Help finding the job of my dreams
Discussion
Ok, I have been contemplating weather to write this or not for a while but here it goes…sorry this is probably going to be a long one as I have lots to explain so you get a full picture.
I am 21 years old and currently hold some respectable grades but am finding it very difficult to get into any kind of IT jobs.
In terms of grades I have:
To try and get myself a little further by being different than everyone else, I even went out and made my own customised "pop-up" CV's to try and even the score a little. They may sound a bit silly but they actually looked very professional as I took a lot of time and effort making them. The front had my name, address, grades etc on and then on the inside, the top had a personal statement/goals and the bottom had previous work experience. In the middle a little box pops up with 6 or 7 words which I think describes how I work and what kind of person I am, and then the words "Interested?" along with my mobile number, in the middle, in bold.
All of the CV's have been sent along with a cover letter and I thought that these would at least get me an interview, even if it was just a "what a weird guy, I want to see him" kind of thing.
The problem I think I am having is that apart from my own IT business, I have no practical employment experience within any ICT roles. I have been putting down that it is a friends business, which I help to run, rather than saying it is my own in fear of them thinking I will take flight as soon as it picks up, but this has only been running since August last year so is still not even a year’s experience in their books.
I know I run my own business, but at the moment its not doing wonders and with the current levels we can pick up the stock one week-day morning or afternoon and then work through what we have picked up over the weekend. It does not create enough money to support both of us, and my business partner also works for his dad to earn his money to live on, as we take nothing from the business yet. (It does turn a small profit but just gets turned back in to make it grow)
My current job involves working nights (hence the job title) and I just can't hack it anymore, no social life and constantly feeling tired all the time, summer is even worse with everyone enjoying the sunshine whilst I am asleep or getting ready for work! The fact that it does not interest me at all is a big issue to, of course I always act professional but some nights I am so bored or frustrated with the same paper work signing and stupid jobs that I have to do. Everyone here acts like the job is hard yet I find myself doing it in a third of the time as I find it is just so easy for me. I have been asked to go onto days and go to management level several times, but this just is not the industry or job that I want. (And up until a month ago I was at Uni anyway)
I was holding out, knowing, that as soon as Uni was up I could jump into a tech support job somewhere but everywhere seems to have dried up or asking for silly experience…Computers, like cars, are what make me tick. I just know a lot more about how to fix computers than I do cars!
Any tips or ideas as to where to look for more job opportunities?
I have been looking on the NHS job site, Monster Jobs and the Jobsite website. There are jobs on these but none ask for any less than 2 years experience. I live in the Stoke area.
I have given in at least 20 applications over the last month but that has resulted in no interviews…10 of these were with my “pop-up” CV’s
Sorry for the long one!
I am 21 years old and currently hold some respectable grades but am finding it very difficult to get into any kind of IT jobs.
In terms of grades I have:
- A foundation degree in IT from Staffs Uni (currently awaiting results)
- A BTEC National Diploma for ICT Practitioners (DMM)
- A GNVQ in ICT (Merit)
- 11 respectable GCSE grades (A in English, B in all 3 sciences and then a C in maths, the rest are all A-C, nothing below)
To try and get myself a little further by being different than everyone else, I even went out and made my own customised "pop-up" CV's to try and even the score a little. They may sound a bit silly but they actually looked very professional as I took a lot of time and effort making them. The front had my name, address, grades etc on and then on the inside, the top had a personal statement/goals and the bottom had previous work experience. In the middle a little box pops up with 6 or 7 words which I think describes how I work and what kind of person I am, and then the words "Interested?" along with my mobile number, in the middle, in bold.
All of the CV's have been sent along with a cover letter and I thought that these would at least get me an interview, even if it was just a "what a weird guy, I want to see him" kind of thing.
The problem I think I am having is that apart from my own IT business, I have no practical employment experience within any ICT roles. I have been putting down that it is a friends business, which I help to run, rather than saying it is my own in fear of them thinking I will take flight as soon as it picks up, but this has only been running since August last year so is still not even a year’s experience in their books.
I know I run my own business, but at the moment its not doing wonders and with the current levels we can pick up the stock one week-day morning or afternoon and then work through what we have picked up over the weekend. It does not create enough money to support both of us, and my business partner also works for his dad to earn his money to live on, as we take nothing from the business yet. (It does turn a small profit but just gets turned back in to make it grow)
My current job involves working nights (hence the job title) and I just can't hack it anymore, no social life and constantly feeling tired all the time, summer is even worse with everyone enjoying the sunshine whilst I am asleep or getting ready for work! The fact that it does not interest me at all is a big issue to, of course I always act professional but some nights I am so bored or frustrated with the same paper work signing and stupid jobs that I have to do. Everyone here acts like the job is hard yet I find myself doing it in a third of the time as I find it is just so easy for me. I have been asked to go onto days and go to management level several times, but this just is not the industry or job that I want. (And up until a month ago I was at Uni anyway)
I was holding out, knowing, that as soon as Uni was up I could jump into a tech support job somewhere but everywhere seems to have dried up or asking for silly experience…Computers, like cars, are what make me tick. I just know a lot more about how to fix computers than I do cars!
Any tips or ideas as to where to look for more job opportunities?
I have been looking on the NHS job site, Monster Jobs and the Jobsite website. There are jobs on these but none ask for any less than 2 years experience. I live in the Stoke area.
I have given in at least 20 applications over the last month but that has resulted in no interviews…10 of these were with my “pop-up” CV’s
Sorry for the long one!
Edited by ymwoods on Sunday 27th June 03:46
If you have no massive commitments work as a temp for IT companies. You will then get some hand on experience. When i started (i have a BTEC national same as you DDD 
) I did 3 months as an IT administrator at a delivery company. It gave me somethingn to talk about in the interview and describe to them real live situations that i had encountered in my role.
) I did 3 months as an IT administrator at a delivery company. It gave me somethingn to talk about in the interview and describe to them real live situations that i had encountered in my role.Yeah, I am a bit wary of going for temp work though as I have financial commitments such as my car finance so if in 3 months time it turns out that after my first temp job I come up short with finding another then I will be in a bit of a hard situation.
In January however, this could be a posibility as the car finance will be done and gives me time to save up a decent wedge in case of a problem finding work...Thanks for the advice!
In January however, this could be a posibility as the car finance will be done and gives me time to save up a decent wedge in case of a problem finding work...Thanks for the advice!
ymwoods said:
Yeah, I am a bit wary of going for temp work though as I have financial commitments such as my car finance so if in 3 months time it turns out that after my first temp job I come up short with finding another then I will be in a bit of a hard situation.
In January however, this could be a posibility as the car finance will be done and gives me time to save up a decent wedge in case of a problem finding work...Thanks for the advice!
you will no doubt be earning good money as a temp aswell so you can save just incase...good luckIn January however, this could be a posibility as the car finance will be done and gives me time to save up a decent wedge in case of a problem finding work...Thanks for the advice!
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