Follow Sam's and Mark's Journeys

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Mark Gibbons is currently studying for his A+ and MCSE courses with Computeach, which he started in September 2007.

Sam Long has just completed the Polar Challenge earlier this month after 17 days trekking through sub-zero temperatures. She explains, “I can’t believe I’ve done it – it was exhausting but an amazing experience which I will never forget. The feeling of having achieved this has made all the training worthwhile – even the ice drill! Everyone’s been so supportive – my friends, family, my sponsor Computeach, and my team mates – I couldn’t have done it without them. I’m chuffed to bits that I’ve raised some money for The Breast Cancer Care Charity – hopefully the money raised completing my challenge will help other women through theirs.”

Take a look at Sam's and Mark's blogs:

16.07.08

Mark Gibbons

Well, after four weeks, I’m certain this is the best thing I’ve ever done.

Everything about the job is brilliant. The working hours are 9 – 5, Mon – Fri with Bank Holidays off, and I’ve worked Bank Holidays and weekends since I was 16, so that’s 12 years! I actually enjoy getting up for work in the morning now. The only down side, although a calculated one, is that I had to take a big pay cut. I now squeak really loud when I walk. But, as you’ll know from my previous blogs, it was proving hard to get a job and anyone that thinks that they’re going to walk into a new career at the top or even mid pay bracket is dreaming.

It’s worth it though. I’ve come on leaps and bounds since starting here. I’ve been left compliments from customers, and had all my colleagues mention how well I’m doing. My manager said if I carry on the way I am, there’s absolutely no doubt in his mind that I’ll be on £30,000 within two years. So there’s something to work towards; he said I’ve brought a lot more to the table than he thought I would.

Because we’re a small company, there is no clear first, second or third line support. We just split the work between us, which is great as I get to see everything from not being able to set the homepage in Internet Explorer, to a processor that’s running one core at 100% for the last 3 months. It’s a really varied job.

My manager sent me out on site by myself after 10 days of being there, I was really nervous, but he said he trusted me otherwise he wouldn’t send me. It was a group policy issue for a solicitor in Solihull, Birmingham. After two hours I’d fixed the problem and was on my way home, feeling a lot more confident than I did before I went.

Also this week, the course registrar should be phoning me to give me my exam date for my 70-270 XP MCP. Once that’s out of the way I’ll be a lot happier as I can class myself as a Microsoft Professional which carries a lot of weight in the IT industry.

13.06.08

Mark Gibbons

I've just found out today that I've got a job in IT! Yipeeeeeeeee.

A company in Nottingham approached me after seeing my CV. They asked if I would like an interview and after I officially applied for it they gave me a slot last Friday. I was scared to death, I couldn't believe that after 25+ applications being sent off and being completely ignored, someone actually found me.

I turned up to the interview and found out there were 35+ candidates, and to be honest with an A+ under my belt and no MCPs I thought I was wasting my time.

I was absolutely amazed to be invited back for a second interview on the Monday, and found out then that there were another four candidates besides me (yes I am nosey in an interview). Three already had their MCSEs and one was one exam away from his. Spot the odd one out!

And then..........they e-mailed me and said I've got the job. Unbelievable. They said it was down to my personality, the fact that I'm learning so quick, and my experience in a customer related environment as a deputy manager for the last 10 years.

I'm now an IT Support Engineer.

Obviously I’m still going to carry on with my course. As part of my contract, I get a pay rise for every MCP I complete. Now there's an incentive as if I needed one! :-)

My first day is on Monday - wish me luck!

23.05.08

Sam Long

Well, I’m back! I can’t believe that it’s over already, after what seems like a lifetime of preparing for the race.

Sadly, one of my team mates got frostbite on his thumb and had to pull out of the race before we’d trekked to the start line, which was a real blow to our moral to say the least. After Mark dropped out me and my other team mate (also called Mark!) found it a real struggle trying to find the motivation to get started – it just seemed an impossible task. Once we did get started and set into a routine of walking, eating, sleeping and putting the tent up it was fine and almost became normal! It was amazing being somewhere so far removed from everyday life, it felt like me and Mark were the only people in the world.

It was amazing to see the finish line appear before us, we knew we were close but it seemed like we would never get to the end. It was great to see the tent and Polar Challenge flags appear and to be met with the best bacon sandwich in the world! It seems very strange to now know what it feels like to walk/ski 350 nautical miles; I couldn’t begin to imagine it before embarking on the race. I found it more of a mental challenge than a physical one in the end, but such an amazing experience. The sense of achievement is over-whelming.

It’s sooooo nice to be home! 5 weeks is a long time to be away, especially in such an extreme environment. One of the first things I noticed was smells and colours. Everything is so colourful! And my sense of smell seems to be more sensitive. Also to travel from -27 to +24, I thought I was going to melt when we got back to the UK! I didn’t realise, while still in the Arctic, how tired I was but since getting home I have slept a lot! I’ve also had a few more aches and pains since getting home, but nothing too serious and after 2 weeks of being back I feel pretty much 100% again.

I’ve raised almost £3,500 so far for Breast Cancer Care and I’m still collecting donations. I’m so proud of myself for finishing – it’s been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done but it was worth every moment. Thanks to everyone for all their support throughout my journey!

16.05.08

Mark Gibbons

I am still having a complete nightmare trying to get a job. It's real hard work trying to get past the recruitment agencies. A lot of the time the employer doesn't even get a sniff at you application form because the recruitment agency didn't think you were good enough. I'm finding it really frustrating, it seems like absolutely everybody wants at least two years experience. Makes you wonder how anybody starts off in IT really. Luckily, Darren from Computeach’s Careers team called me yesterday and I’ve since signed up to their fast track programme, which will match my skills and qualifications with a huge number of employers, willing to take people on before they qualify. Darren’s also offered to take a look at my CV and offer tips for interviews, which sounds like a good way forward to me.

This MCP is proving to be a real killer as well. NOW I'm struggling! I found the A+ quite easy to be honest, as I've been building computers for years and all of the questions in both exams were easy to understand one liners. The questions in this MCP are anything from one to three paragraphs long. They tell you the life story of the people involved and by the time you've read the question you've forgotten what it was on about in the first place. And most of them ask your opinion rather than a right or wrong answer. With the A+ it was black and white, three answers were wrong and one was right. In the MCP perhaps two or three are right but one's more right than the others, but at the end of the day it's down to your opinion.

I've done two mock exams. At first I got 68% (Shocking!) 2nd attempt (after some major swatting) I got 82% which I think would have passed the real exam (Hard to tell as they grade it in points) but the frustrating thing is I need to pass it at 90% for in order to sit the proper exam. If you fail the third mock you have to speak to a tutor. I really, really don't want to fail it for a third time! I just want to pass the real thing now. This feels like a major step to pass, but from the conversations I’ve had with recruiters, once you've got an MCP you carry a bit more wait with employers, even without the experience!

I've been short listed for a job in Burton-on-Trent which apparently means I've made it into the hands of the employer. Should be hearing from the Careers team soon too, so fingers crossed, I maybe just a few days away from my first proper job in IT...watch this space!

06.05.08

Mark Gibbons

Well this has been a busy month so far! Luckily for me it got off to a relaxing start with a family holiday to sunny Tenerife. I say relaxing, on the plane, on the way there, we experienced something referred to as wind shear, which is basically when the air craft drops vertically by about 1000ft, due to a sudden change of wind direction. Obviously this is a bit of a problem if you’re flying at less than 1000ft but luckily we weren’t at the time – still when the pilot made the announcement the terror in his voice was clear (that’s when you know things are bad).

Anyway, after a week in the Spanish sunshine it was time to return home and, after my experience with wind shear on the way in, having to take off in gale force winds was enough to almost make me adopt the brace position!

Within less than a couple of hours of being back home, and already suffering from the post holiday blues, it was time to pick up the books – no rest for the wicked. I’ve actually been studying quite late into the evenings to try and make up for the time lost in Tenerife. Work is getting a bit stressful too and it’s difficult to find the right balance. I’ve attended a couple of job interviews, since posting my CV on various websites, but nothing has captured my imagination as yet – it feels like a bit of an uphill battle at the moment but I’m sure Sam knows more about that than me!

01.04.08

Mark Gibbons

Have FINALLY recovered from the birthday bash. Back to the grindstone…..

Work is a nightmare at the moment and things aren’t great with my boss. In my annual appraisal my performance was rated as ‘adequate’ to which I objected, naturally. I’ve put in a lot of work over the past year and got some good results. As far as I was concerned, my performance this year was worth a ‘good’ at least. So I had to appeal against his decision with his boss. Talk about uncomfortable! Anyway, today he came into the staff room with his tail between his legs and told me that they had decided that my performance had been worth a ‘good’ and it had now been changed. I felt a bit guilty to be honest as I didn’t want to get him into to trouble but at the same time if he’s going to back me into a corner then he’s got to expect me to kick and scream a bit.

Funnily enough, my appraisal has a direct effect on my annual pay rise – it feels like the ‘adequate’ had more to do with that than my ACTUAL performance. Frustrating to say the least. Needless to say you can cut the atmosphere with a knife after that conversation.

And funnily enough the whole reason I was bothered about the verdict wasn’t about the money, but the fact that soon enough I’ll be having interviews with IT companies and I don’t want to have to respond with the word ‘adequate’ if they ask me how my last appraisal went. I’m fighting for my future job already.

Also talking of future jobs, I’ve posted my CV on four different websites in the last week. I’ve applied for one job and also had a company approach me for an interview. I thought it was time to start looking as I think I’m in a position to prove that I mean business now. Hopefully I will have this MCP under wraps soon, and to be honest, If I stay where I am for much longer I’m really worried that I might actually say something I regret! :-)

Sam Long

Less than a week to go - arrgh.

I’m supposed to be resting and eating but a mixture of nerves and adrenaline is making me more restless than anything! Blackpool was great – brought back some memories from years back going to see the lights. The Fitness Show was a welcome break and an opportunity to show off some of my skills with the flexibar!

All kinds of things are going through my head – am worried and excited all at once. But I do feel ready. I’ve trained hard and put everything I’ve got into the build up for this race. If I’m not ready now I’ll never be.

Wish me luck!

26.03.08

Mark Gibbons

I always go out on the nearest Saturday to my birthday, which was the one just passed........and it was a major man down situation. 28 years old and I STILL can't drink sensibly :-) Having friends like mine, (one who was an 18 - 30's rep last year) doesn't help though. They made me a dirty drink that made me see double before we even left the house! Great night though, I lost the last hour somewhere, I know it involved a hot and spicy pizza though. All I can say is thank God my girlfriend was with me, I could have been abducted by aliens for all I know!

In terms of progressing with my Computeach course, I’m over half way already in the MCP chapter 13 out of 20 now, so I MAY be finished in another three weeks at the current rate. Going to Tenerife next week so that will be a good rest from it all. Absolutely no book or work allowed. :-)

Sam Long

I’m currently on countdown. Two weeks today and I will be in the snow. We are all having lots of email conversations with team mates and ex-competitors making sure all the kit is in order and we have everything we need. I’ve still got to buy a few things, but nothing major. Mainly sweets and supplies! I’m off to Blackpool Thursday evening for the International Fitness Show, so will have a well deserved rest next week. Mostly plan on eating loads between now and the off!

17.03.08

Mark Gibbons

It has been a bit crazy recently. Last Wednesday I had a meal with some work colleagues including the CEO and some of the other managers. The next day we all went to Rockingham race track and thrashed the hell out of a BMW Mini Cooper supercharged, Lotus Elise, Ferrari 360, a Jeep 4x4 and an F2 car. We drove everything and the instructors kept a close eye on us from the passenger seat. Easily the best moment was after the warm up lap in the Ferrari. My instructor told me to drive it like I'd stolen it. I dropped it into third gear, floored it down the next straight and within five seconds we hit 110mph which was pretty unbelievable. Then we took the next bend at 90mph. All this, by the way, was after a lesson in the classroom on car dynamics and how they behave in track conditions under extreme speed.

It was a really enjoyable couple of days and but it’s back to work again now. I have an exam to study for!

Sam Long

Last weekend was another crazy weekend for me! It was more tyre-pulling again but this time in Hampstead Heath. Luckily I had the two Marks to keep me company this time. We had a really good catch up and managed to plan who was looking after what. We also discussed tactics, and how we are going to focus ourselves when things get tough, and general communication throughout the race really. It was really beneficial!

On Monday I went to Roberts Primary School to give an assembly to the pupils. It was good to talk to the children regarding the challenge and they had loads of interesting questions for me. They seemed to be very interested in my equipment. They kept asking why I needed so much equipment. I explained to them that there would be a lot of snow and ice where I was going and it would be very cold!

Last week I had been feeling a bit apprehensive about the whole thing but talking to the kids has really lifted me up.

10.03.08

Mark Gibbons

I was really chuffed with passing my most recent exam, however, I have received the vast amount of information for my next one! I am now studying for an MCP in Windows XP Pro. I spoke to my tutor and he gave me some guidance, but I am quite concerned about this exam as I am having to work late in my job at the moment.

While the previous technician exam was a little more difficult, this exam has a lot more information I have to learn and remember. I am usually better when I understand the concept behind something rather than recalling facts from memory. There seems to be no way around it but just sitting down and learning it straight out of the book. Network security and protocols are going to be hardest to remember.

The weather is pretty horrendous as well! I don’t look forward to driving back home from work in the rain just so I can hit the books at home. Still, I am going to give it my best shot as I always do.

Sam Long

My weekend in Brean Sands was fantastic. It really brought it home to me that I am really going to do this. The date for departure is drawing closer and closer. No turning back now! I invested a lot in this I hope that I am able to rise to the challenge.

I am really looking forward to going on this journey but I am also feeling the pressure of it. I have trained so hard but you can never know what the real experience will be like. What if something unexpected happens and I can’t go? I have all of these thoughts in my mind at the moment but I am going to stay positive whatever happens.

Sometimes I wonder what it will be like a couple of weeks into the challenge. Gosh it’s going to be really demanding but also fun I hope. I have been issued with the maps of my route and I can’t believe how long it looks. People are complaining about weather in the UK at the moment, but this is nothing compared to the harsh conditions I will be facing. I may also encounter some hostile polar bears on the way too, though we have been issued with shotguns should we come across them!

29.02.08

Mark Gibbons

I've passed another exam! For this one I needed 700 to pass and I got 850. I'm pretty chuffed considering the maximum mark was 900. I feel like I've really achieved something as this was a Comptia A+ Technician and was one of the exams I was most worried about. All those nights learning about a computer architecture and hardware were not in vain! Happy days!

I am certainly looking to put my new skills into practice. In fact, the computer network was playing up at work. I think it might have been caused by the earthquake we had a couple of days ago! Thankfully, I managed to fix it quickly without calling the IT support company. Looks like they might be out of a job soon! It’s quite difficult at work at the moment as it’s coming up to Easter. It gets quite busy at this time. Anyway, onwards and upwards. I have got another exam to study for, the MCP exam in Windows XP Pro. This exam focuses more on software than hardware.

I wonder how Sam is getting along with her training. Haven’t spoken to her in while. Hopefully we’ll be able to have a catch up when we both have a free moment.

Sam Long

I met up with my polar challenge team, Mark Priest and Mark Jurgens, the other day for some training (as if I don't have enough Marks in my life at the moment!). They have some great experiences between them, including hill walking and marathon training. I am grateful that I have two fitness fanatics on my team!

Talking of fitness, I am very much looking forward to this weekend as I get to go Brean Sands in Somerset for a Fitness Fiesta. The Marks told me not to be fooled by the name and the location! It’s going to be tough! I am sure I can handle it though after all the tyre-pulling and it will be great to put my new skills into practice. I am looking forward to getting this under my belt as it will include Body Pump, Flexi Bar, and Spinning classes, which will be a great way to further my experience. I am just praying that no earthquakes happen this weekend while I’m training!

18.02.08

Mark Gibbons

It’s incredible how quickly this year is going already – the middle of February and another exam looms at the end of the month. I always start to get the jitters when I’m a couple of weeks away from sitting an exam and it hasn’t helped recently in that I’ve got some issues at work that I’ve been dealing with. And as I’ve mentioned, it doesn’t help with the concentration I need for my course.

My study routine is settling down nicely now, I get home from work; spend some time with my family catching up on the day’s news and then once the little one is in bed, I sit down to study. I’m managing to get around three hours of swotting a night done at the moment, not bad for someone who was not really interested in school at the best of times!

I just need to stop dreaming about hiring people who have a CompTIA A+ to work in the shop and then spending my time quizzing them about operating systems and diagnostics…….it’s a mad world…..

Sam Long

Well, the tyre-pulling was exhausting! I am amazed how many people waved, smiled, or even stopped to ask me what I was doing. It took me one hour and fifteen minutes to walk the five miles to work, which is not too long and it means that I am on the verge of training three hours a night. It’s not all tyre-pulling, but a combination of different types of exercise and muscle building, especially in those places I never knew muscles existed!

We also got confirmation of our departure dates and times this week, eek! We depart from Heathrow on 08 April, so just about six weeks to go before I set off for the Arctic….. The time seems to be disappearing more quickly than I had anticipated but there’s still much to do before I go. I’m off to learn how to use a shotgun this weekend, just in case we come across any polar bears – now that will be a challenge!

04.02.08

Mark Gibbons

So I finally got to meet Sam last week, it was so weird actually seeing someone who I’ve been in contact with, but don’t really know. I had wondered if my challenge would be down right dull compared to Sam’s, but it turns out that we have a lot more in common than I imagined!

I was really surprised to hear that she is in IT herself; she’s a project manager for a company that develops technology systems for the training industry. It seems that working in the IT business is good fun (!), visiting customers, developing staff, as well as knowing that the technology actually helps business or individuals.

We found out that we both spend the same amount of time studying/training every day, as well as the focus we need to stop ourselves thinking about our respective challenges while doing our day jobs, but more on that later.

I’ve got the next lot of exams at the end of the month, so I’m knuckling down with the coursework, but it was lovely to meet Sam and chat about what’s in store for the next couple of months….

Sam Long

Meeting up with Mark was great – we met in a pub, just outside Derby and had a great night. I am amazed that he has the self-control and willpower to do his Computeach course, I would never attempt to do anything like that, it just seems like far too much hard work!

Found out that Mark had been in the Army Cadets a few years ago, so he did some of the physical training courses that I’ve done, including some snow training! It’s a relief that he appreciates and understands the training I’m going through – you don’t meet many people that have done anything as extreme as this, although he said that there was no way he’d undertake my challenge…

Isn’t it odd that neither of us would do the other’s challenge, yet the training, the pressures and the excitement is relatively similar?

If you live Cheltenham way then look out for me over the next few weeks – my extreme training includes pulling a tyre to and from work!

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28.01.08

Mark Gibbons

Blimey, I’ve passed my exam! I needed 675 points to pass and achieved 770. Nailed it! I’m so pleased….it’s another step nearer to moving away from the job I’ve got at the moment – it’s been such a stressful time at the place recently, the only way to keep myself going is knowing that it won’t be for much longer – I can’t wait. Christmas is the worst time in retail, the challenge of getting stock levels rights, ensuring customers are happy, ensuring staff are happy; the list continues.

A constant challenge for me is switching off from work to concentrate on my studies, sometimes I end up thinking about staff when I should be thinking about programming languages and other times I’m walking around the shop thinking about protocols rather than stock! Oh well, onto the next book – it’s as big as the last. Another three-incher!

Sam Long

I am so tired, but ecstatic. I’ve got through the Norway training and am bang-slap in reality again. Working full-time and training for the challenge is not easy, but as we leave at the beginning of April, I need to continue to make time for training – and that’s not easy! I’ve got so many meetings with customers in the next week or so, that I’ve decided to pull an old car tyre to work, not all the way ;-) but the last five miles into Cheltenham. I feel like a mad-woman – what am I going to look like to passers by? Maybe they will stop and ask…

Norway was an experience; a two-day intensive training period as soon as we got there and then camping on the ice for five days. The biggest challenge was the ice drill: dressed in just thermals and a jacket we had to jump into ice water and then jump out again!

Meeting up with Mark next week for a drink – can’t wait to see him and swap stories, I have a feeling we’ll have quite a lot in common….

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11.01.08

Mark Gibbons

So… my first Computeach exam is Tuesday – the first part of the A+ is the first exam I’ve had since I left school. I’m spending my time cramming, it’s so bizarre doing this after all these years, but I really want to pass it. How on earth do you remember the boring stuff? What did I do at school to remember it all? Scuzzi connectors have become a map of the UK in my mind – motorways, A-roads, B-roads; a logical way to remember these facts, I hope. And so many facts to remember, I wonder if they are all going to be useful when I start my new career?

Sam’s in Norway now – I’m sure the intensity of her time is completely different from mine, I would imagine, mainly physical, rather than mental; but just as challenging.

Anyway, back to the revision…...

Sam Long

I’m currently on a mini training expedition to Norway! Polar Challenge hasn’t divulged any further details yet, but from experience; we will spend two days having lectures, putting up tents, preparing pulks, preparing food for five days camping. This will consist of chopping up salami, cheese, chocolate and bagging our daily rations.

Then I expect days of hard skiing training, putting up tents each evening, camping in
-15c, packing away every morning for more trekking, some GPS training, some cross-country ski track training, some hill work, etc. We’ll have a few mini-exercises to do, a day maybe skiing up a rather large hill/small mountain. One GPS exercise – may be a race in teams to find a number of co-ordinates, and an object that is at that co-ordinate. We’ve done one-ski football and mogul races on ski’s before, so there might be something fun like that taking place as well.

At the end of the expedition there will be the ice-drill – jumping in a frozen lake! Back to the hotel for one night (fancy dress party) and then home.

I’ll let you know more about the training on my return…..

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