The E Goat Career Info Thread

[KnackeredStacker]

Left the stacker world 2 years ago, after being predominately fuels for the best part of my 23 years. Picked up an interest in geeky computery things in my last few years, mainly to do with COTS logistic management systems that are in fairly widespread use in civvy street.
My CV crossed the desk of an ex-nav working for the NHS as a PM bringing in a new computer system, and he took a punt on my background. 2 years on I spend my days managing databases and virtual servers, heavily into SQL making it all talk to each other and make sense to the punters who need it.
Every day is different, and I could easily see myself doing this for the rest of my working life even if very different from my "first" career.

 

[PraiseBacon]

Ex-TG9, left in ’94. Initially went into a sales job for a few months, which I found I was surprisingly good at, but really hated it! So gave that up quickly and went to Uni as a mature student in Sept ’94 - that was a great experience, from which I left after 3 years advanced drinking with a degree in Information Systems .

Initially went into IT auditing, from where I found an aptitude for IT security. Went to the US (Texas) in 2001 to look after Technology Risk Management for an ecommerce development center (it is secure, does it have enough capacity, are the up and downstream systems similarly secure, are there bottlenecks, are the authentication processes appropriate etc). I did well there and was asked to take on bigger roles over time, by the end of 9 years in the US , my role was Global head of Information risk and security for a division of a US bank.

From there went to the Australia as group head of a newly formed Information Risk function for one of their Banks (Loved living in Oz, but it turned into a 2 year deal). Returning to the UK last year I started off by head up the global Information security function for the central functions (Technology, Operations, Property etc) of a large corporate, and over the time I’ve been here, have also been asked to lead the teams responsible for Fraud Prevention ( which is a fascinating area), and the Physical Security of property (globally) and protection of staff travelling to high risk locations (a team which see’s about 5 ex-policemen and women reporting into me!).

A few people have asked how to get into information security, and I’m always happy to help.

 

[MontyPlumbs]

To you techie types who are now in the real world.

What courses would you recommend to the rest of us for when we are released back into the community?

What industry do you fancy? This will formulate what quals and courses you could do.

IMHO you can't go far wrong doing a HNC/HND or BEng/BSc if you're not sure what you want to do in engineering.

 

[NigeC]

Originally TG2 Avionics - Left after 24 years

Joined a well know Electronics company who did mobile phone base stations and fixing the bits which did not work after they had been built post manufacturing.

Ended up as an R&D Workshop Manager looking after 250 engineers with a small team of 6

Got "downsized" when the Dot Com bubble burst - That was one of the best decisions they did and was doing cart wheels out of the door with a nice pay out - paid off mortgage DT_Xtremez_14:

Sat down with SWMBO and said I did not fancy doing electronics any more. She backed my decision and bounced around for 1 year doing IT support via telephone DT_Xtremez_42:, H&S stuff for a large motor dealership - waffled my way into that job as a 3 month contract turned into 9 months as ended up doing QA DT_Xtremez_14:

Job came up within the bunch I now work for in a safety environment - auditing of all things and yes it was boring.

Had a re-organisation, and got made redundandant again BUT applied for another job within same company as Tech Admin in Civil Engineering.
They realised I was a tad "over qualified" for the work I was doing and was given other stuff to do DT_Xtremez_14:

Another re-org, kept job but was asked if I fancied promotion with another job - still within Civil Engineering - grabbed it with both hands DT_Xtremez_14:

Downside - Had to go to college for three years to get the bit of paper in Civil Engineering to keep HR happy and yes I was the eldest in the class at 53 but I gave the youngsters a run for their money DT_Xtremez_14:

Another re-org - still in Civil Engineering but differant job title, same money but more work DT_Xtremez_42:

Just had another DT_Xtremez_42:DT_Xtremez_42: re-org and kept job - 10 years, 5 re-orgs DT_Xtremez_42:

Getting to the "itchy feet" stage now but I know of a major project coming up early next year, 2013, where they will be after Civil Engineers so a case of smile, be happy and take money and don't rock the boat, they do not like it DT_Xtremez_42:.

I know it is not easy out there but employers want people to hit the ground running and have experience

What I found a help is not just sending a CV out and sitting back - follow it up to see what is happening, get a name etc as the squeky wheel gets the oil DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[reluctant liney]

What industry do you fancy? This will formulate what quals and courses you could do.

IMHO you can't go far wrong doing a HNC/HND or BEng/BSc if you're not sure what you want to do in engineering.

Currently doing HNC, just wondered if people have come across helpful courses that most people don't think about.
DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[unruly1986]

What industry do you fancy? This will formulate what quals and courses you could do.

IMHO you can't go far wrong doing a HNC/HND or BEng/BSc if you're not sure what you want to do in engineering.

Good to hear; I'm soon to be starting a HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering through Teesside Open Learning. From looking on job websites it seems that a HNC/HND gives you plenty of options.

 

[unruly1986]

Currently doing HNC, just wondered if people have come across helpful courses that most people don't think about.
DT_Xtremez_30:

Which HNC are you doing? How are you finding it? Pm if you don't fancy saying on here.

 

[Harry B'Stard]

Seeing as I have a limited time left in the RAF I'm looking at doing the Yeovil College HNC in Aeronautical Engineering. I have heard that it is possible (if you work your nads off) to get it completed in under a year.

Does anyone have any 'opinions' on this course? If you want to keep it 'beadwindow' then feel free to PM me! DT_Xtremez_28:

HTB

 

[gemarriott]

Seeing as I have a limited time left in the RAF I'm looking at doing the Yeovil College HNC in Aeronautical Engineering. I have heard that it is possible (if you work your nads off) to get it completed in under a year.

Does anyone have any 'opinions' on this course? If you want to keep it 'beadwindow' then feel free to PM me! DT_Xtremez_28:

HTB

Any quals at that level is a good thing but don't restrict yourself to aviation when job hunting, there is a myriad of opportunities for those who demonstrate leadership, the ability to study at a high level and a practical aptitude willing to adapt to business's needs.

 

[Spearmint]

Any quals at that level is a good thing but don't restrict yourself to aviation when job hunting, there is a myriad of opportunities for those who demonstrate leadership, the ability to study at a high level and a practical aptitude willing to adapt to business's needs.

Spot on, very shortly I am going to enrol with the OU to earn a degree in Leadership & Management, especially as the Level 5 Diploma I earned from IOT knocks a years study off of it.

This I hope will open a few more doors for me rather than simply aiming down one specific line of work.

 

[NigeC]

Seeing as I have a limited time left in the RAF I'm looking at doing the Yeovil College HNC in Aeronautical Engineering. I have heard that it is possible (if you work your nads off) to get it completed in under a year.

Does anyone have any 'opinions' on this course? If you want to keep it 'beadwindow' then feel free to PM me! DT_Xtremez_28:

HTB

Limits you to aircraft etc - Try a HNC/D in another sphere which will offer a wider scope e.g. Civil Engineering / Safety etc

 

[Stevienics]

....and if you are going into management; know accounting. Really. Know PnL and Balance Sheets and accruing and making provisons and Capexes and depreciation methods and fixed, variable and semi variable costs. All this stuff is the cogs that makes a business turn and though you are very unlikely ever to have it in your portfolio, you MUST know about it and how to speak it, just to not look a dick in general conversation.

You probably wont even have heard of it unless you have been through the tech, and even then it is dickensian stuff.

Do a course that includes it. Speaking management 101 maybe the cholera to most people, but it puts a beemer on the driveway and food in the fridges.

 

[Harry B'Stard]

Just to clarify for those not aware of the Yeovil College HNC...

It's a Prior Applied Knowledge course specifically tailored for Aircraft Tech Mechanicals (heavies) in the RAF, where they look at your previous quals (including fitters course/Q courses etc) and this 'covers' a large percentage of the course.

I'm thinking of it as being a 'quicker' way to gain the qualification... so that I can get on with the serious task of finding a job that pays a decent wage. DT_Xtremez_30:

HTB

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

Just to clarify for those not aware of the Yeovil College HNC...

It's a Prior Applied Knowledge course specifically tailored for Aircraft Tech Mechanicals (heavies) in the RAF, where they look at your previous quals (including fitters course/Q courses etc) and this 'covers' a large percentage of the course.

I'm thinking of it as being a 'quicker' way to gain the qualification... so that I can get on with the serious task of finding a job that pays a decent wage. DT_Xtremez_30:

HTB

Let me know how you get on, I've still got my ELCs to use up!

 

[gemarriott]

....and if you are going into management; know accounting. Really. Know PnL and Balance Sheets and accruing and making provisons and Capexes and depreciation methods and fixed, variable and semi variable costs. All this stuff is the cogs that makes a business turn and though you are very unlikely ever to have it in your portfolio, you MUST know about it and how to speak it, just to not look a dick in general conversation.

You probably wont even have heard of it unless you have been through the tech, and even then it is dickensian stuff.

Do a course that includes it. Speaking management 101 maybe the cholera to most people, but it puts a beemer on the driveway and food in the fridges.

A good point, almost 50% of Chemistry graduates in my sister's year at Nottingham Uni ended up in accounting somehow. In a lot of cases a good degree will open doors even if you don't have experience.

 

[NigeC]

From my perspective on both sides i.e. recruiting / applying for jobs it all depends on what is on your CV.

These days, a computer scans them and if key words are flagged then that CV is pulled out and given to a human to look at

In days past, the secretary was given a pile of CVs with the brief - If they have XX qualification, put them on one pile, if not, bin them - brutal but when you get 100's of CVs every week a quick and simple way of filtering them even though a lot of good people never got seen DT_Xtremez_42:

Which is why I also look at the job advert, figure out what they are after and gear the CV to that job

 

[3wheeledtechie]

Ex TG2 fairy, left almost 4yrs ago and emigrated to France. These days work for Airbus in Toulouse as a Lean Expert supporting lean implementation across Engineering (aircraft design) in all programmes (A350, A400M, A320, A330, A380). Good job, great benefits, and interesting work in that you get to see and play a role in some fairly high level topics / decision making.

Clearly not a role most would consider, or even want, and the politics can be a bit mind blowing, but speaking French (or German, or Spanish) helps, and key requirement is solid prior experience in lean (might be suitable for ex QCIT types), plus project management abilities. Good comms / presentation skills and people skills are also essential.

 

[3wheeledtechie]

I just got in from quals I got from the RAF, though I also have a Degree from before I joined up, that i'll be using to try get into the Manf Engineering roles they're starting to train up.
Airbus/EADS have their own certs, but I would imagine having full licences would help getting higher roles within Airbus. Not to sure on getting a role at Tolouse, but have heard people talking about english people working there for 6 months and still being there 3 yrs later.

Malesu. Regarding Airbus, do you need any more quals apart from what we get from the RAF? Is it worth the time and money doing EASA B1 / B2 licenses for that job? How does it look for us to get a job in the Toulouse factory? Something I once read said you need to be a fluent French speaker for Tolouse vacancies, any truth in this?Thanks.

There are many varied roles in Airbus, but if you want to land a role in operations, bear in mind there are many more roles in Part 21 environments than Part 145. If B1/B2 LAE is what you are aiming for, then aim for an aircraft operator or MAOS. Jobs in Toulouse for foreigners tend to be in the Final Assembly Lines (FALs) on working parties. The only real factory in Toulouse is St Eloi which specialises in titanium and makes nacelles and pylons - its a very french environment, where fluent french would be required.

These days there are very little opportunities for working party work (carrying out oustanding work generally that should really have been completed at Broughton or elsewhere, but wasn't for myriad reasons) on A380, but it will almost certainly come on A350 over next year or so as production starts to ramp up. I would imagine best way to get a foot in the door is to land a temp contract (Morsons etc) at Broughton, get yourself known and be ready to put your hand up when opportunities come knocking. Others may know better than I the procedure.

As for speaking French, no shouldn't think its a requirement as if on a Broughton working party all docs and work will be done in English, but of course it won't hurt especially working in the multi-cultural environment of the FAL. If you ever aim to stay here permanently, it could be key to making contacts and landing a position however.

The only work requiring licences AFAIK would be on the flight test line post FAL, or working on the fleet of flight test aircraft. These are plum roles and it could take an already 100% Airbus guy with plenty of production experience, years to land one.

 

[justintime129]

There are many varied roles in Airbus, but if you want to land a role in operations, bear in mind there are many more roles in Part 21 environments than Part 145. If B1/B2 LAE is what you are aiming for, then aim for an aircraft operator or MAOS. Jobs in Toulouse for foreigners tend to be in the Final Assembly Lines (FALs) on working parties. The only real factory in Toulouse is St Eloi which specialises in titanium and makes nacelles and pylons - its a very french environment, where fluent french would be required.

These days there are very little opportunities for working party work (carrying out oustanding work generally that should really have been completed at Broughton or elsewhere, but wasn't for myriad reasons) on A380, but it will almost certainly come on A350 over next year or so as production starts to ramp up. I would imagine best way to get a foot in the door is to land a temp contract (Morsons etc) at Broughton, get yourself known and be ready to put your hand up when opportunities come knocking. Others may know better than I the procedure.

As for speaking French, no shouldn't think its a requirement as if on a Broughton working party all docs and work will be done in English, but of course it won't hurt especially working in the multi-cultural environment of the FAL. If you ever aim to stay here permanently, it could be key to making contacts and landing a position however.

The only work requiring licences AFAIK would be on the flight test line post FAL, or working on the fleet of flight test aircraft. These are plum roles and it could take an already 100% Airbus guy with plenty of production experience, years to land one.

There was an item on Granada reports the other week about workers from broughton going to Toulouse for a few weeks. It was surprising the amount of workers who stayed there permamently.

Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk 2

 

[3wheeledtechie]

There was an item on Granada reports the other week about workers from broughton going to Toulouse for a few weeks. It was surprising the amount of workers who stayed there permamently.

...Not when you consider the extra money, allowances, and overtime opportunities!

Most people who move across (i.e. not here just on temporary basis of a working party - even if that lasts a year or more) come for an initial 2yrs as I understand it, which can be extended to 5. At that point many have to take decision to transfer to a french contract or go home.

But hey Toulouse or north wales?