Don't give up hope.
Discussion
I was made redundant on my 53rd birthday (22 months ago) and have been looking for a permanent job since then.
I am well qualified (Eur. Ing., C.Eng., MBCS and B.Sc.) , have 35 years experience in IT - but none of my experience was in sexy technologies - just basic computing. I live in Reading - so not the end of the earth.
I spent a few months contracting in the interim - but although this kept me afloat it would not have provided a living. Everybody just wants to employ buzzwords!
And yet I had real problems finding a job, in that time probably 150 applications, only 7-8 telephone interviews with the employer and 5 face-to-face, all ending very positively but not leading to anything.
Last Tuesday I started a job with am established company, the application process was exceptionally thorough involving 2 agencies and eventually a full day assessment by experienced engineers at the company, the whole thing took two months from initial application. I feel that the company has chosen thoroughly and carefully.
So there is a light at the end of the tunnel - don't give up hope.
Cheers!
I am well qualified (Eur. Ing., C.Eng., MBCS and B.Sc.) , have 35 years experience in IT - but none of my experience was in sexy technologies - just basic computing. I live in Reading - so not the end of the earth.
I spent a few months contracting in the interim - but although this kept me afloat it would not have provided a living. Everybody just wants to employ buzzwords!
And yet I had real problems finding a job, in that time probably 150 applications, only 7-8 telephone interviews with the employer and 5 face-to-face, all ending very positively but not leading to anything.
Last Tuesday I started a job with am established company, the application process was exceptionally thorough involving 2 agencies and eventually a full day assessment by experienced engineers at the company, the whole thing took two months from initial application. I feel that the company has chosen thoroughly and carefully.
So there is a light at the end of the tunnel - don't give up hope.
Cheers!
True true
My Dad was in a similar predicament. Although not quite as well qualified as yourself and a few years older than you. Infact he left school at the usual 16 and did an apprentiship.
Anyway he'd worked on oil rigs all his life pretty much and just as the bubble burst (and ironically just after being promoted) he and his men were made redundant.
He spent ages applying for jobs. Because he had no degree or letters after his name going the official route was a bit fruitless. Instead he went for the who you know approach. Few temp jobs here and there and now he's working in one of the best and one of the easiest, cleanest jobs he's ever had. A perfect role for someone approaching retirement.
He now works for BP and teaches todays apprentices the ins and outs of working on and instrumenting oil rigs. He said he couldnt of asked for anything better... BP pays all his bills, accomodation etc and a nice wage.
So yeah, you are dead right. Dont give up hope, dont give up trying, good things can and do happen.
I have to question though. plenty of people tell me, oh well yeah a degree is nice and ooo a doctorate is good.... but experience is what really counts. Yet... heres a man with nigh on 40 years working on the oil and gas front line and in refineries and no one was biting his hand off for piece of that experience. He knows more stuff than any graduate (or even 10 graduates) could possibly hope to learn on a degree course and yet, no job offers.
He's not the only example either.
So I have to admit, I dont always buy that argument. Of course having a degree and experience does make you pretty valuable, it just seems that experience alone isnt enough sometimes.
My Dad was in a similar predicament. Although not quite as well qualified as yourself and a few years older than you. Infact he left school at the usual 16 and did an apprentiship.
Anyway he'd worked on oil rigs all his life pretty much and just as the bubble burst (and ironically just after being promoted) he and his men were made redundant.
He spent ages applying for jobs. Because he had no degree or letters after his name going the official route was a bit fruitless. Instead he went for the who you know approach. Few temp jobs here and there and now he's working in one of the best and one of the easiest, cleanest jobs he's ever had. A perfect role for someone approaching retirement.
He now works for BP and teaches todays apprentices the ins and outs of working on and instrumenting oil rigs. He said he couldnt of asked for anything better... BP pays all his bills, accomodation etc and a nice wage.
So yeah, you are dead right. Dont give up hope, dont give up trying, good things can and do happen.
I have to question though. plenty of people tell me, oh well yeah a degree is nice and ooo a doctorate is good.... but experience is what really counts. Yet... heres a man with nigh on 40 years working on the oil and gas front line and in refineries and no one was biting his hand off for piece of that experience. He knows more stuff than any graduate (or even 10 graduates) could possibly hope to learn on a degree course and yet, no job offers.
He's not the only example either.
So I have to admit, I dont always buy that argument. Of course having a degree and experience does make you pretty valuable, it just seems that experience alone isnt enough sometimes.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 25th May 23:08
Otispunkmeyer said:
I have to question though. plenty of people tell me, oh well yeah a degree is nice and ooo a doctorate is good.... but experience is what really counts. Yet... heres a man with nigh on 40 years working on the oil and gas front line and in refineries and no one was biting his hand off for piece of that experience. He knows more stuff than any graduate (or even 10 graduates) could possibly hope to learn on a degree course and yet, no job offers.]
I understand where you are coming from, but over 40 years he must have been on various courses and got some sort of training record ? I'm think that often it's the way the CV is constructed. I've seen so many that just made you scream. (
I applied to an agency for a particular type of role, and then they kept sending me CV's of people who were looking for that type of role, so I got to see about 15 CV's of what potentially were the opposition. Fuxley, with a H !!!)
I'm lucky in that the CEng bit on my CV alone often gets me the interview, but you still need to explain how you got 20 year experience and how you'd do the job.
Having a degree isn't always about what you know, but demonstrating the ability to learn. This applies more to those with post-graduate qualifications.
That said, I think it's about getting the balance right, but also finding an employer that doesn't simply look for specific things when looking at applications/CVs.
For example, I've often seen job specs where 'a degree in a relevant subject' is essential. So, if the job was for an analytical chemist (let's say a narrow salary band too), should the company be opting for an applicant recently graduated with a year placement instead of the 40 year old with no degree but 20 years of experience working in different labs? They probably shouldn't, but it happens. It's probably too much work for the employer to compare such different applicants; it's far easier to go through the motions- all those without a degree are rejected, then all those without experience are rejected. The remainder invited for interview, and our 40 year old without the degree misses out in this example.
That said, I think it's about getting the balance right, but also finding an employer that doesn't simply look for specific things when looking at applications/CVs.
For example, I've often seen job specs where 'a degree in a relevant subject' is essential. So, if the job was for an analytical chemist (let's say a narrow salary band too), should the company be opting for an applicant recently graduated with a year placement instead of the 40 year old with no degree but 20 years of experience working in different labs? They probably shouldn't, but it happens. It's probably too much work for the employer to compare such different applicants; it's far easier to go through the motions- all those without a degree are rejected, then all those without experience are rejected. The remainder invited for interview, and our 40 year old without the degree misses out in this example.
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