After leaving school Mavis was keen to pursue a career in IT but ended up working on a Broadband helpline. 

“I was really keen on IT, I thought it was a fast changing, growing industry with really good career prospects and where it wouldn’t matter that I was a woman.”

She added, “My Computer Science degree should have allowed me to find a job where I could develop my skills and build a career but it never happened. After a year of applications, interviews and rejections, I was desperate so a I took a job on a Broadband helpline.”

Mavis explained it was only going to be a short term move, just to tide her over until she got her chance. That was 3 years ago and now, with bills to pay and a cat to look after, there’s no way out. 

“All hope is gone. I kept trying but they still wouldn’t hire me. Three years at Sussex, a huge student debt and I’m going to end up doing this shit for the rest of my life. “

“Things wouldn’t be so bad if the company invested in hardware and technology that worked, but they don’t. It’s cheaper for them to buy really crap programmes and have me sitting there, patiently saying “Sorry, have you tried turning it off and on again?” rather than get something fit for purpose.” 

“And as for the customers, really, there should be some kind of test before you are allowed to buy something. Most of them would struggle to use anything more complicated than a pencil. One of them wanted to know how to put a stamp on an email.”

“If it wasn’t for wine I’d have jacked it all in long ago.”