Matty94

This might be a slower way, but here is a website where you can enter information and it create your own QR code. When scanned over the top, it shows all the information stored on the barcode. Only drawback is only supported on android devices. QR Code Generator from the ZXing Project

Hi toths06, If you have a look at my thread I started few months ago, I was in a similar situation like you. Finished college with DMM, and went to work in a warehouse for 19 months. I'm currently doing an apprenticeship in a school and it's the best choice I have made. I agree with Elsigee ask schools if you can volunteer in their IT department. I asked schools in my area if there were any volunteering opportunities and the school I'm at, the Network Manager replied back to say they are advertising for an ICT Technician apprenticeship and gave me a website to a training provider to contact to apply for the apprenticeship. Also agree with @Dkeen94 with doing an apprenticeship gives you invaluable work experience, knowledge, amazing qualifications. I've already learnt stuff that I wouldn't have learnt through college. Doing an apprenticeship can also help you to build up the experience to become a network manager or higher. It's helping me to develop the skills to become an system administrator. These guys on this forum are amazing with showing you the different routes to get into IT. If it wasn't for these guys, I wouldn't know how to get into IT. There is also, one amazing women who is great with doing CV's and is great with interview tips and she is called @witch.

@HTCPCP, I'm looking forward to doing this apprenticeship. Something that I like doing. I'm more than happy to help people out if they can't do it as that is part of my job.

@LeMarchand, No I'm in the Midlands.

@LeMarchand, where are you located as I might be working near you? @elsiegee40 You were correct about @witch being good, thanks for recommending me to her.

Just an update everyone. I have finally got on to an apprenticeship with a local school as an ICT Technician apprentice. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that has posted in this thread and given me some good advice. Also a big shout out to the amazing @witch for helping me with everything.

Apple user over here Still use Win 7 sometimes.

Just did, thanks for you help.

Trying to send her a PM, but the attachment link doesn't want to work.

I've heard she is great with cvs.

I'm doing that now, just trying to get my cv to a good standard. I will contact the local charities to see what they have got. Thanks for the help

Thanks mate. Didn't know it was going to be this tough just trying to do voluntary work.

Just to update you guys on how I'm getting on. I've contacted several schools, the local college and the local university, but unfortunately they have not replied back. The local council and the local hospital have both said they don't have any voluntary opportunities. Still not giving up.

Hi everyone, I was wondering if there are any technicians/network managers in schools round Coventry that would allow me to do one day a week work experience with them? Want to start getting back into IT again after finishing a Level 3 BTEC Extended National Diploma in Computing about two years ago. Thanks for you time Matt

Happy New Year IT Squad!

Sorry @RobD, I was meant to put @Simcfc73 name instead.

@RobD, Where are you based in the country because I'm looking to do an IT apprenticeship.

So I've done a basic email asking if I could do some voluntary work, and was wondering if someone could read through it to see what I could add or change to it. Thanks.

@ alexbillbridgnorth Are you part time or full time? Did they give you a reason why they chose you over the older technicians? I've applied for a similar apprenticeship just recently. Did you apply the apprenticeship via schools website or did you ask them? That's abit like me, I also didn't do very well with a networking module. Thanks, I'll send you a PM soon about some things.

@tech_guy What part of the country are you in because I'm looking to do some IT work experience?

@jonnykewell1 How much did you know about computers, compared to when you went into the real world? Did you ask lot of questions when you was doing the voluntary work? When you was Was the 6th former shadowing about, and doing similar things you were doing? You still doing the same job in the new school? @APMerry Did your school post a vacancy for an IT apprenticeship or did you ask them? I only recently joined this site, so haven't had the chance to go through most of the adverts. @M0MST I can't drive, however I can travel depending on how long the journey is. @StevieM I'll be getting a new PC soon, so I can start setting up systems and playing about. Also, I'll get some books about computer related. What books do you recommend? @aerospacemango CompTIA A+ will be one of the first qualifications I will be doing. What were your previous roles you have done? I will grab it with both of my hands when I get a chance.

@elsiegee40 Thanks for that tip. I was wondering when it was the best time because some months, I would see quite a few apprenticeships then other months would be less. @Norphy I do know there are companies, school and hospitals are still using XP. I was just referring to people who I know that are not using Windows XP. I agree with you about the teaching yourself, there are going to be barriers where I will need training from a trained instructor. @Lion93 Are you now a full time technician? @Mako Are you still doing business admin stuff, or are you a a techie? Most people have recommend me to go for the apprenticeship. @andyase That's what I'll be doing when I've got some experience. Also, when I'm getting a new PC, I'll start to use that to practice with Cisco Packet Tracer.

@elsiegee40 Thanks for the information. I'm hoping I can volunteer at my old Secondary school. I always thought technicians had to have a Degree in Computing or other related qualifications. So you have seen pretty much everything regarding this trade and quick you have to adapt to it. I'm keeping an eye out on apprenticeships roles where they will trained me, but there are very few that will train me on the job instead of being in a classroom. @Norphy I was told that networking principles haven't changed much. I have heard Microsoft Certificates are outdated easily compared to other certificates like Network+. However they're good for understanding Microsoft OS. Not many people who I know are not using Windows XP or Windows 2003 because of the security and the lack of updates. I don't like rushing into getting the certificates, I liked to understand the principles of how things work. And also like getting the experience because I understand more then. @jonnykewell1 This is that I'm planning on doing. Did you get offered the job within the same school or was it a different school? I'm thinking if I volunteer with a school, I'm just going to be watching how to do stuff or shadowing people. What did you do when you was volunteering? @Mako What type of apprenticeship did you do? @Lion93 Did they give a reason why the guy with a degree in IT didn't get it? I always assume people with a degree would have a better chance of getting the job because of it.

@IanT I'm in Coventry

@hardtailstar I was thinking about volunteering for my old Secondary school. (Found my old NM on here). But didn't know if I was allowed because I'll be working with children. I'm going to be getting a new PC within the next 2-4 weeks. Would it be easier to use it as a virtual machine for the OS, as well as a normal desktop? @nephilim When I was in my second year of college, the IT support staff were walking out something to do with the SMT. @kmount I'm from Coventry