Advice/help request for friend struggling to get work
Discussion
Chaps, little help required for a good buddy of mine please. We are friends from Uni, both graduated back in 2000 and since then he has struggled to get work, mainly due to disability. He is confined to a wheelchair but bright chap, good degree in Computer Science and well up to date on knowledge. Unfortunately a lack of hands-on experience apart from a few short term projects for friends/contacts over the years means that his job applications are not going far. Very frustrating for him as he is extremely keen to work.
Due to disability and location (Pinner, Middlesex), he needs something very local, or very local to Euston station. I suggested offering some voluntary/FOC work for local government/charities to get some hands-on experience. Can anyone suggest any other ideas?
His skills are:
Advanced knowledge of MS Office, MS SQL and a good grounding in various programming languages such as Java, Visual Basic, CSS. Database work experience includes constructing it from the beginning, choosing the appropriate data structures to ease data entry for users whilst validating data on entry. Experience of PC/desktop Tech Support at a college with 200+ PCs dealing with a wide range of issues, needing to be able to explain to people with varying levels of IT knowledge.
Any suggestions, pointers or other advice on helping him get on the work ladder would be greatly appreciated.
Due to disability and location (Pinner, Middlesex), he needs something very local, or very local to Euston station. I suggested offering some voluntary/FOC work for local government/charities to get some hands-on experience. Can anyone suggest any other ideas?
His skills are:
Advanced knowledge of MS Office, MS SQL and a good grounding in various programming languages such as Java, Visual Basic, CSS. Database work experience includes constructing it from the beginning, choosing the appropriate data structures to ease data entry for users whilst validating data on entry. Experience of PC/desktop Tech Support at a college with 200+ PCs dealing with a wide range of issues, needing to be able to explain to people with varying levels of IT knowledge.
Any suggestions, pointers or other advice on helping him get on the work ladder would be greatly appreciated.
It sounds like a very broad set of skills, which might suit small business with one IT person, or even law firms who are often looking for people to learn and program case management systems (which are typically SQL/Openedge DBs with custom front ends- if you can work out Access you can learn these quickly). It might be worth speaking to Legal IT suppliers, who are often looking for people with similar skills as your friend for being customisation consultants.
Another option might be to pick a sensible area to really specialise in, where his ability will properly overcome his disability in the minds of potential employers.
Another option might be to pick a sensible area to really specialise in, where his ability will properly overcome his disability in the minds of potential employers.
Obviously a permanent position would be great but in the mean time are there not websites where freelance IT people bid for jobs - I'm sure theres plenty of Java and similar development stuff on those. I appreciate that pay may not be great but could be good way of building up a freelance portfolio with a view to getting better paying clients in a more hands on and better paying form.
https://www.freelancer.com/
Rates tend to be a bit crappy due to a massive amount of people in India offering to do work very cheaply. However, it should give your friend an opportunity to build up a portfolio of work and references which can only be useful when applying for new roles.
ETA - a lot of the jobs offered can be done from home.
Rates tend to be a bit crappy due to a massive amount of people in India offering to do work very cheaply. However, it should give your friend an opportunity to build up a portfolio of work and references which can only be useful when applying for new roles.
ETA - a lot of the jobs offered can be done from home.
Thanks for the info guys, appreciate it.
Yes it is a broad range of skills, comes from graduating and then struggling to find a permanent job so taking any opportunity that is offered. I guess that broadens the already broad skillset from a typical degree!
Freelance work is a good idea, WFH jobs also good point, however IMHO being in a workplace with other people will help bring up his confidence along with experience so this has been my recommendation so far.
Do you think there's any mileage in bidding zero or just a low rate to cover travel expenses on some of these freelancer projects or would that be dismissed by the employer/recruiter?
Yes it is a broad range of skills, comes from graduating and then struggling to find a permanent job so taking any opportunity that is offered. I guess that broadens the already broad skillset from a typical degree!
Freelance work is a good idea, WFH jobs also good point, however IMHO being in a workplace with other people will help bring up his confidence along with experience so this has been my recommendation so far.
Do you think there's any mileage in bidding zero or just a low rate to cover travel expenses on some of these freelancer projects or would that be dismissed by the employer/recruiter?
Perhaps a bit of both then?
Could be worth contacting one of those local trade networking groups. They'd be local, appreciate his skills that they may not receive otherwise from small IT support firms and take advantage of his smaller fees whilst he builds himself up. Could even work out a few days a week amongst different firms locally to start with?
Could be worth contacting one of those local trade networking groups. They'd be local, appreciate his skills that they may not receive otherwise from small IT support firms and take advantage of his smaller fees whilst he builds himself up. Could even work out a few days a week amongst different firms locally to start with?
B3Svert said:
All really helpful advice here chaps, thanks again.
And Busterhighmen, great username btw, appreciate the emails and offer
No problem, like I said I've past to the relevant markets and hopefully they can come up trumps. And Busterhighmen, great username btw, appreciate the emails and offer
Moose - I deal with the fed market, anything I could help with?
There is no way I'd hire anyone in IT who hadn't worked in so long, and I would imagine many other employers would say likewise.
At least that should be a problem thats relatively easy to deal with.... work for free for a charity. If someone had very spotty employment history but had then done say 6-12 months charity work, I wouldn't rule them out immediately. Sure he's not going to get paid.... but he's not going to get paid by staying in unemployment either.
At least that should be a problem thats relatively easy to deal with.... work for free for a charity. If someone had very spotty employment history but had then done say 6-12 months charity work, I wouldn't rule them out immediately. Sure he's not going to get paid.... but he's not going to get paid by staying in unemployment either.
B3Svert said:
Chaps, little help required for a good buddy of mine please. We are friends from Uni, both graduated back in 2000 and since then he has struggled to get work, mainly due to disability. He is confined to a wheelchair but bright chap, good degree in Computer Science and well up to date on knowledge. Unfortunately a lack of hands-on experience apart from a few short term projects for friends/contacts over the years means that his job applications are not going far. Very frustrating for him as he is extremely keen to work.
Due to disability and location (Pinner, Middlesex), he needs something very local, or very local to Euston station. I suggested offering some voluntary/FOC work for local government/charities to get some hands-on experience. Can anyone suggest any other ideas?
His skills are:
Advanced knowledge of MS Office, MS SQL and a good grounding in various programming languages such as Java, Visual Basic, CSS. Database work experience includes constructing it from the beginning, choosing the appropriate data structures to ease data entry for users whilst validating data on entry. Experience of PC/desktop Tech Support at a college with 200+ PCs dealing with a wide range of issues, needing to be able to explain to people with varying levels of IT knowledge.
Any suggestions, pointers or other advice on helping him get on the work ladder would be greatly appreciated.
Get involved in open source project(s) to gain experience and build a reputation on the right project and they will come knocking at his door.Due to disability and location (Pinner, Middlesex), he needs something very local, or very local to Euston station. I suggested offering some voluntary/FOC work for local government/charities to get some hands-on experience. Can anyone suggest any other ideas?
His skills are:
Advanced knowledge of MS Office, MS SQL and a good grounding in various programming languages such as Java, Visual Basic, CSS. Database work experience includes constructing it from the beginning, choosing the appropriate data structures to ease data entry for users whilst validating data on entry. Experience of PC/desktop Tech Support at a college with 200+ PCs dealing with a wide range of issues, needing to be able to explain to people with varying levels of IT knowledge.
Any suggestions, pointers or other advice on helping him get on the work ladder would be greatly appreciated.
Use the following for ideas of the indemand skills
http://careers.stackoverflow.com/jobs/tag/open-sou...
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