Frustration is increasing. Do not know what to do.

Discussion in 'Employment & Jobs' started by tech291083, Aug 13, 2006.

  1. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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    i grduated with a degree in IT last year and still looking for an IT job. went to agencies, gave my cv never had a call from any of them. applied online but never got an interview. i have now forgotten most of the basics of IT i learned at the uni. this is driving me nuts. passed the ISEB certificate in software testing last month in order to get a start in the software testing field but the agencies are still not interested me. can not understand what to do. days are becoming increasingly depressing. i still love IT but nothing encouraging is happening at the moment. applied to local companies for unpaid work experience. they all said will call you later but never showed any interest in the cv. people are saying that IT is growing and software testers are in demand more than ever, i do not feel that way. what is the point of going to the uni and spending 4 yrs studying the whole stuff. i m having tough time talking to my parents and friends as a direct result of my not getting the right IT job. half a day goes just looking through sites, just to make sure that i do not miss a chance. stopped working full time so that i can go for an interview but no interviews at all. help me guys this is going too far. feel like running away some where so no one can trace me. i feel like an idiot. a man with no talent. a burden on the society. any thoughts guys. i will appreciate any help.
     
  2. Boycie
    Honorary Member

    Boycie Senior Beer Tester

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    Tech,

    I can't really say anything that will make you feel better. There are lots of people graduating from University (in all subjects) and finding it hard to get that first job.

    Stick with it, keep focused and something will turn up.

    Best of luck.

    Si
     
    Certifications: MCSA 2003, MCDST, A+, N+, CTT+, MCT
  3. simongrahamuk
    Honorary Member

    simongrahamuk Hmmmmmmm?

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    You say that you're struggling to find employment, but what have you done to enhance your employability since graduating?

    IT is such a fast moving field that you simply can't stand still. By improving your skills you are showing to potential employers that you have the desire to be successfull in IT.

    Is your Degree the only IT experience that you have? have you not got anything extra that you could put on your CV to 'beef' it up?

    Like many others you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of not being able to gain employment, so you may be forced to look at something else until your 'door' opens. Many people find themselves in an IT Role by accident, I know I did, and once the door is open you have to keep it open.

    Good luck in your search.

    8)
     
  4. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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    yes, i agree that i should beef up my cv a bit and try to gain some more skills. that is why i did the ISEB s/w testing certification and now i m planning the ccna with the kind help of this forum memebers. i m also trying to learn a bit of c programming on linux laptop that has been lying around unused for quite some time in my messy room. c language, which i never learned at the uni as was not part of the syllabus.
     
  5. ffreeloader

    ffreeloader Terabyte Poster

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    Your resume and cover letter are the tools that will get you interviews. So, if you are not getting any interviews then start working on that resume and cover letter. And, never, never, send out naked resumes. Always include a cover letter. I have found that my cover letters have been the key to getting interviews even when what is on my resume isn't exactly what the employer is looking for.

    Your resume is facts only. Your cover letter is where you sell yourself and put forward who you are. Your cover letter will be read first, and if they like who they see there, then they will look at your resume to see if they can fit your skills into their organization. Naked resumes are death in job hunting. I have never recieved a response from a naked resume.
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCDBA, CCNA, A+
    WIP: LPIC 1
  6. Pete01

    Pete01 Kilobyte Poster

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    You can post up your CV/Resume up here so we can look at it. Take out your personal details before doing it.

    Getting your foot in the door is a common problem many people here are having and also one that many people are overcoming.

    Getting responses to your applications relies on how well you present yourself and how you communicate your skillsets and suitability for the roles you apply for.

    Post up your CV (minus personal details) so we can have a look.
     
    Certifications: MCP (NT4) CCNA
    WIP: 70-669, Learning MSI packaging
  7. mcshap

    mcshap Bit Poster

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    Hey.

    Sorry to hear this mate. I have the ISEB in Software Testing. I can say it has helped me get the job in a couple of software houses when I was the system admin there (there assumed I would do all the testing too).

    I would really reccomend doing the XP PRO exam and Managing 2003 server exam. This alongside your ISEB is more relevent to jobs than the CCNA.

    I would aim for MCSA then CCNA.

    I passed my ISEB first while I was working as a Software Tester then over a period of aabout a year got my MCSE2k3.

    I am now working towards the CCNA. I recently changed jobs and I would say the agencies are a pain. They read your CV in 30secs if that so get your CV right. Post it here and we can help.

    Experience also counts. How about doing part time IT work for free for Charity. Post an ad on Gumtree.
     
    Certifications: MCSE , MCITP, MCT, CTT+, VCP
  8. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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    hi mcshap,

    thanks for the reply. it makes sense to me as you are much more experienced than i am. if you do not mind i would like to ask you a few questions.

    1. i did ths iseb certificate because i came to know that it does not really require any programming skills and even non- it people are also capable of doing it after a bit of training. it that true? i have done very little java at uni and that is all i know about programming. i am not even interested in becoming a programmer.

    2. i have just started working for a charity in order to get some IT experience on my cv. i m planning to use this reference for my first IT job in future. is this the right way to start. i have been trying very hard but still do not have an IT job. the battle is still on though.

    3. in order to get a software tester's role at entry level what i should be doing according to your experience.

    i hope i m not bothering you. please help me.thanks.
     
  9. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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  10. Big.O.UK

    Big.O.UK Bit Poster

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    i know how you feel mate i am in the same boat however i graduated in 2003 and i couldn't find a job so i ended up resorting to my previous skill that is Automotive Body Repair and i did that for 3 years and i to have forgotten most of the stuff i learnt at Uni and now employers aren't interested in me since i am 3 years out of date ,and my knowledge is obsolete

    sadly that is the nature of the business and now i goto start all over again i was even tempted on enrolling on another degree course the other day because i was so frustrated.
     
    Certifications: BSc SDA,HND SWENG
  11. mcshap

    mcshap Bit Poster

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    Hey,

    Sorry for the delay mate, been busy. HOws the search going.

    The ISEb foundation cert is more a process and documentation type test. You know the theory of testing and how to wrote testplans. This is excellent , but I would agree that this does not make you a good tester and with training non IT people could pass it. I would say though it is worth the paper. I have a lot of people mention it.

    The Experience is always good. What sort of enviroment are you working in?


    To get a start up testing role, I would seriously look into the 70-270 and 70-290 exams. These tests would help for you system admin but also help you with setting up and installing test systems. Get experience of Vmware and scripting such as testcomplete.

    A tester does not need to be a developer they need to know the processes and specifications of a software and how to test if the solution meets the spec. I would write a testplan according to ISEB and do a couple of the exams. Put in keywords in your CV that agencies search. Vmware, ISEB, testing, standards, testplans, etc etc When you get an interview take a long the testplan as an example of your work.

    If you need any help email me or msn me. You will get there!
     
    Certifications: MCSE , MCITP, MCT, CTT+, VCP
  12. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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    Hi mcshap,

    Thanks a lot mate for the reply.

    You have solved some of my questions but i still have a lot of them in my mind as being completely inexperience in the IT field and just having a degree and a testing qualification is not getting me any where. i m trying very hard to get a start but nothing is happening.

    but i have taken a not of the fact that i should take a sample test plan whenever i get an interview for a tester's job. this sounds very reasonable and thanks for the idea mate.

    the problem is i have just done the theory for the test as you know and never actuall prepared a test plan even a sample one. so can you give me a few pointers as how i should start. once i am finished with it i will post it here on this forum and allow you to have a look and give me some useful feedback.

    i am also thinking about that 70-270 exam. i just had a look at this page and i can see a lot of microsoft qualifications there. which one should i go for first? if i do like you and go for mcsa 2003 then i need to pass a total of 4 exams as per the following link. right? please give me. thanks.
     
  13. Pete01

    Pete01 Kilobyte Poster

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    Hi,

    Sorry I haven't looked at the CV yet I've been in Germany - I'll have a look after work tonight.
     
    Certifications: MCP (NT4) CCNA
    WIP: 70-669, Learning MSI packaging
  14. Pete01

    Pete01 Kilobyte Poster

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    Sent you a PM about your CV
     
    Certifications: MCP (NT4) CCNA
    WIP: 70-669, Learning MSI packaging
  15. r.h.lee

    r.h.lee Gigabyte Poster

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    tech291083,

    Here's some advice based on my opinions:
    1. Rewrite your "Professional Profile" and "Objective" sections so that you aren't being egotistical with all the "I..." sentences, instead show the company what you can do for them.
    2. Reorganize the section of:
      • Technical Skills
      • Education
      • Professional Certificates
      to
      • Professional Certificates
      • Technical Skills
      • Education
    3. In your "Employment History" and "Work Experience/Volunteering Experience" sections, instead of "Date - Position - Company" try "Date - Company - Position." This may give the impression that, based on how English is read from left to right, that you place the company over your own position.
    4. Why do you have "Employment History" separated from "Work Experience/Volunteering Experience?"
    5. Maybe because I don't know about British employment law, but on my side of the pond, it is illegal for a company to discriminate against a job applicant on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin and stuff like that. Therefore, why do you have a "Personal Details" section?
    6. Why isn't "computers", "networking", "programming", and other similar IT fields not listed at all in your "Interests & Activities" section?
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCP+I, MCP, CCNA, A+
    WIP: CCDA
  16. Baron210

    Baron210 Bit Poster

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    Hi Tech291083,

    Briefly, I had to really struggle to gain a foothold in the IT world (My specialist area being hardware & configuration / troubleshooting).
    I took a long hard look at the "How to write a killer CV" section of the Certforums, and before I had revised my CV, and cover letter, I had applied to hundred's of jobs online (having already armed myself with three Certificates also - Cerco CCSN, compTIA A+ & network+).
    I wasn't getting many replies vs applications, so I totally re-wrote my CV and cover letter outlining my achivements, where I had saved money or hit targets assigned to me in previous employment and used my cover letter/CV to maximise impact and highlight achivements and reflect what benefits I could bring to a potential employer.
    I was fortunate enough to gain employment as a systems intergrator with a Local (but also global) company, and have had numerous other offers since revising these details, so please take heart and don't give up, but maximise your assets on paper, believe me, it will work.
    If you even considered volunteering, like I did at one time just to gain experience, that also goes a long way, and shows commitment.

    Best of luck Baron210 :rolleyes:
     
    Certifications: Cerco CCSN comptia A+ & N+
    WIP: Cisco CCNA (Aiming for CCNP)
  17. riaz.hasan

    riaz.hasan Kilobyte Poster

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    baron,
    before reading your post i had lost faith in cover letters, but i think its time i rewrite my coverletter again in order to get better response...thanx :)

    riaz
     
    Certifications: Degree, A+, HDA, MCP(270 finally!!)
    WIP: MCDST, MCSA2k3
  18. Pete01

    Pete01 Kilobyte Poster

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    Not sure if you saw my PM or not so I'll repeat what I wrote here:

    1. You're mutilingual - this is a HUGE advantage and should go in your professional profile at the beginning along with your certs. The first paragraph should have every single bonus, really start with a bang and hit the reader right between the eyes. Take into account that the reader will have a big pile of CVs to read through so make it easy for them to find what they're looking for straight off the bat. Maybe read something like:

    "Highly skilled multilingual (French/German) MCSD certified IT graduate seeks exciting role in an innovative organisation."

    In my CV I bold the 'buzzwords' that I want to jump off the page. The rest of this section is good although I'd word it a bit differently maybe something like:

    "I am naturally quick to learn, energetic and proactive, creative when it comes to troubleshooting and enjoy thinking on my feet. I have always functioned well in a team working toward common goals and deadlines"

    This will answer the 'teamwork' and able to work under pressure/toward deadlines questions.

    Then finish with something to say that you're raring to go and up for the challenge - I'll let you come up with that bit :P

    The objective should be geared to each individual job and not be too general:

    "I am now looking to build on my extensive range of technical skills within a suitably challenging role. I am keen to achieve further professional development."

    This is a bit non specific - target each job you apply for by using what they ask for in the job ad, focus more on what you can do for them rather than what you are looking for from the role. I just wrote a page about that here:

    http://www.first-computer-job.com/resume-objective-examples.html

    You have the skills and the motivation you just need to 'sell yourself' in the right way. The format of your CV is good, make it really start with a bang (all your strongest selling features right up front and in their face) and then make it focused and targeted to each job in the objective section -maybe tweak the intro paragraph as well if you think necessary.

    Let me know how you get on.
     
    Certifications: MCP (NT4) CCNA
    WIP: 70-669, Learning MSI packaging
  19. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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    hi r h lee,

    thanks for the advice. it really seems logical and practical. i have taken a serious note of what you have suggested and now i am working on a new and improved version. i will post it here once finished for some more suggestions. cheers.
     
  20. tech291083

    tech291083 Bit Poster

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    hi,

    i have seen your pm and also posted a reply to it please check mate.
     

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