I know what I want, but not how to get there
Discussion
I suspect that I’ll be opening myself up to a significant amount of flaming, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
I’m currently working as a sub-contractor in logistics. I enjoy the job, the money is ok, but the hours are long, (60-80+ p/w). What I enjoy the most is looking after my customers, fixing any problems that they may have, and offering exceptional levels of customer service. Based upon my KPI’s and customer reviews, I’m rated as one of the very best at what I do in the region.
Despite my continued high performance over the last 2.5 years and the company as a whole seeing 10%+ increase in profits year-on-year, the monthly dose of company propaganda sent via email suggests that those of us on the bottom rungs of the ladder can look forward to significant cuts in our rates starting at the end of this month, (“to reward us for our continued hard work”). If the rumours turn out to be true, then it’s probably time to move on.
My entire working life, all 32 years of it, has been in customer facing environments. I’ve run my own pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, held supervisory positions in logistics and the gaming industry. Whilst I am usually pessimistic about my own abilities, customer service is one area where I really do excel.
One of my biggest frustrations is seeing companies focus on the short-term buck instead of concentrating on offering exceptional customer service in order to retain customers and seek new ones through that cheapest form of advertising, word of mouth.
Ideally I’d like to find a position within an organisation where through my experience and knowledge, I can help steer the ethos of a company towards being more customer focused without going down the route of simply slashing prices to achieve customer retention.
But here are the problems, and likely the point at which I’m leaving myself open to ridicule.
I don’t have any qualifications. And I mean none. Not even a GCSE. I left school at 14 pretty much illiterate and eventually taught myself to read and write.
I also have a past that would prohibit me from passing even the most basic of CRB checks.
I’ve had a few interviews. Interviews that were supposed to be “fast paced and high pressure”, which I found childs-play. Start date and salary expectations were discussed, but then the usual checks were carried out and that was the end of that.
So I guess the question is, how do I even get a toe in the door here when I don’t have any academic achievements and even the simplest of Google searches isn’t going to paint a rosy picture?
At the moment, whilst I know that my customers really appreciate me, in all other aspects I’ve reached a ceiling. I’d like the opportunity to make a real difference elsewhere, but it often feels like I get laughed out of the room before I’ve even had five minutes to prove myself.
Any pointers, good or bad, would be much appreciated
I’m currently working as a sub-contractor in logistics. I enjoy the job, the money is ok, but the hours are long, (60-80+ p/w). What I enjoy the most is looking after my customers, fixing any problems that they may have, and offering exceptional levels of customer service. Based upon my KPI’s and customer reviews, I’m rated as one of the very best at what I do in the region.
Despite my continued high performance over the last 2.5 years and the company as a whole seeing 10%+ increase in profits year-on-year, the monthly dose of company propaganda sent via email suggests that those of us on the bottom rungs of the ladder can look forward to significant cuts in our rates starting at the end of this month, (“to reward us for our continued hard work”). If the rumours turn out to be true, then it’s probably time to move on.
My entire working life, all 32 years of it, has been in customer facing environments. I’ve run my own pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, held supervisory positions in logistics and the gaming industry. Whilst I am usually pessimistic about my own abilities, customer service is one area where I really do excel.
One of my biggest frustrations is seeing companies focus on the short-term buck instead of concentrating on offering exceptional customer service in order to retain customers and seek new ones through that cheapest form of advertising, word of mouth.
Ideally I’d like to find a position within an organisation where through my experience and knowledge, I can help steer the ethos of a company towards being more customer focused without going down the route of simply slashing prices to achieve customer retention.
But here are the problems, and likely the point at which I’m leaving myself open to ridicule.
I don’t have any qualifications. And I mean none. Not even a GCSE. I left school at 14 pretty much illiterate and eventually taught myself to read and write.
I also have a past that would prohibit me from passing even the most basic of CRB checks.
I’ve had a few interviews. Interviews that were supposed to be “fast paced and high pressure”, which I found childs-play. Start date and salary expectations were discussed, but then the usual checks were carried out and that was the end of that.
So I guess the question is, how do I even get a toe in the door here when I don’t have any academic achievements and even the simplest of Google searches isn’t going to paint a rosy picture?
At the moment, whilst I know that my customers really appreciate me, in all other aspects I’ve reached a ceiling. I’d like the opportunity to make a real difference elsewhere, but it often feels like I get laughed out of the room before I’ve even had five minutes to prove myself.
Any pointers, good or bad, would be much appreciated
I don’t have much to contribute other than to say that you don’t deserve any ridicule for your lack of qualifications and it would be very narrow minded of anyone to feel that you did. Some of the thickest people I’ve ever met with the least to offer have come with all sorts of letters after their names- likewise some of the least educated people I know are some of the most intelligent and innovative.
w1bbles said:
Tiimpson. Excellent customer service, employ people with ‘interesting’ backgrounds. A corporate training role? Worth exploring.
Timpson seems to get the most pr about employing people with history but there are loads out there, some way larger and more interesting. Check out some like https://www.ex-seed.co.uk/recommended-companies.ht...Why not work for yourself? I know its probably easier said than done, but it's definitely doable.
I was made redundant at 50 and, despite being financially more than secure, didn't want to pack in working. For reasons different to your own I didn't want to work anymore in 'corporate' so looked around for a business to buy. Long story short but franchising was suggested. After months of research I decided to go this route. The initial outlay was modest, the monthly franchise fee was also modest and fixed, and the brand was nationwide and well known.
I bought in and decided I was going to do a great job but differentiate myself in the level customer service I gave vs competitors (it was biz to customer not biz to biz). It was a one man band (Mrs Ezra helped a bit initially setting up customer records/databases etc) and I was responsible for everything. My ethos worked, I eventually was able to charge materially more than the competition because my customer service was so good (on time, polite, clean, tidy, great job done etc, etc, etc).
I had the biz 5 years, it was profitable from year 1, I was always busy (honestly, I could have worked 25 hrs a day, 8 days a week), I made really quite good money each year and sold it for 3 times my initial outlay. TBH, only reason I sold is that it was becoming a little bit too physically demanding. I was 55 when I sold it to a chap who was late 30's. Still see him from time to time and the biz is still thriving. I wouldn't say I wish I'd worked for myself earlier, but I loved every minute of running my own biz.
I was made redundant at 50 and, despite being financially more than secure, didn't want to pack in working. For reasons different to your own I didn't want to work anymore in 'corporate' so looked around for a business to buy. Long story short but franchising was suggested. After months of research I decided to go this route. The initial outlay was modest, the monthly franchise fee was also modest and fixed, and the brand was nationwide and well known.
I bought in and decided I was going to do a great job but differentiate myself in the level customer service I gave vs competitors (it was biz to customer not biz to biz). It was a one man band (Mrs Ezra helped a bit initially setting up customer records/databases etc) and I was responsible for everything. My ethos worked, I eventually was able to charge materially more than the competition because my customer service was so good (on time, polite, clean, tidy, great job done etc, etc, etc).
I had the biz 5 years, it was profitable from year 1, I was always busy (honestly, I could have worked 25 hrs a day, 8 days a week), I made really quite good money each year and sold it for 3 times my initial outlay. TBH, only reason I sold is that it was becoming a little bit too physically demanding. I was 55 when I sold it to a chap who was late 30's. Still see him from time to time and the biz is still thriving. I wouldn't say I wish I'd worked for myself earlier, but I loved every minute of running my own biz.
1/ Use your right to be forgotten. Google this. It’s not hard.
2/ Retrain in H&S. It can be rewarding financially and personally. You’ll never be a millionaire but a decent salary is available.
I left school able to read and write but no qualifications. Long haul but I ended up in the Middle East in a Director's role.
2/ Retrain in H&S. It can be rewarding financially and personally. You’ll never be a millionaire but a decent salary is available.
I left school able to read and write but no qualifications. Long haul but I ended up in the Middle East in a Director's role.
How long ago was your colourful past? Surely rehabilitation of offenders act (or whatever it’s called now) applies?
Quick Google suggests any conviction resulting in a prison sentence of under 30 months is now spent. So don’t disclose it.
Quick Google suggests any conviction resulting in a prison sentence of under 30 months is now spent. So don’t disclose it.
Edited by elanfan on Friday 19th January 05:05
Edited by elanfan on Friday 19th January 05:22
elanfan said:
How long ago was your colourful past? Surely rehabilitation of offenders act (or whatever it’s called now) applies?
Quick Google suggests any conviction resulting in a prison sentence of under 30 months is now spent. So don’t disclose it.
This - most convictions are irrelevant after a few years. Check here: https://check-when-to-disclose-caution-conviction....Quick Google suggests any conviction resulting in a prison sentence of under 30 months is now spent. So don’t disclose it.
Edited by elanfan on Friday 19th January 05:05
Edited by elanfan on Friday 19th January 05:22
If the issue is bad press online then as someone else said, the right to be forgotten is your friend.
As for qualifications, plenty of online tutors / courses available, get the bare minimum maths and English and you're away.
Thank you all for your patient and safe advice, and your kind words.
I apologise for the delay in getting back to many of you, but it’s been a busy week at work.
There’s been some really great suggestions on here.
The Civil Service? Upon my release I did speak to several MPs of different stripes about the state of the prison service and how inadequate it is at the time of rehabilitation. Whilst all agreed that something must be done and HMP is a financial black hole, none were willing to stand up and be counted, (not a vote winner you see).
When Dominic Cummins was asking for unconventional applicants to apply for the the civil service, I was sorely tempted, but I have a friend who is reasonably high up in the Enviroment Agency who often moans about spending months working on a particular project, only for there to be a change of policy / change of ministerial position, and for all of that work to be flushed down the toilet. I wouldn’t have the patience for that, nor the waste of public funds such indecision causes.
Self employment?
One of my passions is vintage watches, and I’d like to start a distance learning course with the British Horological Institute with the view to going self employed once I’ve passed the course and my apprenticeship, but doing so would take a minimum of 7-8 years.
It has been suggested to me to move up the ladder where I am at the moment, into a, (eventually) Depot Managers position, but seeing how the excellent Depot Managers I’ve worked with get constantly dumped up by the higher-ups with countless false promises, that’s a role that isn’t for me, as much as I would otherwise enjoy it.
I suspect that employment with pretty much any large firm / household name is going to be an instant “No”, based purely on their hiring criteria, although if I manage to get my tax return finished early enough tomorrow, I’ll have a look through the list of firms that do hire ex-cons that someone kindly posted and take that from there.
But then the issue is, am I going to be able to walk straight into another job that pays similar to what I’m getting now, (mid to high 40’s pa)? I suspect probably not !
And that’s the frustrating thing. There’s so many roles that I know that I could do, roles that I know that I could do better than most others could, but my lack of education, my colourful past and probably to an extent, my age are all factors that are going against me.
Unfortunately for me, my offences are never classed as ‘spent’, which means that I’ll always have to declare them if asked, although I have heard of a piece of legislation that would allow me to get my offences ‘struck-off’ seven years after my Licence period has finished, but that is not only something that I’d need to see a Solicitor about, but is also several years away from happening.
Perhaps this is what they call a mid-life crisis? At a particular crossroads where you feel directionless and not certain of what to do next? Is this really it? All I do is work, eat and sleep, (a little). My Wife does the same, all the while, whilst I’m providing for me family financially, I’m actually failing to provide for them in many different ways, just like what my Father and my Grandfather did? Is this really life? Is this it, the pinnacle of what most of us can reasonably expect?
It would seem that I’m not alone in asking this question. I’m in touch with quite a few other guys. Guys from our old firm, guys who we used to work with, guys I met whilst I was away. All of whom are intelligent, hard working, but yet were earning an unconventional living for a long time. Doing the sort of things that are incredibly high risk / high pressure. And then one day your empire come crashing down and you’re spending most of your time in a small concrete box in the worlds worst B&B courtesy of HMP. Almost all of them feel the same way.
You get out, you’re raring to go, to get cracking rebuilding family ties, to get a job, earn a living, provide for your family, keep your nose clean, but eventually you realise that there’s something missing. The value in the mundane and the anonymous starts to wear a little thin as the highs of pulling a rabbit out of the hat every day starts to come to the forefront of your heart once again. The doing the impossible, (getting something from the jungles of the Amazon or the factories of China into the U.K. / Europe undetected), is as strong a drug as the products themselves, which is probably why so many end up going back to what they used to do and ultimately end up getting caught again.
What I need is something that’s going to be mentally challenging that also offers almost instant gratification / reward. Maybe working for a charity wouldn’t be a bad idea?
Sorry for the rambling and probably quite negative post. It’s been a long, cold day at the end of a long, cold week. The house is empty and I’ve just got back home to find out that we’ve got a power cut that’s also affecting the water supply, so I can neither have something to eat or a shower
Cheers for all of your advice fellas
I apologise for the delay in getting back to many of you, but it’s been a busy week at work.
There’s been some really great suggestions on here.
The Civil Service? Upon my release I did speak to several MPs of different stripes about the state of the prison service and how inadequate it is at the time of rehabilitation. Whilst all agreed that something must be done and HMP is a financial black hole, none were willing to stand up and be counted, (not a vote winner you see).
When Dominic Cummins was asking for unconventional applicants to apply for the the civil service, I was sorely tempted, but I have a friend who is reasonably high up in the Enviroment Agency who often moans about spending months working on a particular project, only for there to be a change of policy / change of ministerial position, and for all of that work to be flushed down the toilet. I wouldn’t have the patience for that, nor the waste of public funds such indecision causes.
Self employment?
One of my passions is vintage watches, and I’d like to start a distance learning course with the British Horological Institute with the view to going self employed once I’ve passed the course and my apprenticeship, but doing so would take a minimum of 7-8 years.
It has been suggested to me to move up the ladder where I am at the moment, into a, (eventually) Depot Managers position, but seeing how the excellent Depot Managers I’ve worked with get constantly dumped up by the higher-ups with countless false promises, that’s a role that isn’t for me, as much as I would otherwise enjoy it.
I suspect that employment with pretty much any large firm / household name is going to be an instant “No”, based purely on their hiring criteria, although if I manage to get my tax return finished early enough tomorrow, I’ll have a look through the list of firms that do hire ex-cons that someone kindly posted and take that from there.
But then the issue is, am I going to be able to walk straight into another job that pays similar to what I’m getting now, (mid to high 40’s pa)? I suspect probably not !
And that’s the frustrating thing. There’s so many roles that I know that I could do, roles that I know that I could do better than most others could, but my lack of education, my colourful past and probably to an extent, my age are all factors that are going against me.
Unfortunately for me, my offences are never classed as ‘spent’, which means that I’ll always have to declare them if asked, although I have heard of a piece of legislation that would allow me to get my offences ‘struck-off’ seven years after my Licence period has finished, but that is not only something that I’d need to see a Solicitor about, but is also several years away from happening.
Perhaps this is what they call a mid-life crisis? At a particular crossroads where you feel directionless and not certain of what to do next? Is this really it? All I do is work, eat and sleep, (a little). My Wife does the same, all the while, whilst I’m providing for me family financially, I’m actually failing to provide for them in many different ways, just like what my Father and my Grandfather did? Is this really life? Is this it, the pinnacle of what most of us can reasonably expect?
It would seem that I’m not alone in asking this question. I’m in touch with quite a few other guys. Guys from our old firm, guys who we used to work with, guys I met whilst I was away. All of whom are intelligent, hard working, but yet were earning an unconventional living for a long time. Doing the sort of things that are incredibly high risk / high pressure. And then one day your empire come crashing down and you’re spending most of your time in a small concrete box in the worlds worst B&B courtesy of HMP. Almost all of them feel the same way.
You get out, you’re raring to go, to get cracking rebuilding family ties, to get a job, earn a living, provide for your family, keep your nose clean, but eventually you realise that there’s something missing. The value in the mundane and the anonymous starts to wear a little thin as the highs of pulling a rabbit out of the hat every day starts to come to the forefront of your heart once again. The doing the impossible, (getting something from the jungles of the Amazon or the factories of China into the U.K. / Europe undetected), is as strong a drug as the products themselves, which is probably why so many end up going back to what they used to do and ultimately end up getting caught again.
What I need is something that’s going to be mentally challenging that also offers almost instant gratification / reward. Maybe working for a charity wouldn’t be a bad idea?
Sorry for the rambling and probably quite negative post. It’s been a long, cold day at the end of a long, cold week. The house is empty and I’ve just got back home to find out that we’ve got a power cut that’s also affecting the water supply, so I can neither have something to eat or a shower
Cheers for all of your advice fellas
One thing stood out for me in your post.
Just spend more time with your kids. All they want is your time and affection.
So many people think money is what they need, but it’s presence when you are with them. I think life would be a lot more fulfilling if you could take steps forward to do that.
And play gta5 for cheap thrills rather than going back to the old “job”
Also, any chance of setting yourself up as a
Ltd company doing what you enjoy in logistics? I can’t quite work out your current role, but if you could go it alone somehow then all your issues about getting hired somewhat go away?
Just spend more time with your kids. All they want is your time and affection.
So many people think money is what they need, but it’s presence when you are with them. I think life would be a lot more fulfilling if you could take steps forward to do that.
And play gta5 for cheap thrills rather than going back to the old “job”
Also, any chance of setting yourself up as a
Ltd company doing what you enjoy in logistics? I can’t quite work out your current role, but if you could go it alone somehow then all your issues about getting hired somewhat go away?
Edited by stuthe
on Saturday 20th January 21:25
on Saturday 20th January 21:25If it weren’t for the kids I’d suggest a field based NGO role. You could look at charities based around ex offender rehabilitation or similar, but with no experience in this area I’m at a loss to suggest what role would satisfy you.
Only other thing I can suggest is retraining in a trade and putting your energy into building it as a business.
I’ll not judge your past but I do remember you and what your crime entailed. The talk of the old firm’s ‘empire’ and the subsequent concrete box is something you need to drop. I’d wager 99/100 would consider the former to be in ill taste and the latter to be an entirely fitting punishment.
Only other thing I can suggest is retraining in a trade and putting your energy into building it as a business.
I’ll not judge your past but I do remember you and what your crime entailed. The talk of the old firm’s ‘empire’ and the subsequent concrete box is something you need to drop. I’d wager 99/100 would consider the former to be in ill taste and the latter to be an entirely fitting punishment.
105.4 said:
xx99xx said:
Ideal for public sector.
I’d made perhaps the incorrect assumption that my colourful past would automatically exclude me from employment within that sector?105.4 said:
Perhaps this is what they call a mid-life crisis? At a particular crossroads where you feel directionless and not certain of what to do next? Is this really it? All I do is work, eat and sleep, (a little). My Wife does the same, all the while, whilst I’m providing for me family financially, I’m actually failing to provide for them in many different ways, just like what my Father and my Grandfather did? Is this really life? Is this it, the pinnacle of what most of us can reasonably expect?
>constructive post<If I offered you a 9-5, Monday to Friday job, earning mid to high 40s, would you enjoy it?
From your posting history, it seems that you validate yourself by working yourself into the ground, so I’m not sure you would? (Enjoy it)
I think that there is some good advice in here about cleaning up your online profile where you can - I imagine most people do a google search on peoples names.
That said, everyone has a past. We learn from what we do. I can think of careers that you'd do well in *because* of your life experience.
That said, everyone has a past. We learn from what we do. I can think of careers that you'd do well in *because* of your life experience.
105.4 said:
customer service is one area where I really do excel.
One of my biggest frustrations is seeing companies focus on the short-term buck instead of concentrating on offering exceptional customer service in order to retain customers and seek new ones through that cheapest form of advertising, word of mouth.
Don't allow excellence to be the enemy of good.One of my biggest frustrations is seeing companies focus on the short-term buck instead of concentrating on offering exceptional customer service in order to retain customers and seek new ones through that cheapest form of advertising, word of mouth.
Exceptional customer service is a very worthy attribute but unless you are specifically employed to push the boundaries on this, the effort in doing so will seldom be recognised or rewarded. It should, of course, but rarely does it.
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