Would employers like what they see on my CV?

Discussion in 'Employment & Jobs' started by Karismah, May 16, 2008.

  1. Karismah

    Karismah Bit Poster

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    I agree. True failure is when one gives up.

    It is difficult to accept it took me so long to do something that shouldn't take so long, but I guess I'm just talking relative to other peoples achievements when I should focus solely on my own. Also, I'm just so apprehensive about potential employer judgements based on CV gaps. But again, the right "can do" attitude should deminish any fears.

    Next summer? Only if university allows it. Different university? Haven't tried that, though based on experience and university structures, not sure if that would be possible at all... worth a try I guess... Start from scratch? Now you really feel that it's worth starting from scratch simply to "not" fail when I can just leave it and still eventually succeed in IT? Is it simply so I never allow it to haunt me in the future? Obviously, the knowledge would not really be the issue. I can learn without a degree, but it's the achievement of the degree that is so worth it at the end.

    I guess this degree is more than just another qualification now. I guess it's more a personal obstacle to overcome and passing it will really be a true achievement for myself. Thank you for the vote of confidence. I have belief in myself and my potential, but sometimes I just feel I'm a dreamer because of my failures and not really meant to be up there. I didn't realise I can write at all, and I started to really have my self belief and worth etched away from me over the recent years. You seem to be able to motivate people very well with your positivity. Pretty persuasive too. So persuasive, you got me starting to think about potentially restarting a course afresh. Gosh. I hope another university allows me to do the final year with them. Would be amazing.

    I accept that and that is why I wasn't THAT worried about my degree, because I felt I could still do well enough eventually, though the road would be far more longer and rougher.

    True. Some things are out of our hands, but anything we can personally and physically complete is within our hands.

    Money is certainly going to be an issue. I'll just have to see. My tutor is the first point of contact. He's the departmental tutor and the main to go to for any problems. He is "the administration" per se.

    I'm beginning to think I need advice like this constantly coming at me in order to pursue things. Maybe I'm not as self-motivated as I thought. I usually go astray if left with me. Need to change that. First step to improvement? Recognising mistakes, it's good to see where I go wrong.

    I'll wait for university to get back to me. If they say no, I'll try other universities. If they say no, I'll think long and hard about the financial implications of starting a new degree. I may consider Open Uni. Either way, I'm going to make it.

    Thanks.

    PS: Boson NetSims are from your company right? Such a small world, only two - three years ago, I came across your software, and my employer and I were recommending it to many people, and here I am getting careers advice from the guy behind it all. Who would've thought that?
     
    Certifications: None
    WIP: A+, Network+
  2. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Ultimately, the choice to continue the degree is up to you. Do you HAVE to get a degree? No. Should you? Only you can answer that. If you don't, that's fine... the point is, don't beat yourself up over it if you choose to not get it. :)

    The good thing is this: either decision you make - whether you decide to continue or not, or whether you decide to continue the degree immediately or not - is a good decision. But make the decision for the right reasons. Don't decide to stop your degree pursuit JUST because you think you'll fail. If you must, stop it for a legitimate reason... fear of failure is not a legitimate reason. Discontinuing the degree because you don't think you need it to succeed IS a legitimate reason. ;) Know what I'm trying to say?

    Thank you. You wouldn't believe how many times people on forums tell me that I'm pessimistic... when actually, I'm very realistic. If I didn't think it was possible for you to succeed, I'd tell you so. For example, when you said you wanted to put the failed degree on your CV, I told you, realistically, what I thought would happen. I didn't fill you full of sunshine and happiness and wish you well... I told you that I thought you'd encounter a negative result.

    The thing is... I don't think you need someone filling you full of false motivation. You need someone filling you full of REAL motivation. You are helped far more by someone telling you the truth than by someone telling you what you want to hear (and to be honest, some people don't want to hear the truth). And that's what I attempt to provide to you and to everyone else on this forum. What do I get for it? Seeing you guys succeed. That's SO worth it to me.

    Far more? Eh, I don't know whether it'll be FAR more difficult, but it'll be more difficult. A degree certainly gives you a slight edge over your competition, just like certifications give you a slight edge. In any case, the first IT job will be the hardest to get. Once you get a little real-world experience under your belt, you instantly become more valuable and more employable. Real-world experience beats certifications and degrees. A degree shows that you can stick to a course of study and complete it. A certification shows that you have enough theoretical technical knowledge to pass an exam. But experience shows that you have actually DONE a job before... and thus, is *much* more valuable than degrees or certifications.

    Ah, gotcha. Glad to hear that you're going to the right source. :)

    THAT is what this forum is for, my friend. Encouragement, advice, motivation, direction. And not just from me. Everyone on this forum can provide something, with each bringing a slightly different perspective. As can you. There's someone - or many someones - out there who is experiencing the same thing you are... and your story is helping THEM to get direction. You may think you are the only one getting help with this forum post... but your words may be motivating others who are having the exact same difficulties you are. Happens all the time on here.

    So when you need something... post about it. You never know who will be there ready to assist... and who else you may be helping who is just too shy to post about their problems.

    Yep. And whether or not you ever get your degree... you're going to make it!!! You don't NEED the degree. But you don't HAVE to give up, either. See what I'm sayin? ;) YOU are in control!!! You choose whether you think it's worth it to continue or not. You make the decisions for the right reasons. You shouldn't let fear control your decisions. You should let logic control your decisions.

    Yes. NetSim is our Cisco router simulator product. I work on the ExSim product line, which are exam simulations - practice exams that show if you're ready for the real thing. I'm only one guy "behind it all"... there are several more of us behind the scenes, not just me. In fact, I arrived at Boson only a year ago, after being persuaded to join the company by a co-worker who used to work at Transcender, where I worked for a number of years. I've also been a network administrator for a number of years, so I've been in the same shoes that you guys are in. I know what you guys need to succeed, cause I've been there.

    I enjoyed being a network admin... but I enjoy passing my knowledge on through my writing even more. Why would I rather write? If I'm an admin, I help a company. If I write, I can help you guys succeed. That's worth a LOT to me. And... the paycheck isn't bad, either. ;)
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  3. kevicho

    kevicho Gigabyte Poster

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    Just a quick question, do the credits you received from your modules at least enable you to pass HND, with an option to finishing in the future?

    May be worth looking into, and then at least it wont look like you have nothing for all the hard work you have put in.
     
    Certifications: A+, Net+, MCSA Server 2003, 2008, Windows XP & 7 , ITIL V3 Foundation
    WIP: CCNA Renewal
  4. Karismah

    Karismah Bit Poster

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    Hi Kevicho, I tried that option but this university doesn't provide that opportunity. It's all or nothing really. Well for this particular course anyway. Would have been nice though!

    I now know what you're saying. It's all about why you do things that will ultimately define you and your future. I shouldn't kid myself. I know one should never drop something for the wrong attitude. Do the right thing for the right reasons, and however you finish, you don't need to answer to no one, even to yourself, because you're convinced inside that you did the right thing!

    Pessimistic? Far from it. This is exactly how I would expect advice and give it, no matter how I think of things for myself. It's funny how I can give positive advice to others, and when it comes to myself, I can't. Anyhow, sometimes truth is not the right option, but that's in other scenarios. When it comes to life or death, success or failure, what better way to appreciate and understand the options than to hear the honest truth? It's all well and good keeping me upbeat saying everything is smelling like roses, but truth can hit you, and it can hit you hard in life. I appreciate your motivation, and once again, if people think you're pessimistic, I don't want to know what they think I am at times. Hopefully with all the advice I receive from all you guys on this forum, a few years down, I'll write about my progress and my success from where I am now to where I am then. I'm sure it'd please everyone to hear they all made an impact on me and hence receive the credit they deserve.

    Glad to hear the emphasis that there is a great amount of opportunity, it's still up to me and that all is not over. Once I fully come to a decision on what I am going to do, I'll stick with it. Experience is always going to be more valuable, but how well that is recognised over qualifications lies entirely on the people employing us - some can see it, some can't. No matter what, we can only do ourselves justice and work hard and present ourselves well enough.

    The internets success owes much to not just the technical people responsible for it's infrastructure, but also to all the people who have contributed something. I've always found that a lot of you guys are so selfless. Whether it'd be writing up an article, giving advice, going out of your way to help give correct information, providing free things with absolutely no monetary benefit to you, etc. Why do it? Well nothing feels quite like helping people turn right from wrong. It's just the reason why the internet has flourished is the way it is today. If I was in trouble for something, i.e. needed advice or guidance, where do you think I normally found help? In forums such as these. People seemed to have similar situations to me, and I benefited from them. Likewise, it'd be my pleasure to help others and would hope anyone reading would have found something of it helpful.

    And I am fully beginning to approach this with the right attitude, thanks to all you guys, and Michael especially for a lot of your invaluable advice, time and effort.

    This thread has made me put things into perspective and see things clearly. Right I failed, but do I accept failure? Is there something I can do about it? What options do I have? Which choice is right for me based on my circumstances? Why am I really going for this choice? Choosing to pursue doesn't mean you've necessarily made the best choice, and choosing not to pursue doesn't necessarily mean you're giving up/failing. It's the reasons why you choose something that defines it as failure or not, and once you realise what you're doing, it's up to you to rectify it. And it's not about giving yourself excuses to make yourself feel better. Only you're the true judge of that. Be logical and critical with yourself and your options. Be honest. Do what is right for yourself. Each person could take completely different routes and neither can be identified as the right or wrong path because each is different to every single person.

    I've made my mind up. What's done is done now. I'm going to see what options are available to me, and make an informed decision then. Most likely my immediate aim is to get my A+, get my first IT job, work on the Network+. That's my plan for the rest of 2008. Oh, and maybe squeeze an MCDST (I seem to know most of it anyway). My degree, should I have an opportunity next year to finish it, I may well do so. If not, I'll see. Again, I need to ask myself why I decide for or against doing it. That'll keep me on the right road and in the long run stop me from blaming myself and beating myself up about it.

    Thank you all once again, and I've given reps for all the advice I found helpful, which is more or less all of them on this thread. Wish I could do more but it seems I'm not powerful enough :(. Either way, I hope to continue to contribute to these forums and perhaps help someone else and more. Thanks again, all the advice was just brilliant and I really appreciate it all.

    Lol, I was thinking your name is Michael Boson and that either it's your company OR that you started working for this company and your surname being Boson was a coincidence. I assume your name is not Boson. Either way, it's a small world. I love this website. I seem to be discussing things with people genuinely in the real IT world, not just people who think they know it all, or salesmen trying to sell me something. And what better insight can I get than from pros? Really, the more I read these forums, the more I just want to use it more, and more, and more. You guys have made it a painless experience in the beginnings of my attempts to enter the world of IT forums and the huge internet community.

    Paycheck? Hmm, I'm sure helping the likes of me and seeing me do well based on your advice is far more valuable than anything money can buy, huh? ;)
     
    Certifications: None
    WIP: A+, Network+
  5. Karismah

    Karismah Bit Poster

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    Hi,

    Just thought I'd update that my university would not allow any resits whatsoever, so my next move would be to get my CV up to scratch, get my A+ out of the way, and hopefully get a job real soon. I could think of a degree in the future if need be.

    Thanks for everyones help!
     
    Certifications: None
    WIP: A+, Network+
  6. Indo77

    Indo77 Nibble Poster

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    I was in this same position this time 3 years ago. I had failed my project and dissertation. I ended up repeating it and came out with a 3rd (they capped me at 40%). One thing I will say to you is that if the Uni will not let you repeat, you can transfer your existing CAT points onto another degree course. Normally degrees follow a certain CAT point weighting Year1 - 120 points, Year 2 - 120 Points, Year 3 - 120 points. Basically a degree adds up to 360 CAT points. The option is always open to you to collect the extra 60 points or so you need to earn an Honours Degree even if it's a BSc(Hons) in Combined Studies. Don't waste time starting a whole new degree course. Build up your existing CAT points and you could have a degree in a year. Contact the Open University about your situation.

    Read This
     
    Certifications: BSc (Hons) HNC
  7. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    If that's accurate, that's great info, Indo! :) Rep given!
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  8. Karismah

    Karismah Bit Poster

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    Thanks a lot Indo, very well put. I actually knew about this a while back during the earlier stages of this particular thread, and thought I'd contact some universities regarding it. I have contacted the Open Uni and other universities, and they all said that I would be eligible. I decided that since the next starts are later this year or next year, that I just leave it for now and concentrate on other things, i.e. my job hunt. But either way, thank you for the info.
     
    Certifications: None
    WIP: A+, Network+
  9. Indo77

    Indo77 Nibble Poster

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    It's entirely up to you when you want to do the top-up, the BSc(Hons) Open degree is always open to you. Just don't get down on yourself thinking you have wasted all that effort - because it's not a waste. Some Unis will even allow you to transfer credit onto existing specialised degree course (Computer Science etc.).
     
    Certifications: BSc (Hons) HNC
  10. Karismah

    Karismah Bit Poster

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    Thanks for that. That's exactly how I felt before writing into here at the beginning of this thread, that I've messed everything up, etc. They say when one door of opportunity closes, another opens, and I'm glad that I have this new opportunity to finish off my degree if and when I feel is best for my situation.

    Thanks again, everyone.
     
    Certifications: None
    WIP: A+, Network+

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