AN IT technician and ex-soldier who spent almost two years searching for a job has launched a website to help people into work.

Adam Kilshaw, 36, served for 12 years in the Royal Engineers before being given a medical discharge after he was attacked in a Kent pub, leaving him with head injuries.

But despite being a skilled IT worker, it took the dad-of-two, from Bacup, nearly two years to find a civilian job.

He said employers were put off by his military background and he found it difficult to demonstrate his skills.

That led Adam, who served in Northern Ireland and Germany, to launch his CV-iTalent website, which allows people with computer skills to showcase their skills and work online to impress prospective employers.

Adam said: “When I was attacked, I swallowed my tongue and was knocked unconscious, and I had to be medically discharged from the army.

"It was really tough because I had a family, I was seeing a psychiatrist and I could not find a job.

“My dad was in IT and I had done some courses so I tried to follow that route but I think I went to about 20 or 30 interviews before finally getting a job.

“They did not seem to recognise my qualifications or think much of my CV and it was really, really depressing.”

Finally in March 2009, almost two years after leaving the Royal Engineers, Adam landed a job in technical support at South Ribble Council in Leyland.

But his experience inspired him to design and build CV-iTalent, which allows users to upload their work and point employers towards their skills and experience.

Adam said: “The website was inspired by my own struggle and I want to give people in a similar situation a chance.

“I am not making any money from it at the moment. I just want to help people out.”