View Full Version : Any IT people out of work at the moment?
If you are, how are you finding it looking for new roles? I'm looking but don't seem to be having much success, despite having significant experience in decent roles for blue chip clients.:confused:
Whilst i'm not out of work, i have been looking.
To be honest, it depends on what work you want, and willingness to relocate to another part of the uk - there's quite a bit of work available in ireland at the moment.
For most, relocating is difficult though.
I used to do implementation & support of SAP/HPUX/Oracle running on Domes + bespoke apps on HPUX/Informix on K's/L's and N's + some M$ stuff when it was required + in fact anything actually, H/W or S/W that the landscape contained that was causing service issues. In my mind I could sort practically anything out given internet access/documentation although I'm definitely not a developer.
I've thought of relocation but I've got a young family.
www.jobserve.com (http://www.jobserve.com) is your friend in times like this.
www.jobserve.com (http://www.jobserve.com) is your friend in times like this.
Yep, I know but you've got to get past the agents first - although I haven't been looking for a few days as I'm doing school holiday duty...;)
To be a little clearer, I was paid up until Jan 2008 and took some time out as I got a good exit package and started looking seriously in Jan 2009. My previous team all got good roles paying similar money around March 2008 and I was definitely comparable to them but I'm struggling. I know we are in a recession and everything. I'm wondering if it's because I took a long sabbatical......?
muffles
13-08-09, 08:37 PM
Yep, I know but you've got to get past the agents first - although I haven't been looking for a few days as I'm doing school holiday duty...;)
To be a little clearer, I was paid up until Jan 2008 and took some time out as I got a good exit package and started looking seriously in Jan 2009. My previous team all got good roles paying similar money around March 2008 and I was definitely comparable to them but I'm struggling. I know we are in a recession and everything. I'm wondering if it's because I took a long sabbatical......?
Sabbatical could be an issue but if you're good enough otherwise it shouldn't be. We're doing interviews at the moment and if that sort of thing crops up it tends to look like you couldn't find a job a.k.a. are cr*p lol. Like I said though, if you prove you're good in interview it doesn't matter, it's more if you're borderline...
It sounds like your old team were lucky tbh, up until recently jobs were pretty thin on the ground. Opening up now though!
Im looking for my first IT job and its tough, only had one interview out of 10 odd jobs ive applied for :(
muffles
13-08-09, 10:24 PM
Im looking for my first IT job and its tough, only had one interview out of 10 odd jobs ive applied for :(
What sort of IT role & what qualifications/experience have you got?
Iansv II
13-08-09, 10:38 PM
Not yet, but think I will be looking next year, just waiting for my redundancy offer
What sort of IT role & what qualifications/experience have you got?
Just a BTEC national diploma with 3 passes, im just looking for trainee / junior positions at the mo where training is given, as much as uni maybe useful, i see no need for it neither can i be bothered to go through it all again.
Sabbatical could be an issue but if you're good enough otherwise it shouldn't be. We're doing interviews at the moment and if that sort of thing crops up it tends to look like you couldn't find a job a.k.a. are cr*p lol. Like I said though, if you prove you're good in interview it doesn't matter, it's more if you're borderline...
It sounds like your old team were lucky tbh, up until recently jobs were pretty thin on the ground. Opening up now though!
Funnily enough I had a quick look at www.cwjobs.co.uk (http://www.cwjobs.co.uk) and there are a few more SAP Basis openings although I was just talking to a ex contract team mate who has had to go to Nokia in Helsinki as there's no work here in the UK. He's just been extended to November but says that all hears about there is cut backs so reckons that's it for him after that.
I do interview well and am able to convey a genuine passion for my work and team working - its just getting to that stage, again. I have learned something over the past months which is not to put all your eggs in one basket and to treat every job as though it's the only one on offer.
I interviewed for an interesting (read scary!) if comparatively poorly paid role with an outsourcing firm and was told by them via the agency I was the preferred candidate, as well as having a really good vibe at the interview as they had been around the block a few times and seemed "real" people. At the same time I went for a role with a supermarket and after jumping through numerous hoops got to the last stage and became one of two candidates. I then had a day of being showed around and when I had a sit down with the outgoing contractor, realised that the job they were asking me to do was really noddy/narrow without the real scope/pressure of large productive systems, I felt (and then looked!) very glum so when I was asked at the end by the manager what did I think of the role I said that I would have to think about it - maybe thinking that that other role was in the bag. Of course I got blown out by the supermarket citing not enough M$ - although my instinct tells me different - then got told that the outsourcing mob had problems getting the project signed off!:mad:
I've also had potential employers not wanting to see me as they don't think I'll stay - because of my previous experience/salary - at least according to the agent.](*,)
Just a BTEC national diploma with 3 passes, im just looking for trainee / junior positions at the mo where training is given, as much as uni maybe useful, i see no need for it neither can i be bothered to go through it all again.
Like muffles said, do you know what sort of roles you're looking for? I know you're looking for training but there's loads of skills you can build up yourself if you've got the boxes/VM's and the inclination. Have you thought of volunteering somewhere to get some experience? What was the BTEC subject?
That is the only idea i have really a trainee, junior in any thing, tbh i dont know what i want to do, i want to do something and decided whilst im doing it and also at the mo, i just want a job, i suppose if any thing, as much as i may end up feeling like i want to hit some one whilst doing the job its a fixing / support / set up (networking etc) role as when i was 14 id did work experience with an independant computer repair man and i loved, building / upgrading / installing / setting up networks, ok these were in peoples homes, but i suppose, thats what i'd like to do even in a company, although ive said i really dont know as again i suppose i want to try other IT roles. My actual course was BTEC National Diploma for IT Practitioners.
p.s. hopefully some of that make sense :p
That is the only idea i have really a trainee, junior in any thing, tbh i dont know what i want to do, i want to do something and decided whilst im doing it and also at the mo, i just want a job, i suppose if any thing, as much as i may end up feeling like i want to hit some one whilst doing the job its a fixing / support / set up (networking etc) role as when i was 14 id did work experience with an independant computer repair man and i loved, building / upgrading / installing / setting up networks, ok these were in peoples homes, but i suppose, thats what i'd like to do even in a company, although ive said i really dont know as again i suppose i want to try other IT roles. My actual course was BTEC National Diploma for IT Practitioners.
p.s. hopefully some of that make sense :p
I think so. I saw this role today which looked like a foot in the door + time of for study/training, although looking at the JD, the IT content seems minimal even though it's based in the IT team.
http://www.jobsgopublic.com/jobs/apprentice-knowledge-management-edc1131/from/w4cn2i73y1604/9/of/19/opening_at/desc
muffles
14-08-09, 07:33 AM
Just a BTEC national diploma with 3 passes, im just looking for trainee / junior positions at the mo where training is given, as much as uni maybe useful, i see no need for it neither can i be bothered to go through it all again.
Fair enough, reading later on you are looking more at the hardware setup sort of stuff - I don't know much about that area unfortuantely! I develop software so I sometimes assume that's what people mean when they say IT :p
Funnily enough I had a quick look at www.cwjobs.co.uk (http://www.cwjobs.co.uk) and there are a few more SAP Basis openings although I was just talking to a ex contract team mate who has had to go to Nokia in Helsinki as there's no work here in the UK. He's just been extended to November but says that all hears about there is cut backs so reckons that's it for him after that.
I do interview well and am able to convey a genuine passion for my work and team working - its just getting to that stage, again. I have learned something over the past months which is not to put all your eggs in one basket and to treat every job as though it's the only one on offer.
I interviewed for an interesting (read scary!) if comparatively poorly paid role with an outsourcing firm and was told by them via the agency I was the preferred candidate, as well as having a really good vibe at the interview as they had been around the block a few times and seemed "real" people. At the same time I went for a role with a supermarket and after jumping through numerous hoops got to the last stage and became one of two candidates. I then had a day of being showed around and when I had a sit down with the outgoing contractor, realised that the job they were asking me to do was really noddy/narrow without the real scope/pressure of large productive systems, I felt (and then looked!) very glum so when I was asked at the end by the manager what did I think of the role I said that I would have to think about it - maybe thinking that that other role was in the bag. Of course I got blown out by the supermarket citing not enough M$ - although my instinct tells me different - then got told that the outsourcing mob had problems getting the project signed off!:mad:
I've also had potential employers not wanting to see me as they don't think I'll stay - because of my previous experience/salary - at least according to the agent.](*,)
Good luck with it - hopefully something will work out for you. Sounds like you've had a bit of pain already while looking!
Fair enough, reading later on you are looking more at the hardware setup sort of stuff - I don't know much about that area unfortuantely! I develop software so I sometimes assume that's what people mean when they say IT :p
Ive looked in junior areas of that as well as my course covered a bit of java, C++ and vb.net, as its something id like to try
muffles
14-08-09, 10:03 AM
Ive looked in junior areas of that as well as my course covered a bit of java, C++ and vb.net, as its something id like to try
Once you've got a couple of years of coding experience you can put on your CV you'll be in a much better position, it's that first role that'll be the issue unfortunately. Even grads struggle from what I see & they tend to get in through specific grad schemes which is the only door they have. At least, this is from my 'big company' perspective! It's gonna be a lot different at a smaller company I would guess.
Im looking for my first IT job and its tough, only had one interview out of 10 odd jobs ive applied for :(
keep at it.
Agencies suck ass, heres some advice how to deal with them.
Find job you like.
CALL them, start a conversation with the person advertising the job. They will ask you questions, sell yourself. Ask about the job, all the details not listed in the advert. Make sure they remember your name, they will ask you to send a C.V in. Boom, Doors opened!!!! Why???
Well, instead of just randomly sending a CV in, you've spoken to them, they know your name, they will look for your email (esp if you send it in straight after the conversation!!!). It puts your name in their mind. Rather than "just an email" they have spoken to you and your more available.
This way, it saves you applying for jobs your not really sure on, it gets your name noticed in the agency (so more likly to put you forwards). Also, sometimes, companies advertise directly, so sometimes making that call will put you through to the firm, and not an agency. Again, makes peopel aware of your name....
Keep at it fella, we all been there. During the "Twin Towers" recession, i got made redundant, and spent 6 months applying for jobs. It went from 1000+ jobs advertised per day, to 2-5 jobs per day. I ended up doing car washing and odd jobs in pubs to get my by until the market picked up again. My excuse to interviews was "i got made redundant, I had some money saved up, it was a lovley summer, so I decided to take 6 months off and enjoy the summer, work on my car for the show season etc" Never had any issues.
Keep at it!!!!!!
www.itjobboard.co.uk (http://www.itjobboard.co.uk)
www.moster.co.uk (http://www.moster.co.uk)
and do google searchs.. I.E I done, IT jobs in Kent, and found a load of Kent job websites.
Yea ive been to an interview with one agency who are doing all the interviewing for the job from what it seems, that was monday and im yet to hear back :(
I got my cv ontotal jobs and have looked on jobs in kent and kent jobs, i found the one i got interviewed for on jobs in kent but its no longer on there so im starting to wonder a bit, on monday i will give them a ring as that makes it one week and will ask them if they have heard back from the company
SoulKiss
14-08-09, 01:50 PM
Yea ive been to an interview with one agency who are doing all the interviewing for the job from what it seems, that was monday and im yet to hear back :(
I got my cv ontotal jobs and have looked on jobs in kent and kent jobs, i found the one i got interviewed for on jobs in kent but its no longer on there so im starting to wonder a bit, on monday i will give them a ring as that makes it one week and will ask them if they have heard back from the company
You are about 4 days late in ringing back...
You need to keep on top of them.
:pYea ive been to an interview with one agency who are doing all the interviewing for the job from what it seems, that was monday and im yet to hear back :(
I got my cv ontotal jobs and have looked on jobs in kent and kent jobs, i found the one i got interviewed for on jobs in kent but its no longer on there so im starting to wonder a bit, on monday i will give them a ring as that makes it one week and will ask them if they have heard back from the company
Ahh your in Kent also.
Yeah theres nothing down here at the moment, i've been looking too :lol:
Agency will have an "agency" interview, nothing to do with the job itself. Just a character check really. So they can put you on the system, and send you emails for jobs that have nothing to do with you :lol:
And you need to chase them up. After you've sent your C.V, its another phonecall to confirm they have it (when they "should" start talking to you in detail about your C.V). Then get put forward for the job.
Chase them up daily. I used to. They get fedup and will put you forward just so you don't hassle them anymore. You got to chase them as they are useless.
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