Been looking for a year now

[RedRose123]

I have been looking for a job for nearly a year now. I work in IT which has been one of the hardest hit sectors. I have been doing some voluntary work and have been updating some of my IT skills. Please can others in the same situration tell me what they are doing with all their spare time?

I am running out of things to do now and need some ideas.

Thanks,


RedRose123.

wq!

Edited by RedRose123 on Friday 29th January 10:52

[Hedders]

RedRose123 said:

I have been looking for a job for nearly a year now. I work in IT which has been one of the hardest hit sectors. I have been doing some voluntary work and have been updating some of my IT skills. Please can others in the same situration tell me what they are doing with all their spare time?

I am running out of things to do now and need some ideas.

Thanks,


RedRose123.

wq!

A word of warning, if you are currently on JSA, I am pretty sure doing voluntary work is not allowed.

[RedRose123]

Hedders said:

RedRose123 said:

I have been looking for a job for nearly a year now. I work in IT which has been one of the hardest hit sectors. I have been doing some voluntary work and have been updating some of my IT skills. Please can others in the same situration tell me what they are doing with all their spare time?

I am running out of things to do now and need some ideas.

Thanks,


RedRose123.

wq!

A word of warning, if you are currently on JSA, I am pretty sure doing voluntary work is not allowed.

You can, I asked at the JS and just checked on the Internet, as long as you are not commiting yourself to a contract its fine -

You can volunteer for as many hours as you like while you're claiming Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA), as long as you are still actively seeking work and you aren't legally obliged to volunteer. If any potential jobs that you're suitable for come up, you will need to prioritise them over your voluntary work. This means you can't turn down suitable paid work because of your volunteering commitments. In practical terms, this means you must be free to go to an interview if they give you 48 hours' notice.

[rhinochopig]

No advice, but well done OP for doing something worthwhile and not just sitting and watching day time TV. Good luck with the job hunting.

[singlecoil]

RedRose123 said:

I have been looking for a job for nearly a year now. I work in IT which has been one of the hardest hit sectors. I have been doing some voluntary work and have been updating some of my IT skills. Please can others in the same situration tell me what they are doing with all their spare time?

I am running out of things to do now and need some ideas.

Thanks,


RedRose123.

wq!

Not an awful lot of information there.

Are you still looking for work? Have you considered other areas apart from IT? Whereabouts are you? What are your home circumstances (no point in anyone suggesting a year's backpacking if you are married, for instance).

Give some more info and you might get some useful input.

[Fittster]

What area of IT do you working?

[Hedders]

RedRose123 said:

Hedders said:

RedRose123 said:

I have been looking for a job for nearly a year now. I work in IT which has been one of the hardest hit sectors. I have been doing some voluntary work and have been updating some of my IT skills. Please can others in the same situration tell me what they are doing with all their spare time?

I am running out of things to do now and need some ideas.

Thanks,


RedRose123.

wq!

A word of warning, if you are currently on JSA, I am pretty sure doing voluntary work is not allowed.

You can, I asked at the JS and just checked on the Internet, as long as you are not commiting yourself to a contract its fine -

You can volunteer for as many hours as you like while you're claiming Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA), as long as you are still actively seeking work and you aren't legally obliged to volunteer. If any potential jobs that you're suitable for come up, you will need to prioritise them over your voluntary work. This means you can't turn down suitable paid work because of your volunteering commitments. In practical terms, this means you must be free to go to an interview if they give you 48 hours' notice.

They must have changed the rules then. I was told (by them) that you should not have enough time to do voluntary work, as you were being paid to look for proper work!

[RedRose123]

More information -

I am a software tester with 10 years experience, a Computer Science graduate who has specialised testing UNIX and Oracle systems. I spent my last two working years at a retail bank as a contractor. Prior to that I worked as a web tester for a large gaming company. I have a back ground of blue-chip and dot-com companies. My last 3 roles have been contacts, all more then six months with the longest two years. I can program in Perl, ksh, a little Selenium RC (Web automation tool). I am very strong technically and have always been the technical lead.

I live in Central London and own a flat so world travelling is not an option. I have never been out of work before.

[rhinochopig]

RedRose123 said:

More information -

I am a software tester with 10 years experience, a Computer Science graduate who has specialised testing UNIX and Oracle systems. I spent my last two working years at a retail bank as a contractor. Prior to that I worked as a web tester for a large gaming company. I have a back ground of blue-chip and dot-com companies. My last 3 roles have been contacts, all more then six months with the longest two years. I can program in Perl, ksh, a little Selenium RC (Web automation tool). I am very strong technically and have always been the technical lead.

I live in Central London and own a flat so world travelling is not an option. I have never been out of work before.

Are you qualified to test to IEC61508? The new nuclear build programme, along with many defence nuclear refurb projects will, I suspect, require people with this skill/knowledge.

[RedRose123]

rhinochopig said:

RedRose123 said:

More information -

I am a software tester with 10 years experience, a Computer Science graduate who has specialised testing UNIX and Oracle systems. I spent my last two working years at a retail bank as a contractor. Prior to that I worked as a web tester for a large gaming company. I have a back ground of blue-chip and dot-com companies. My last 3 roles have been contacts, all more then six months with the longest two years. I can program in Perl, ksh, a little Selenium RC (Web automation tool). I am very strong technically and have always been the technical lead.

I live in Central London and own a flat so world travelling is not an option. I have never been out of work before.

Are you qualified to test to IEC61508? The new nuclear build programme, along with many defence nuclear refurb projects will, I suspect, require people with this skill/knowledge.

The only non-university qualification I have is ISEB. I don't have any qualifications to test IEC61508.

[citychap26]

Hi Mate,

I'm sorry to hear that you've been out of work for so long. I believe that the market has picked up big time.

I suppose you are registered with all the agencies?

Cheers

Sunil

[Viper_Larry]

I feel for you being in the same situation - been looking for over a year now and 9 months without pay. JSA stops after 6 months so not even getting any pay now, just have to sign on for NI contributions.

You're one step ahead of me doing voluntary work, I really don't know what I do all day and it's quite depressing. All the time in the world with no money available to spend, it's very frustrating. Took up r/c flying last year for a while, but even that is taking a back seat now as I need new aircraft and can't justify the spend.

I work in mobile solutions and last worked for Nokia for 3 years and contracting before that. I've had a fair few interviews, but they are being really picky and just can't seem to nail the right role. Getting desperate now!

One role I applied for last week called me asking what degree I had as they couldn't see it on the CV (I don't) - then explained that not only did it need to be a first, they were only taking candidates from one of the 8 approved universities for the role!

[UpTheIron]

I also work in IT and have been contracting for 8 or 9 years or so...I'm not having a go but my initial thoughts are:

A year. A YEAR?! Either you are were never any good and got very lucky with you previous jobs (not that likely), your CV is rubbish or you are applying for very few or the wrong jobs.

I can see why testing has been harder than some other disciplines, but I know other test contractors who have had no major issues keeping in roles.

You are going to have to cast your net wider. Apply for more varied roles, more junior roles, less well paid roles. Don't tie yourself to London.

Don't say "have always been the technical lead" because unless that is the role you are applying for, it might put people off. "...including roles as technical lead" might be better. Are you REALLY "very strong technically" or are you just setting yourself up for a fall at interview?

[RedRose123]

UpTheIron said:

I also work in IT and have been contracting for 8 or 9 years or so...I'm not having a go but my initial thoughts are:

A year. A YEAR?! Either you are were never any good and got very lucky with you previous jobs (not that likely), your CV is rubbish or you are applying for very few or the wrong jobs.

I can see why testing has been harder than some other disciplines, but I know other test contractors who have had no major issues keeping in roles.

You are going to have to cast your net wider. Apply for more varied roles, more junior roles, less well paid roles. Don't tie yourself to London.

Don't say "have always been the technical lead" because unless that is the role you are applying for, it might put people off. "...including roles as technical lead" might be better. Are you REALLY "very strong technically" or are you just setting yourself up for a fall at interview?

I have re-wote the CV many times, latest is based on job specs rather then what I think I should put. My initial CV was too technical, and I think scared people off. The new one is less so and much smaller giving more description of the software that I worked on and what I have done. I am very strong technically (for a tester) and have always passed technical interviews problem is getting them. Pre-recession I believe I had a 90% interview success rate. I am applying for lots of different role using various CVs but not having any success. Thanks for the comments.

Edited by RedRose123 on Friday 29th January 15:01

[RedRose123]

Viper_Larry said:

I feel for you being in the same situation - been looking for over a year now and 9 months without pay. JSA stops after 6 months so not even getting any pay now, just have to sign on for NI contributions.

You're one step ahead of me doing voluntary work, I really don't know what I do all day and it's quite depressing. All the time in the world with no money available to spend, it's very frustrating. Took up r/c flying last year for a while, but even that is taking a back seat now as I need new aircraft and can't justify the spend.

I work in mobile solutions and last worked for Nokia for 3 years and contracting before that. I've had a fair few interviews, but they are being really picky and just can't seem to nail the right role. Getting desperate now!

One role I applied for last week called me asking what degree I had as they couldn't see it on the CV (I don't) - then explained that not only did it need to be a first, they were only taking candidates from one of the 8 approved universities for the role!

Thanks for the comments Larry, nice to know that I'm not alone. By the way nice Vipers. JSA switches from Contribution based to Income based after 6 months as long as you have little savings. I'm still in Contribution based since I waited 8 months until I signed on.

[RedRose123]

UpTheIron said:

I also work in IT and have been contracting for 8 or 9 years or so...I'm not having a go but my initial thoughts are:

A year. A YEAR?! Either you are were never any good and got very lucky with you previous jobs (not that likely), your CV is rubbish or you are applying for very few or the wrong jobs.

I can see why testing has been harder than some other disciplines, but I know other test contractors who have had no major issues keeping in roles.

You are going to have to cast your net wider. Apply for more varied roles, more junior roles, less well paid roles. Don't tie yourself to London.

Don't say "have always been the technical lead" because unless that is the role you are applying for, it might put people off. "...including roles as technical lead" might be better. Are you REALLY "very strong technically" or are you just setting yourself up for a fall at interview?

"Are you REALLY "very strong technically" or are you just setting yourself up for a fall at interview?"

I'm up for any UNIX or Perl challenge, if any one wants to send me a problem please do so, I have all the time in the world?

UpTheIron; nice Tuscan, I got a blue one.

[citychap26]

Hi,

Have you been applying for permi roles too?

Also think outside the testing box, if you are that good at programming then look for project roles.

Cheers

Sunil

[RedRose123]

citychap26 said:

Hi,

Have you been applying for permi roles too?

Also think outside the testing box, if you are that good at programming then look for project roles.

Cheers

Sunil

I have been applying for everything that matches my skill set regardless of job title both permi or contract. With the permi roles, I always get from the agents "if the market picks up again, whats stopping you leaving and getting another contract?".