Day 1 of New Year, What's the Jobcentre Got Then?

PasturesNew

ringo_24601 wrote: »

When i was initially hired, i asked and it wasn't available. 3 months later HR contacted me to let me know they'd just started doing it and it would be in my next pay packet. Result!

Just because you don't know any new technologies won't stop you, firms still do train people.. try this link: http://www.technojobs.co.uk/jobs/implementation-consultant

Sounds like you're putting unnecessary barriers in your way...

Read the link, why would somebody hire me to do the job when I've no knowledge whatsoever of any of the things on their list, when there are hundreds of people who do have the experience?

Anyway, this isn't why I started the thread really, it's gone way off at a tangent. And if I respond it turns into a "why can't I find a job" thread, which it isn't and never was.

PasturesNew

I'd have assumed that a Consultant was somebody who knew something about something big/expensive and really worked like a technical sales person, putting together methodologies and strategies to suit the client's huge and expensive needs.

What IS a Consultant in any of those job listings?

I'd expect an applicant to have a selection of: degree, specific industry experience, specific industry experience using most (if not all) of those methodologies/systems, recent/specific experience of the technologies and their implementation and use, understanding the technologies in order to advise the best to use and in the best combinations, been employed by a big firm before - doing an important sounding job using those technologies .... and that's just for starters.

Then there are those people skills, explain how you've managed people during difficult times.... for example. Describe and explain when you last used one of these technologies, what you saw were the benefits and discuss the issues you overcame in implementing these within XYZ environment.

DervProf

wotsthat wrote: »

and a touch of bitterness too - what a lovely combination

That bitterness doesn't come from personal experience. Well, it does in a way - when certain members on this forum insult other members by calling them "burger flippers" or losers on minimum wage, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Not so much the insult to the other member, but the disrespect shown by someone who obviously thinks that doing a job for minimum wage can be used as an insult.

I have as much respect for a checkout worker or someone who serves customers in McDonalds as I do a lawyer or surgeon. In fact, someone who is willing to do a repetitive, low skilled job for a low salary probably deserves more respect, IMHO.

PasturesNew

ringo_24601 wrote: »

But surely with 25 years experience you must know some industry sector well enough to move back into it? I had no healthcare IT experience before i got my current job.. i just saw an advert and went for it. I bluffed it a little in the interview and my previous job's experience was enough to get me in.

No, it's all been bits and pieces. Most jobs I've gone for have all wanted specific industry experience too. I can't bluff at interview, I can't tell lies.

Off the top of my head, in those years I've done: sales, installation, helpdesk, writing programming specs, liaising with programmers, training (one to one, small groups, classrooms), helpdesk manager, operations manager, data analyst, SQL server support, network (Novell and NT4), project coordinator, project assistant, project manager, project office, web project manager (elearning), online tutor, outreach tutor, internet marketing executive, PPC, SEO, web project management, managing digital image libraries.... I'm even a Prince2 Practitioner. And further to that, loads and loads and loads of similar/related stuff. But never for long - and not really for a fistful of years.

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Here's a really generic technical consultant one (ignore that it is in Cambridge).. basically needs Windows/UNIX experience and some programming - http://www.technojobs.co.uk/job.phtml/485060

I use to be a consultant, now i'm an architect

I have no Windows experience, nor UNIX experience, nor programming. I did some programming modules with the OU 15 years ago (wouldn't count) - and I've not even SEEN Windows 7 ever. The last time I 'supported' a Windows environment in a helpdesk scenario Win95 was new

It also says "Educated to a degree level within a relevant subject" which I'm not. I have no degree.

[Deleted User]

Want to swap my unix/AIX experience for that prince2 qualification? I've just applied for a job that needs project management experience and all i've done is lead a small team on small-ish projects using no formal methods

PasturesNew

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Want to swap my unix/AIX experience for that prince2 qualification? I've just applied for a job that needs project management experience and all i've done is lead a small team on small-ish projects using no formal methods

I paid for it myself, thinking "I've got years of PM experience but with the bit of paper I can apply for 2x the number of jobs". But I still only ever come 2nd at interview, for other reasons.

Usually it's been either [a] specific industry experience industry experience in the past 2-5 years [c] experience not long enough.

e.g. most of my PM experience is in banking/finance, managing rollouts and upgrades due to mergers/acquisitions and buy outs. Ideal you'd think, but "Oh, not actually done that for 10 years have you".

There'll always be something new they come up with, why you came 2nd.

I've actually had 'a degree and one blue chip job' trump me at interviews more times than I've had hot dinners.

alfie99

I learned the hard way that getting a Prince2 piece of paper is no help in betting a job. Really they should only allow people who have PM experience to go on the Prince courses. These courses do not teach how to manage projects!

olly300

PasturesNew wrote: »

There'll always be something new they come up with, why you came 2nd.

Well they aren't allowed to say you are a woman, you are too old, you are too young, you don't look like you will go drinking with us, you don't look like you will do x with us, etc anymore. So they have to make up dumb excuses.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've actually had 'a degree and one blue chip job' trump me at interviews more times than I've had hot dinners.

Don't worry if you have a degree and a blue chip job they will tell you that you don't have the skill that you learnt on your degree and have been using in different ways for the last x years continuously.

My friends' and I have heard some of the most dumb excuses ever for companies not giving us IT roles. However there is always someone - normally one of their competitors - who will.

In your case PN you have the advantages:
1. You are mobile and can live anywhere in the country
2. Don't have children or a partner so can work what hours you choose

purch

the skills needed for these roles are patience and most importantly front office experience

I'm betting that Steven Ewer on 0207 621 5500 hasn't got a clue what, index swaps, synthetic index swaps, intracurve swaps, asset swaps, deal payment, curve spread, butterfly, double basis swaps are, but he'll be able to bullsh!t for England :eek:

PasturesNew

olly300 wrote: »

Well they aren't allowed to say you are a woman, you are too old, you are too young, you don't look like you will go drinking with us, you don't look like you will do x with us, etc anymore. So they have to make up dumb excuses.

I find a lot of job ads very off-putting, so many say "working with a vibrant team" "to join a young team of like-minded ...." etc. I think "oh .... "

Nobody seems to want hard workers these days, capable of doing the job and cracking on with it.

olly300 wrote: »

In your case PN you have the advantages:
1. You are mobile and can live anywhere in the country
2. Don't have children or a partner so can work what hours you choose

They seem to have an issue with the fact I am self-financing and that I am currently self-employed. I don't "have a business", I make money, enough money to be able to choose which jobs to apply for. And I think they want to PWN me. So, I need a convincing lie about why I want a job.

I want a job in addition to what I currently do, in order to experience new developments in the technologies that I wouldn't have access to if I were to remain working alone. I want to be able to work on more important things than my own whimsical ideas. And, I'd like the 2nd income as my 1st income isn't enough "to live on" and enjoy hobbies/a life, but two incomes would be great. For most jobs, adding together the two incomes would bring me up to "average UK earnings", which I think would be great.