Joskos success stories - career changers

Matt Greenwood

Matt Greenwood was a part-qualified accountant and had been employed in accountancy for several years, but he decided that accounts weren't for him. Below is his story of how Joskos helped him turn his career around. He is now working at the renowned financial firm KPMG and is also studying to progress into one of their Network Engineering roles.

"It all started when I was a part-qualified accountant and I'd been working in accounts for several years, but over a year ago I decided that accounts weren't for me. I wasn't enjoying the career I had chosen; in fact the only aspect of my work I was enjoying was the IT part - dealing with the accounts software and helping my fellow colleagues in IT matters. Therefore I made decision to change my career path into the IT sector of business. I knew this was going be a challenging move, so I applied to Joskos and asked for advice for the best steps to start a career in IT.

The Joskos representative explained to me that it would look better to study towards a Microsoft certificate and have a specific aim to reach in the IT industry. I signed up and started studying towards becoming a Network Engineer. I completed my Fundamentals of IT whilst applying for IT trainee roles. I found that I was still being turned down by many of the positions I applied for, it was very disheartening, but I never gave up. Then to my surprise, my girlfriend returned from work and told me that her work colleague's husband was looking for a trainee in IT and provided me with details of the role and who to apply too. I sent my CV and covering letter explaining where I stood in IT and what type of studying I was doing in IT. I managed to get an interview and learn some useful interviews tips thanks to Joskos which enabled me to sell myself very well. As a result of this I was provided with a second interview and I found out at Christmas last year that I got the role as a Trainee Technical Engineer 2nd Line support. Best Christmas present ever!! I started at KPMG in Birmingham on 6th January 2011.

Over the past 8 months I have loved every minute of my new trainee IT role. It has provided me with IT knowledge in software and hardware. Studying is making more sense and it has made me a lot more confident in my IT abilities. KPMG have supported and invested in me to become a qualified Technical Engineer by studying towards CompTIA A+. Once I have completed this examination, I have explained to my Line & Performance managers that I want to complete my MSDST and aim to become a qualified network engineer. Both have agreed that they would like to support me in my career path."

Paresh Mahendra

I think the biggest thing Joskos gave me is the confidence, knowing that a qualification on your CV is better than no Paresh Mahendra qualification. I’m a graduate, so that was helpful in getting a better job, but it was the IT qualification that gave me the confidence to go for bigger and better things.

Currently I am working for a Dutch investment bank in the 2nd line support team. We work on the trade floor where there is some expensive business going on, so it is really time-sensitive with some big transactions going on. It’s fun, very pressurised, and definitely more financially rewarding.

Neil Bizzel

I’m currently a freelance IT consultant working on an IT project for the National Health Project. I now own my own house, drive a nice sports car Neil Bizzel and can afford some of the nicer things in life. As a training provider Joskos have been very good.

At the end of the course, Joskos offered me the opportunity to do work experience in one of their projects, but it turned out I didn’t need that as I was able to move into a job straight away.

In the four years since I’ve left Joskos, the course has definitely paid for itself over and over, both in monetary terms and in other aspects of my life. It’s really changed my life.

Imran Ali

I’ve started a new role within IT support. I found that when I went for the position and Imran Ali talked about my MCSE training, the interviewers had heard of Joskos and knew that they offered reputable training. This helped me land the role, and I’m really happy now that I’ve started this new job.

I feel really confident I can pass the rest of my exams and go on and fulfil my career.

I found the Joskos Virtual Learning Center to be a really useful learning tool. There are a lot of facilities on there such as learning documents, E-books, and forums. You can post topics if you are stuck with anything and read other people’s experiences of the exams and training so far. So it’s something that will really help you prepare for exams and your training for the future.

Ladislas Noukpo

Joskos student Ladislas Noukpo proves that you can achieve your IT goals without an IT background if Joskos is there to assist you.

Ladislas told us his story:

“I’m originally from France. I moved to the UK five years ago with English as my second language. Before I came to the UK I was working in event promotion, and had absolutely no background in IT.

I’ve always liked gadgets and electronics, and I knew the IT industry was really stable, so I thought ‘Why not give it a try?’

I saw the Joskos advert on the back of a magazine with the phrase ‘No Experience Necessary’. It sounded like an opportunity as I had nothing to lose!

I started with Joskos in 2006, and earned my MCSA in 2007, 18 months after I began my training.

After I gained my MCSA, I found the IT support service company where I now work in the Yellow Pages. I phoned them up and after seven weeks of work experience with them, they were confident enough with what I was doing to offer me a job. I have been working there since November 2007 in 1st, 2nd and now 3rd line technical support.

I am on a wage of £18,000 which is pretty good for a first job! My confidence has gone through the roof. I’m now 35, and I wanted a career change that Joskos was able to help with. It’s most important where you have been trained when you seek employment, and Joskos is an excellent good school to learn from.

What I learned was important when entering my new working environment because I have these fresh skills that the other people there may not have.

After just one year, I’ve already been offered another position with another IT maintenance company in Essex for a starting salary of £22,000 where I will be working as a Network Administrator supporting a school in a team of 3 people.

I’d recommend Joskos 100%, and I’m happy with the service I had from day one.

Tim McGillivary

The decision to join was one of the better decisions I have made in my life.

Tim McGillivary Before Joskos I was chauffeuring. I had worked in IT quite a few years previously, so I needed Joskos to retrain and get back in IT.

The work experience here is fantastic. I did two months’ work experience and it’s led on to full term employment and I’m now the IT manager here at Joskos.