What skills gap is in your industry?

[Ihatecoding]

Just pondering if at the age of 36 - I can retrain somehow.

I was just wondering which roles / skills are difficult to recruit for?

My experience is back end IT / coding and analytics. I hate it and there's redundancies left right and centre. Since being made redundant I dabble in marketing for SaaS which is nice but a bit too frivolous for my liking.

I'd like a computery in office role. Medical coder looks amazing but the local NHS have no training or openings available.

Despite being a developer I'm absolutely shit at maths.

Cyber security. Dry as shite but well paid

Oh and I'm an empathetic person who cares deeply about people.

I did attend an NHS Recruitment Day but they said there's nothing available for my skillset as I've had no health or social care experience

1. Could medical coding be done remotely? Try contacting NHS Trusts in expensive cities who will be struggling to get staff.

1. If you're a developer but not a mathematician, maybe something with lots of problem solving - train as a project manager?

1. I don't know what SaaS is but if you enjoyed marketing maybe pursue that with a view to finding something to market that you think is worthwhile?

This.

Would you do an admin role in NHS to get your foot in the door? I'm waiting for a start date for an NHS admin job, having worked in private sector IT for the last 20 years.

I've looked into cyber security but my LinkedIn network is full of 1) a huge gender pay gap has been uncovered 2) burnout and 3) redundancies

So I'm not convinced just yet. Maybe once the dust has settled I'll look into it (I'm qualified in cyber security too!)

@FloralShirt yes I absolutely would! But my local NHS Recruitment Day thingy was so disappointing. They said I have no relevant skills (despite being amazingly technical and can pick up new software quickly!)

They said I have no experience in the health sector and they would prefer applicants who did (maybe care home staff who want to become admin)

I need good pay. I need to be happy first and foremost.

@PermanentTemporary Great idea! I'll look into project roles as I have Agile and Scrum qualifications but never used them. I was pushed to do the CPD but then didn't need it!

I need good pay. I need to be happy first and foremost

Should say I DONT need good pay.

The Recruitment Day sounds shite. I work in a Trust that is screaming for staff in all teams. As a bright, interested person with a significant work history, we need you. Frankly they should have been gripping your arm in an unsettling manner and trying to get you to sign something.

Tbh I think you need to bypass NHS HR (apologies to NHS HR people on here).

Look at Health Jobs on trac and note anything of interest. Try Research Coordinator roles - you need to be organised and interested and it's not terrible money. Again strong potential to do the job remotely imo. Then look for the phone numbers offered for 'informal chats' and start ringing people.

[[https://www.trac.jobs www.trac.jobs/

Jobs like this one are what I was thinking of. I don't work for this Trust and no idea what they are like.

That is very strange that they insist on healthcare experience! I have absolutely no healthcare experience and it wasn't an issue at all for getting the admin job I'm about to start. I wasn't even asked about it.

If you haven't already, I would suggest checking for vacancies in your local trust anyway and reading the person specification to see how your experience fits. You might find that hiring managers for specific posts feel differently to the people you spoke to at the recruitment day.

@PermanentTemporary it was so shite. And I specifically asked about clinical coding because they had a pull up banner saying "we need clinical coders" 😂 when I asked for info the woman said "ew, why would anyone want to do that role?"

It was the weirdest experience I've ever had!! I'll have a look at Trac, thanks!

I just checked Trac and there are 38 roles within 5 miles of my house that would be suitable!!!

I'm in shock. They're all IT / Project roles

@PermanentTemporary OK so I have a few roles to apply for! What is the referencing like? I read another thread that said the NHS wanted a professional reference even if you've had periods of unemployment.

I've been made redundant so I'll need to provide a reference to cover that period (a few months!)

Can I use my friend who is a doctor at the same hospital?

Recruitment day sounds beyond dire.

Yay!! Honestly my experience with NHS HR is to jump through hoops if you have to but only if you HAVE to. Get references to cover your previous 3 years of experience, so I would guess your previous manager there. Then do you have someone like a course leader from the project management course? Or the doctor sounds fine too. Don't worry too much about it.

DO ring up for a chat with anyone who offers that on the job advert. Maybe ask if you can visit (obviously not for all 38!)

If you have time after you get a new job... do consider writing to someone about the terrible Recruitment Day. Suggesting that care home staff would be the best candidates for NHS admin jobs because of, erm reasons, is disrespectful both to skilled care staff and skilled admin staff, and it's completely untrue. And saying that about clinical coding work is just incredible.

Best of luck.