Looking for positive advice on job hunting.

[Deleted User]

Have you joined Linkedin? I've been contacted by so many recruitment firms via that site its crazy

Also - phone back, don't just sit and wait to be contacted

tzzt123

Hi All. Thank you for amazing support ! This is all really nice of you guys.

@Ringo_24601: I have joined linkedin. Sending applications and making contacts with HR people on a regular basis.

@Nina_Swiss: Yes. I have experience in different areas of IT: Software development, QA, Social Media, Technical Support (in different levels) Team leading.

Your advice is actually really good. Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I've been learning new skills I'm interested in as well even though I haven't put them on my resume - at least until I feel more confident.

What I have done so far is wrote a few versions of my resume, focusing on different areas of my experience, but yes, I do tweak them even further when I apply for jobs I really want. The rest of it is tons of recruiting agencies calling me pretty much asking the same questions and promise they would push forward even though I know nothing about the job.

@Fluff15: I usually look for jobs in Basingstoke, Reading, Southhamton, London, but at this point, if someone offers me a job in NewCastle, I'd probably say yes.

I also paid someone to rewrite my resume to match the British format, that was a while ago.

@Growurown: I just contacted them and they said I could speak to Sarah Robinson tomorrow, so maybe !! who hooo!!!

@Fedup_2007: Tell me about it.............. I can't figure out why a multinational computer entertainment company with products in almost every house in the word, cannot email back someone who has actually been on an interview. If I wasn't shortlisted for an interview - meh. but at this point........ email is free. And it would be unprofessional if I POST their names online.


@browneyedbazzi: Have tried temp agencies here in Basingstoke, most of them said I was overqualified for PR jobs they have. Having a degree is a problem I guess if you want to be doing data entry. But I am going to go there again today. Like the Zohan!

Yes

Idiophreak

I work in IT in the south east and have never struggled to get work - there are normally a fair few jobs in reading, oxford, slough, london, etc - in fact, at my last job we really struggled to find good people...So, bluntly, maybe you're doing something wrong?

Do you have any friends or acquaintances that could give your CV the once over? It's easy to get too close to these things and not see obvious issues.

How do you think you've done in interviews? Have there been technical portions?

Have you uploaded your CV to all the sites? And made them searchable? As NinaSwiss suggested, the trick's to include the key words that the agent's going to be searching on...remember that recruitment agents have the easiest job in the world...Someone says "we need a .net developer", they type ".net developer" in to a search box, cut the address off the top of the CV then expect their 20% or whatever - they really are SUPERLAZY, so make your CV easy for them to find.

Do you have transport? I know quite a few major employers that aren't *too* easy to get to by public transport - and I've come across a fair few that aren't keen on people who "have to catch the bus" every evening...

Have you thought about trying to make some money for yourself while you're looking? App development and stuff like that can bring a bit of money in without too much effort if your coding's solid.

tzzt123

@Idiophreak: Everybody I meet says the market around here is saturated, but, if the situation is as you describe, I must be doing something wrong, or not doing something, at least, which is why I started this post

I don't have acquaintances who could give my CV, I mean at least no in potential companies. I am actually really social, but it's been quite difficult.

I think I get a little nervous in interviews. At least some of them. The technical part is less than a problem for me, but I've gotten there probably only once and they never returned a call or email. I do need interview experience, if had some, I would have probably been less frustrated.

I upload my CV from time to time as I keep it updated and I assumed recruiters or companies look at newer CV. That advice about the keyword is great !

Transport, yes. I don't have any. I have a US licence, but I can't use it here and now I have to do the whole thing again, and I kept postponing it until I have a job, since it could be expensive. Maybe that's the reason why they never returned a call... they did ask me how I got to London and I told them... train, 45 minutes, 15 minutes extra for the subway, another 10 minutes to walk

And yes, I have actually started looking for places who could use my skills on a freelance mode. Actually did some !!

Idiophreak

tzzt123 wrote: »

I don't have acquaintances who could give my CV, I mean at least no in potential companies.

Sorry, I just meant do you know anyone that could look at the CV and tell you if there's anything missing, if the layout looks good etc - doesn't have to be a potential employer, just anyone you know that's got a good eye for detail.