidays", basic mechanics (changing starter motors/water pumps is about the limit), website creation, marketing, about to try my hand at spraying cars as well, drawing up basic house plans, landscaping. All of these are useful life tools but dont help me get a good job/career.
With no real future ahead of me I was stumped as what to do, so im starting uni in the fall (hopefully, got an interview in March) and will just be shy of 22. During uni I dont plan on working due to buying and selling cars in my spare time for money. Have done this the last few years and have always made a few £100 per month with this on on top of my student loan (living in scotland so uni is free, loan is for accomodation + a little more on top. I dont expect to need a "normal" job to survive, which gives me time to enjoy the uni experience.
Is this going to hinder my chances of getting a job when I come out of uni as I have no real references/previous experience beyond my year and a half employment for my own mothers business? Its all things which have been to either help my mum/dad/step mum, not really things I can put on a CV so I look like a lazy bum who hasnt done much since leaving school.
Sorry for the long thread but trying hard to figure out where im going in life.
Alot of that would look fine on a CV. It reads like an interesting and varied job and you don't need to mention is was your mums business.Growing up I lived in the middle of no where so prior to having a moped/car working was not going to happen unless I walked 10 miles to town and 10 back, no buses/public transport of any type. Simply, I didnt need too either so I didnt. Only did things like cutting the lawn or helping paint the shed and so on.
Age 16-19 I was in college while helping out my mums newly started offroad business, just sort of bits and pieces like helping sort out her social media and cleaning the cars/quads. Was abit of a lazy s
t if im honest about myself.Age 20-21 I worked full time for my mums business as an offroad instructor/quad instructor/website creation/mechanic/dumper driver, just abit of it all but never trained in anything so cant do any of them as an actual job so thats where the next bit comes into it. Did however have my own flat for a year which was nice but I wanted to go back to education so had to give it up due to location.
Since age 17 ive built garage sheds, drove dumper trucks, got a trailer licence, helped renovate a house into an office in the states, worked the odd weekend for my step mums events business in the states during what my dad called "holidays", basic mechanics (changing starter motors/water pumps is about the limit), website creation, marketing, about to try my hand at spraying cars as well, drawing up basic house plans, landscaping. All of these are useful life tools but dont help me get a good job/career.
With no real future ahead of me I was stumped as what to do, so im starting uni in the fall (hopefully, got an interview in March) and will just be shy of 22. During uni I dont plan on working due to buying and selling cars in my spare time for money. Have done this the last few years and have always made a few £100 per month with this on on top of my student loan (living in scotland so uni is free, loan is for accomodation + a little more on top. I dont expect to need a "normal" job to survive, which gives me time to enjoy the uni experience.
Is this going to hinder my chances of getting a job when I come out of uni as I have no real references/previous experience beyond my year and a half employment for my own mothers business? Its all things which have been to either help my mum/dad/step mum, not really things I can put on a CV so I look like a lazy bum who hasnt done much since leaving school.
Sorry for the long thread but trying hard to figure out where im going in life.
Just taking the college/part time work it can look fine, something along the lines of:
2011 - 2015
Attended college doing xxxxxxx.
Part time job in start up offroad business. Resposibilities included:
> Marketing.
> Social media.
> Vehicle preparation and basic maintenance.
> Vehicle safety checks (an assumption by me that you would look them over when you clean them!)
Do a similar paragraph for your full time job there, and then one for uni, including the fact you trade cars to make money. That would show your history is filled with education and good tranferrable work experience.
Big up everything you've done but don't lie.
I have had 3 distinct careers in my time, and changed at age 24, then 32. At 22 the world is your oyster.
In my opinion too many people go to University straight from school without a clue about what they want to do for the rest of their lives.
If I were a potential employer and you had this bit
2011 - 2015
Attended college doing xxxxxxx.
Part time job in start up offroad business. Resposibilities included:
> Marketing.
> Social media.
> Vehicle preparation and basic maintenance.
> Vehicle safety checks
on your CV before going to Uni my immediate thoughts would be...
'Not sure what he wanted to do but did something'
It also shows (to me anyway) that you're prepared to get stuck in and do what needs to be done to make a business work.
My advice is to go to Uni and work hard at something that will give you a career, you don't have to persue that career but at least you'll have something to fall back on if you need it.
AdamIndy said:
Just to put things into perspective for you. I have no real qualifications to speak of either. IME they don't stand for a lot. Nothing beats real world experience rather than reading crap in a classroom.
I respectfully disagree. I, and a lot of others on here and in the 'real word', would be unable to do our respective jobs without study/qualifications.
SouthernBoy said:
I respectfully disagree.
I, and a lot of others on here and in the 'real word', would be unable to do our respective jobs without study/qualifications.
Fair comment, but that only really applies where the job requires a specialism. I used to employ many hundreds of staff 'in the real world' and came to the conclusion that qualifications are no indicator as to how effective an employee will be. Many of those suitably qualified have a view of their own ability/usefulness far too high above the reality. By comparison, some of the best employees were always those who had a rounded view of work and the world at large, and exhibited considerable basic common sense (often lacking with the qualified).I, and a lot of others on here and in the 'real word', would be unable to do our respective jobs without study/qualifications.
So lets get this right, apart from:
Business start up
Media work
Marketing
Off road driving instructor
Website designer
Mechanic
Car sprayer
General builder
House renovation
Architect
Landscape gardener
you have no job skills and no life skills
You should be proud of what you have done so far and don't sell yourself short. You have crammed more into your 21 years than a lot do in a lifetime.
Go to college/uni, get your qualifications and with your attitude you will be fine.
Business start up
Media work
Marketing
Off road driving instructor
Website designer
Mechanic
Car sprayer
General builder
House renovation
Architect
Landscape gardener
you have no job skills and no life skills
You should be proud of what you have done so far and don't sell yourself short. You have crammed more into your 21 years than a lot do in a lifetime.
Go to college/uni, get your qualifications and with your attitude you will be fine.
Monkeylegend said:
So lets get this right, apart from:
Business start up
Media work
Marketing
Off road driving instructor
Website designer
Mechanic
Car sprayer
General builder
House renovation
Architect
Landscape gardener
you have no job skills and no life skills
You should be proud of what you have done so far and don't sell yourself short. You have crammed more into your 21 years than a lot do in a lifetime.
Go to college/uni, get your qualifications and with your attitude you will be fine.
Maybe im poor at writing a CV but it always sounds like ive barely worked, which at 21 (24 almost 25) cant look good on a CV. I always was sub par at english in school.Business start up
Media work
Marketing
Off road driving instructor
Website designer
Mechanic
Car sprayer
General builder
House renovation
Architect
Landscape gardener
you have no job skills and no life skills
You should be proud of what you have done so far and don't sell yourself short. You have crammed more into your 21 years than a lot do in a lifetime.
Go to college/uni, get your qualifications and with your attitude you will be fine.
Monkeylegend said:
You can get help with CV writing. There are a couple of posters on here for a start, so I wouldn't worry about that.
Be positive, you have a lot going for you.
This. Be positive, you have a lot going for you.
I'm happy to help with CVs.
FYI - I didn't go to uni until 21 - I had rubbish school grades - and to be honest I got more out of uni as a "mature student". Was very hard work but I loved every minute of it.
Since then life has been pretty good. Look for the positives - you will have done more hard "teach yourself" type of work and have more practical experience than any of your peers at uni...
It sounds like you have a great deal of useful hands on experience which future employers will like. Experience counts for an awful lot, and you will be much more well adjusted and well rounded as a person than the majority of university students, so you'll be at an advantage when you finish.
Work placements/volunteering in the specific areas you want to go in to is always a good idea, we have students come in to work and do internships and that would definitely help if they applied for a job in the industry.
I find that yes a lot of the posters are right, you don't NEED qualifications to get on in life, but personally my wage seems to have hit a ceiling (okay, a reasonably high one, but like most people ive always wanted great things for muself, not just pretty good things!), and im also pretty much stuck in my specific job role - even with qualifications in something related I'd be lucky to get a job where I could put the qualifications to use!
Uni is probably a very good idea, it will open doors otherwise closed to you, if nothing else, but is of course no guarantee of success. A good friend of mine is often very disheartened to know they spent 3 years at uni and earn about a third of what stupid uneducated me earns! I suspect this will change as they get further into their career though.
Work placements/volunteering in the specific areas you want to go in to is always a good idea, we have students come in to work and do internships and that would definitely help if they applied for a job in the industry.
I find that yes a lot of the posters are right, you don't NEED qualifications to get on in life, but personally my wage seems to have hit a ceiling (okay, a reasonably high one, but like most people ive always wanted great things for muself, not just pretty good things!), and im also pretty much stuck in my specific job role - even with qualifications in something related I'd be lucky to get a job where I could put the qualifications to use!
Uni is probably a very good idea, it will open doors otherwise closed to you, if nothing else, but is of course no guarantee of success. A good friend of mine is often very disheartened to know they spent 3 years at uni and earn about a third of what stupid uneducated me earns! I suspect this will change as they get further into their career though.
Edited by CX53 on Monday 22 February 05:47
As said previously, qualifications are not the be all and end all that some would have you believe. I am educated to A level standard but never finished Uni. In my chosen subjects I made such career defining decisions as dropping computer studies to do Latin at GCSE (I wanted to be a journalist so thought it would help with my vocabulary)
After leaving uni I worked a number of jobs (care home, hospital porter, warehouse staff, shop fitter.............) and it was whilst working as a temp fitting out a new shop that I overheard the concession manager (PC company within the store itself) saying he was interviewing and asked for an interview. He was looking for sales staff, so my lack of knowledge didn't hamper me too much, and he liked the fact that I was happy to approach him and ask - I got the job
Step forward 21 years (
) and I have been in IT sales for all of that time - starting in retail before moving on to resellers. I am now an Account Manager for a managed service supplier. Over the years I have held certifications, gained during work, for HP servers and storage, Fujitsu Servers and storage, IBM P series servers, VMWare VSP and VTSP, Citrix, Veeam, Microsoft etc.
I had no idea what I wanted to do at your age and no idea where I would end up, so don't be too hard on yourself. Who would have thought that a young kid with no computer qualifications at all would end up where I am (and contrary to some IT Sales professionals that I have met I can hold a conversation with an IT manager and sound like I know what I am talking about)
After leaving uni I worked a number of jobs (care home, hospital porter, warehouse staff, shop fitter.............) and it was whilst working as a temp fitting out a new shop that I overheard the concession manager (PC company within the store itself) saying he was interviewing and asked for an interview. He was looking for sales staff, so my lack of knowledge didn't hamper me too much, and he liked the fact that I was happy to approach him and ask - I got the job
Step forward 21 years (
) and I have been in IT sales for all of that time - starting in retail before moving on to resellers. I am now an Account Manager for a managed service supplier. Over the years I have held certifications, gained during work, for HP servers and storage, Fujitsu Servers and storage, IBM P series servers, VMWare VSP and VTSP, Citrix, Veeam, Microsoft etc.I had no idea what I wanted to do at your age and no idea where I would end up, so don't be too hard on yourself. Who would have thought that a young kid with no computer qualifications at all would end up where I am (and contrary to some IT Sales professionals that I have met I can hold a conversation with an IT manager and sound like I know what I am talking about)
Vaud said:
This.
I'm happy to help with CVs.
FYI - I didn't go to uni until 21 - I had rubbish school grades - and to be honest I got more out of uni as a "mature student". Was very hard work but I loved every minute of it.
Since then life has been pretty good. Look for the positives - you will have done more hard "teach yourself" type of work and have more practical experience than any of your peers at uni...
Just wondering if I could take you up on this offer? Dug my old cv out and it just looks poor, english is not my strong point.I'm happy to help with CVs.
FYI - I didn't go to uni until 21 - I had rubbish school grades - and to be honest I got more out of uni as a "mature student". Was very hard work but I loved every minute of it.
Since then life has been pretty good. Look for the positives - you will have done more hard "teach yourself" type of work and have more practical experience than any of your peers at uni...
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