IT Industry

[Fergie87]

Hi,
I was hoping for some advice from IT professionals. I have been applying for entry level roles such as 1st Line Support and I am really struggling to enter the Industry. I am starting to worry I have left it too late.

I finshed a degree (BSc ICT with Law) in 2008 and spent a lot of my time working purely to fund travelling. With that all out of my system and beginning to settle down I started applying for vacancies. This was 6 months ago and i have still not had an interview. Have I left it too late? Was my degree choice too broad? Is there any advice?

Thanks
Fergie

[Brother D]

Why exactly do you want to work in IT?
What areas do you want to work in?

[Fergie87]

Brother D said:

Why exactly do you want to work in IT?
What areas do you want to work in?

It is something that I have always had an interest in and enjoyed. I feel like I have been out of the loop for a while though.

Ideally I would like to work in a support role with the goal of moving into networking.

[alock]

Fergie87 said:

I finshed a degree (BSc ICT with Law) in 2008 and spent a lot of my time working purely to fund travelling. With that all out of my system and beginning to settle down I started applying for vacancies. This was 6 months ago and i have still not had an interview. Have I left it too late? Was my degree choice too broad? Is there any advice?

If I'm being honest, 3 years of travel is the problem. You have to convince people that not only was this 3 years a good thing which provided you with many life experiences, but that this life style is also of no more interest to you and you are ready to settle down. This is a hard sell in a CV that will be judged in about 30 seconds.

Everyone who reads more than a couple of CV's a month will have their own list of instant no-no's. For me it's CV's written in the third person and excessive gaps (unfortunately for you, travel counts as a gap) in their employment history.

[Fittster]

Desperation tactic: Volunteer to do some IT work for a charity.

Employers in IT want people with technical skills but don't want to pay for training. If you can show you have experience (not setting up a product in your bedroom) it's a major plus.

[SeanyD]

I do a lot of IT recruitment, if I'm looking for 1st line support people, as well as formal qualifications, the things I look for are
1) A genuine interest in computers as a hobby
2) An active networker with the usual fb/twitter/flickr/linkedin/IM
3) Interests in consoles / online gaming / latest releases
4) Helping with friends/family/local businesses, ie hardware problems, setting up websites etc etc.

All of these are just as infomative as a degree, so maybe cover these on your cv.

The time-off for travel thing wouldn't bother me in the slightest, as long as its explained in there, and not omittted to leave a suspicious gap.

Hope this helps.

[khushy]

SeanyD said:

. . . 2) An active networker with the usual fb/twitter/flickr/linkedin/IM

I thought that the OP meant that he was interested in progressing to CAT5 type networking - not tossing it off on FB etc all day at the employers expense!!!

Although I have often wondered what an IT Manager actually did - maybe the OP is indeed Management Material too!

LOL

[Fergie87]

SeanyD said:

I do a lot of IT recruitment, if I'm looking for 1st line support people, as well as formal qualifications, the things I look for are
1) A genuine interest in computers as a hobby
2) An active networker with the usual fb/twitter/flickr/linkedin/IM
3) Interests in consoles / online gaming / latest releases
4) Helping with friends/family/local businesses, ie hardware problems, setting up websites etc etc.

All of these are just as infomative as a degree, so maybe cover these on your cv.

The time-off for travel thing wouldn't bother me in the slightest, as long as its explained in there, and not omittted to leave a suspicious gap.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply.

I wasn't aware that what I did in my spare time would be relevant.

I don't really have much interest in games consoles and computer games although I can repair the YLOD and 360 by reflowing and replacing the silicone compound.

I also didn't realise that employers would be interested that I repair computers and laptops for a spare bit of cash.

The only evidence that I have for setting up websites/PHP/SQL is my final project from Uni. Is this something I should include in my CV?

Thanks

[72EuropaTC]

If you want to work in Support, then I'd say prime things which people look for are excellent people & communication skills. When I've hired support people in the past those have been very high on my list.

Technical skills can be taught - being able to work with and get on with every ejit under the sun is much more difficult do, and even more difficult to teach/learn. (I've come across far too many technically strong people but, from a business point of view, absolutely cr*p at handling users - and then wonder why people complain about them and their attitude)

Think about how you can highlight your current experience (and the travelling) to highlight your people skills, your tenacity (did whatever it took to fund a trip to X = doggedly persued & researched a problem which a user had with Y) etc.

You'll start at the bottom but in a decent environment, if you're smart, you'll rise quickly.

[Fergie87]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have changed my CV and covering letter accordingly. I hope this works so I atleast get an interview.

[jammy_basturd]

Fittster said:

Desperation tactic: Volunteer to do some IT work for a charity.

Employers in IT want people with technical skills but don't want to pay for training. If you can show you have experience (not setting up a product in your bedroom) it's a major plus.

Doesn't have to be charity work - get involved in online projects (there are tonnes of them once you start looking), and also get involved with online communities (like Stack Overflow/Server Fault). Showing that you spend a lot of your spare time getting involved in things related to your would-be-job shows that you have a passion for it, and aren't just interested in taking home a salary each month.

Fergie87 said:

Hi,
I was hoping for some advice from IT professionals. I have been applying for entry level roles such as 1st Line Support and I am really struggling to enter the Industry. I am starting to worry I have left it too late.

It's never too late - if you're the right candidate then you're the right candidate regardless of age (my company has hired someone well into their 60s before). I imagine if you've not had one interview yet then your CV is more likely the problem.

[royceybaby]

Fergie87 said:

I can repair the YLOD and 360 by reflowing and replacing the silicone compound.

I also didn't realise that employers would be interested that I repair computers and laptops for a spare bit of cash.

I would consider this relevant and too important not to have on your CV. It is practical experience that you can actually fix things and should help you stand out from the other candidates,

The amount of people I have interviewed that did a course, be it a degree or other computing qualification, that wouldn't know the inside of a computer or how to solve a problem was soul destroying.

Royce

[SeanyD]

Another thing I'd recommend is take time to meet face-to-face with local IT recruitment agencies, get to know them on a first name basis, a good friendly local agency is always useful to know, and could be aware of whats happening in your area, who's good to work for, who may be expanding and recruiting.

[zaphod42]

SeanyD said:

I do a lot of IT recruitment, if I'm looking for 1st line support people, as well as formal qualifications, the things I look for are
1) A genuine interest in computers as a hobby
2) An active networker with the usual fb/twitter/flickr/linkedin/IM
3) Interests in consoles / online gaming / latest releases
4) Helping with friends/family/local businesses, ie hardware problems, setting up websites etc etc.

All of these are just as infomative as a degree, so maybe cover these on your cv.

The time-off for travel thing wouldn't bother me in the slightest, as long as its explained in there, and not omittted to leave a suspicious gap.

Hope this helps.

Points 2 and 4 are useful.
Point 1 - not sure - if you don't have (4) then maybe, but its not that helpful on an application.
Point 3 is okay if you want to go into the gaming industry, but not into the world of being an IT professional. At least I don't think it would help.

Charity IT provider would be useful. Out of hours - helping a local school maybe? All could get you a good reference, and might open some doors. Will at least give you valid work experience and something to demonstrate in an interview.

[MH]

SeanyD said:

I do a lot of IT recruitment, if I'm looking for 1st line support people, as well as formal qualifications, the things I look for are
1) A genuine interest in computers as a hobby
2) An active networker with the usual fb/twitter/flickr/linkedin/IM
3) Interests in consoles / online gaming / latest releases
4) Helping with friends/family/local businesses, ie hardware problems, setting up websites etc etc.

All of these are just as infomative as a degree, so maybe cover these on your cv.

The time-off for travel thing wouldn't bother me in the slightest, as long as its explained in there, and not omittted to leave a suspicious gap.

Hope this helps.

So that's why most 1st line support don't know their arse from their elbow!

[TurricanII]

Check out my post in this thread regarding applying direct - any chance this might work for you?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

A job advertised through an employment agency will cost the employer about 10% of your salary up front for them to employ you. £1500 to £2000 I presume. Apply direct and you are a LOT less of a financial gamble.

[Brother D]

Fergie87 said:

It is something that I have always had an interest in and enjoyed. I feel like I have been out of the loop for a while though.

Ideally I would like to work in a support role with the goal of moving into networking.

Again you really need to look into this, you do realise networking is the really proper geeky stuff analysing hex traces all day in support, and with the potential to make mistakes with huge consequences in projects, continual studying for multiple and emerging platforms, knowledge of protocols in depth and of course decent unix/linux/scripting skills ect for not much more pay than a helpdesk jockey? Most people think of networking as either connecting cables, or setting up a home router.

[Fergie87]

I got an update to make. I changed my CV and covering letter on tuesday taking on board the advice given here.
I applied for a few jobs on wednesday and today I got a phone call to say I have got an interview. I just wanted to say thank you to those that helped.

I will post on here how it goes.

Thanks Everyone

[JapFreak786]

Where about's are you in the country mate? I was in a similar position and now know of a 2 large company's that are hiring staff, though one is in the East Midlands (Derby),the other,in the West Midlands (Birmingham)

Good luck mate,do some prep on learning how to fix things yourself and expect random questions on computer ports like i had lol

[Fergie87]

JapFreak786 said:

Where about's are you in the country mate? I was in a similar position and now know of a 2 large company's that are hiring staff, though one is in the East Midlands (Derby),the other,in the West Midlands (Birmingham)

Good luck mate,do some prep on learning how to fix things yourself and expect random questions on computer ports like i had lol

I am just outside london (South East) but would be willing to move if its a good career opportunity. What are they looking for?

Thanks