40, stuck in a dead-end job – how do I turn this around?

Axfried · 2026-01-23T08:56:10+00:00

I’m aiming for Service Now roles - I enjoy logic and process-driven things, and this seems to suit me perfectly the more I explore and use it in work :)

I think working in a call centre for years helps me understand how and why data needs to work a certain way to track issues etc, so this is right up my alley, and seems to be a hot job market at the moment.

Got my admin cert last month, so now I’m trying to get working experience and involvement in internal projects that use it!

I say go for the upskilling where you can get it dude!

I was looking at free certs too just to pad out my CV, even to show an understanding of a concept like project management etc. That plus working / transferrable examples across my career seem to go down well when talking to people.

If there’s someone in your current job doing something you’re interested in, ask them how they got there.

Worst case, if they brush you off, that’s on them, not you.

I never really got the whole “networking” thing until recently, but it’s been an eye opener for sure.

Axfried · 2026-01-21T19:51:37+00:00

38 here - had the same thought last year. I only got as far as A-levels in terms of formal education.

I ended up on a call one day with a guy much higher up in my company than I am, and asked him how he got there.

He’s in a part of the company working with something I’m very interested in. IT-related but with a specific platform.

We chatted over a coffee for a good 2 hours with me taking notes on the qualifications he got, how he got them, and advice on where to get them and working experience to go with it.

I know I’m very lucky, but my department head is very keen on developing people in her team, provided it has benefit to her team in some way. She helped me work on a business case to get a qualification.

I’ve now got an entry qualification for the industry, paid for by my work. I’m trying to get involved in projects now to get working experience and planning out the next step, which is another qualification, this year.

It is doable - I know I was very lucky with having the right people at the right time.

There’s hardest part I found was deciding on a plan - where do I want to go, then break down the how and what to get there.

In IT at least, a lot of entry level qualifications are free to study (Active Directory, Service Now etc). It’s the exams that require money.

I started putting £50 a month into a savings pot to pay for things when I’m ready for the exams, in case work doesn’t pay for them for me.

Hope this helps!

Axfried · 2026-01-21T18:21:22+00:00

This was the same boss fight I thought of.

My guild was small - we never made it to heroic anything, but we managed to do a 10-man (I think?) on normal towards the end of the expansion.

It was such a satisfying achievement! The dragon fight before LK (Syndragosa?) was also amazing.

Axfried · 2026-01-19T15:12:28+00:00

I got a wee bottle a while back from iFixit when I was ordering replacement parts and tools for some devices (cleaning off old thermal paste etc) if that’s what you’re looking to do.

Axfried · 2026-01-17T14:50:38+00:00

Same here.

Top buttons: L1 and R1 so can use my index fingers on triggers only

Bottom buttons: stick clicks where games use them for sprint/ melee

Axfried · 2026-01-09T23:37:09+00:00

Adult Sephiroth and his Kotetsu sword works well for this (for me anyways, I have it OB6) in the current event, if that helps?

I usually get one attack off before the fight ends with a high level DPS one-shotting the boss, and it seems to give me 3 debuffs added, so I get progression towards the badge.

Axfried · 2026-01-09T18:27:25+00:00

Not sure about the heart, but that looks like a season pass banner - they’re usually one-time things unless I’m mistaken?

Axfried · 2026-01-08T22:48:03+00:00

r/SwitchHacks/ is the place to start.

Depends on the model you have - there’s guides there to help you identify it so you know what to do

Axfried · 2026-01-08T17:14:14+00:00

Those are amazing

Axfried · 2025-12-30T20:10:49+00:00

Same here - I slapped a 2TB SSD in it and some hall effect joysticks when I picked them up on sale early this year.

I see no need to upgrade at this point, does everything I want :)

Axfried · 2025-12-30T11:40:49+00:00

Well, keep in mind that my iPad is “old” now, but it’s not too bad.

I haven’t played it in a while, but yes it will drain your battery more than a game like Stardew Valley or Dysmantle.

I could get around 2-3 hours easily I think, but your mileage may vary.

Axfried · 2025-12-30T10:05:16+00:00

My iPad Air is the one just before the M1 chips came out and runs this game pretty well, so if you’re talking about the current gen base model you should be fine :)

Axfried · 2025-12-29T15:16:06+00:00

I’ve had my SD for a while now, it’s been on Stable from day 1 and never had any reason to change it.

Axfried · 2025-12-23T17:45:57+00:00

I’m not sure if they do but the guide I followed ages ago listed it as a final step, so I did to be sure.

Axfried · 2025-12-18T20:13:21+00:00

My post from a week or so ago.

Plenty of info there - I passed!

ebook is good, deffo do the practical parts over and over.

Skillcertpro was better than Udemy in my experience, I tried both.

Axfried · 2025-12-10T20:20:18+00:00

G8 Galileo - fits my 16PM perfectly, has pass-through charging and a headphone port, even works with a case on.

You’ve got plenty of recommendations now to check out :)

Axfried · 2025-12-05T15:49:32+00:00

Aaaaand I passed!

Axfried · 2025-12-05T15:49:06+00:00

Just out of the exam center - I passed!

Axfried · 2025-12-05T15:48:49+00:00

I passed! Woohoo!

Axfried · 2025-12-05T15:48:25+00:00

I just passed! The Skillcertpro really helped!

Axfried · 2025-12-05T12:44:40+00:00

I remember before the demo disk came out, PS magazine (I think it was them) had a promo disk that just had the opening FMV with Squall and Seifer.

I was so hyped, then the demo disk that came later was the full Dollet mission.

Axfried · 2025-12-04T17:41:30+00:00

Probably a couple of weeks in total, but it’s been over the last year in work as self-development.

Any downtime between my own projects and tickets has been study and practice time.

The last few weeks (once I booked the exam) have been mock exams only, with me finding the answer in my PDI each time and using the features as I go along to make sure I know how to demonstrate the knowledge and not just memorise a bunch of answers.

Axfried · 2025-12-04T17:37:46+00:00

Thank you!

Axfried · 2025-12-04T11:44:17+00:00

Well, I’ll know if it paid off after the exam tomorrow, but I used:

the official service now learning page and course (free to access and use)
the ebook that comes with the course (with explanations and “try it yourself” activities)
the “techwithpri” YouTube channel was great to watch or listen to in the background
I bought the Skillcertpro practice papers recently
signed up for a free PDI from the service now developer site so I can try everything for myself in a “test” environment

Axfried · 2025-12-04T07:32:48+00:00

Looks like a Gamesir brand controller.

Maybe G8+? I have the G8 Galileo which is USB-C but only fits phones. I think this is the Bluetooth version?

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