[James2128]

I'm an IT apprentice and I've studied IT pretty much all through my education. Primary School I did IT, Secondary School I did GCSE IT and BTEC Computing, then at College I did a Diploma in IT but I'm now I'm in the work place I don't know if its my ideal path.

The guy helping me in my apprenticeship is a bit of a ****. He doesn't explain things very well so I have to ask him how to do stuff and then he acts like I'm stupid. It's like he does it to make himself seem better. There's many other reasons I don't like him but I don't want this turning into a rant :P

I've been here for 2 months and over time I've gotten more and more annoyed with the guy, he puts me down a lot and because of that I've dreaded coming into work everyday.

Before I had my Apprenticeship I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I had finished college and got a part time job but wasn't sure what was next. My original plan was an Apprenticeship so I stuck with it.

A few days after my interview for the Apprenticeship I had a few days where I really didn't know what to do. Technology interests me but I don't get excited over the thought of an IT job so I asked my family for help and they sat down with me and asked me what I wanted to do.

My mum has always said I take after her where as my sister takes after my dad. I'm very caring, have a great deal of empathy and would be good working in care. Because of this I thought of being a mental health nurse and really liked the idea. I researched into it and I saw I'd have to go back to college again for 2 years and go to uni so I thought I should stick with IT seeing as I have the qualifications and experience.

I've also from a young age admired "heroes" whether they're superheroes or firefighters. I've often been tempted to be a firefighter or police officer so I could help people, I feel like my main goal in life is to help as many people as I can.

I had a meeting earlier and the HR person said I don't seem very keen to learn and I'm lacking initiative. She said that usually this is because people just aren't interested in what they're doing and said either I need to improve my behaviour or realise I don't want to do it and change my career path.

So I'm wondering, do I stick with IT or go to mental health?

I've got 3 A star A levels in IT among other qualifications and experience but mental health is so rewarding. It'd be a bit of a set back but I don't know, it could be worth it? Like I said (I think I did anyway?) I enjoy technology but I'm not like OMG I.T. YAY where as the idea of helping people makes me happy.

[hvert]

I would suggest trying another IT job before deciding to switch careers. The place you are at now sounds incredibly toxic and may be turning you off IT. Your boss is mean and the HR person doesn't sound much better. If there's someone in charge of sending people off to these apprenticeships (I have no idea how that works where you are), I might let them know that this is an unsupportive environment for a new worker. Of course you need someone to show you the ropes - that's why it's called an apprenticeship!

You can get ahead very quickly in IT (and most fields, really) by having empathy and wanting to help people. Could you get an IT job for now in an organization that's mental health related so you could scope out the kind of mental health jobs you might like? Or get a non IT job in that field to make sure you like it before you devote more time to school?

[James2128]

I was thinking I'll definitely work there for another week to make up my mind and if I decide I don't want to work there, I do know some other apprentices at my college who have switched employer so I may be able to do that.

It did occur to me earlier I might like IT and just not like this current place I'm working at. Multiple times in my meeting with the HR person, they kept saying "you're not at college or school anymore, you're working" which yeah that's fair enough but they act as if I'm a proper employee?

They said the last apprentice they brought on was just as good as the staff they already had there and they seemed surprised I wasn't. Do you think they were just trying to get a well trained employee with the wage of an apprenticeship? Seems like they were trying to exploit the system to me really.

I've spoken to my Tutor at college and I'm looking into alternatives to this current place so hopefully something does pop up

[hvert]

Yes, I think they are trying to exploit the system. They are supposed to be teaching you and helping you, not belittling you. Even if you were a full-fledged employee, telling you that the person who was there before you was better is a useless comment. It's just rude and mean, not constructive at all. This HR person sounds like she needs new career path herself!

Did they offer you *any* constructive feedback? Constructive feedback would be specific behaviors you could change. Instead of 'you don't show initiative,' they should be saying 'before you ask Joe how to do something, you should spend 15 minutes trying to figure it out yourself using Google or company resources like etc etc.'

I am glad you are working to get out of there. I'm in IT and not 'OMG, yay IT' either, but there are some huge advantages to IT as a career path.

[Vossie42]

Having a good fit with the company culture and getting along well with your coworkers are very important things as you're finding out. Sometimes they're more important than the actual job. I personally would try other apprenticeships before leaving IT entirely. If it turns out that IT really isn't for you, you can go back to school to pursue mental health nursing. Lots of people keep their day jobs while pursuing what they really love during their non-work hours. Lots of people have to work while attending school and, consequently, take longer to finish their studies. Or you could work in IT for awhile and save up money for school.

Another thing to think about is to take psychological tests to see what careers really interest you. In the U.S., we have the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory test. It can offer great insight to what you're interested in and why.

[James2128]

Thanks hvert, I was thinking the same but didn't know if I was looking into it too much. They didn't offer any constructive feedback at all. At first I felt very welcomed but they don't seem to help me at all really. Some of my friends are learning a lot at their placements but my bosses just seem to have wanted another person in to answer the phones.

I'm glad that you work in IT but aren't super excited every day, they said I should be but I couldn't see myself being like that

I think I will try another placement a shot, I could end up really enjoying it. I didn't realise there were tests like that thanks that helps a lot, I am very clueless as to what I want to do

[Katieissweet]

I don't think you really like it and you seem better suited to mental health and more excited about it,follow your heart.