JHarrold

There is a problem with that. I've been looking into volunteering at local schools and yes you do need a CRB check. Unfortunately, you can no longer apply for a CRB check as an individual looking to volunteer with vulnerable people. Your CRB check has to come from the place you are looking to volunteer at. Gone are the days when you could contact a school, with a CRB check already having taken place and with the documentation to prove it, and offer your services as a volunteer with next to no hassle for the school. Since they have stopped private citizens getting CRB checks, it has added the extra paperwork to the school. The schools I contacted didn't want the extra paperwork my volunteer services would bring.

Thank you Little-Miss! I followed a link to that website about a month ago, and have been trying to find it ever since (in true computer fashion, I followed the link, found a job to apply for, and before I could bookmark the page my computer blue screened on me , and of course I'd forgotten where I'd followed the link from.) Thank you for the link and the name Tom, I shall see if I can contact them on Monday. When I ask for this person, should I mention that you directed me to him...or I might seen a bit stalker-ish. Kmount, I will admit one of the reasons I finally got around to submitting a post was because I saw that Witch had mentioned in someone else's topic that she used to be a recruitment person and was offering to look at their CV. Before I spam her with my CV though, I'd like to get an actual response from her in this topic...seems too much like cold-calling otherwise. I don't know about anyone else, but cold-calling is one of those things that really gets under my skin.

Well, I've been using this site for a little while now in my job searching and I thought it time to introduce myself. Currently unemployed, and have been for the last 2 years. All of my applications are personalised to the job spec, as I believe if you don't make the effort then why should the recruiter. Gah, I hate trying to describe myself (number 1 failing in my interviews!). I know a lot of people say this, but I am actually extremely clever (brain the size of a planet). I've got no problem with learning something new if I come across it and find it interesting (has served me well with computers, as I find everything about them interesting). I have been distance learning for a CompTIA A+/N+ and an MCSE, and the only thing that has slowed me down is I had to wait for the company to send me new material and the activation codes for the next section of the course. Recently got my N+ qualification as I saw it as the biggest single challenge of the group (and could serve me the greatest in my future endeavours for employment). Now I just need to revise and book my other exams (having to space them out for financial reasons). One of the only reasons I've taken these courses is to get recognised proof of the knowledge I already have. Don't get me wrong I have learnt a few things that I didn't know before, but the vast majority I already knew. It wasn't until about 18 months ago that someone suggested I try applying for schools as an ICT Technician, and at that point a lightbulb went off in my head. It satisfies all the criteria I want from a job: working with computers, check; solving problems, check; helping people learn, check; actually being able to physically touch the computers you're fixing, check; more job security than working in a call centre, check. Ok, I think I should stop there as I just deleted a paragraph which turned out to be a rant So if anyone has any ideas about how I could go about getting a job in the Birmingham area as either an ICT Technician or some such support role, I would be very grateful. I've already looked in to volunteering as an ICT Tech, but because you need to be CRB cleared to work in a school I have hit a bit of a road block (as private citizens can no longer request a CRB check, it has to be through the place you will work, and most schools I've contacted don't want the extra paperwork unless they have no choice). Just so you know, I'll include a list of places I job search so you won't waste your time suggesting something I've already done: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Sandwell council websites (chosen due to travel requirements/limitations). CWJobs PurelyIT MyBirminghamJobs Monster TotalJobs Reed Jobsite JobCentrePlus Fish4 ComputerPeople ComputerFutures And of course Edugeek I'd like to thank you for reading, and for any help you may offer.