wez_sti

I need help people!

As the title says, i'm 23 and currently between jobs.

Just finished doing a roll-out for IBM, before that i've been a Network Engineer, Installation Engineer and had pretty much every other possible job going.

The point i'm getting at is apart from one job as a network engineer which i was made redundant from ALL the jobs i've had have been ****!

I'm quite willing to work my a$$ off for a job i like but the only jobs i seem to come across are for recruitment consultants or cr@ppy admin jobs the agencys keep offering me.

I've tried all the job websites, registered with looooads of agencys, been to the job centre, everything.

What can i do?? I like computing, but would consider pretty much any career as long as it was interesting and rewarding.

any ideas???

i live in essex BTW and would comute to london if needed.

Feel like i'm gonna be 40yrs old and still be doing nothing but 4 week temp jobs for £5 an hour!

Please please help....

weapon69

Wow, even Tesco pay more than £5 an hour

Andrew Dixon

A mate of mine has made a packet as a recruitment consultant. Joined the company 3 years ago as a graduate and is now taking home ~£45k. Works long hours, but enjoys it. (I think!)

yoza

Im thirty{cough}....ahem, and I havent got a decent job !

My advice is to hold down a sh1tty easy none stressed job, and have a secondary income to live on.

Now what the secondary income is, is up to you.

OllyK

What qualifications do you have?? That may be a starting point.

Most agencies are a waste of time - a few a gems, it's finding them that's tough. If there are some companies near you, you would like to work for ring up pretending to be a recruitement agency and ask who they are using at the moment, then contact that agency.

Have you tried Planet Recruit web site - I found that very good. There are dozens of sites out there, some specialising in just a small markey sector. Also try the local papers, even the nationals.

First and foremost, have a good idea what it is that you want to do, if you are undecided or "not bothered" you will drift from job to job. You need to be determined and go out there and get what you want.

bigsinky

Jeweller and watch seller to the stars then.............

wez_sti

I know someone whose just started as an IT recruitment consultant, making ALOT of money, about £6/7k an month, but he's working ~8am-8pm mon till fri. i could do those hours, but not doing that i dont think, plus they all want sales experience...


i DJ on fridays which helps keep me ticking over, i wonder weather i should persue this a bit more actively...

Albert47

Have you tryed the armed forces!!! Navy, Army, RAF. They a calling out for people with decent quals. Rewarding and money is good!!1

Albert

Brendan Hughes

...and if you get posted to Iraq you won't even need to worry about being 40!

OllyK

Not sure how much pay has changed in the last few years - but putting your life on the line in Iraq for £14K doesn't count as good value to me. OK you save loads coz you can't spend it on anything. You could try a Sandhurst fast track via the TA as an officer cadet and then transfer, but you wouldn't get much respect from your troops and the officer pay isn't brilliant below Major anyway.

If you are a doctor, dentist, barister or vet you can of course fast track in again at the rank of Captain, but chances are you'd still earn more on civvy street anyway.

Having said all that if you like sunny weather and doging bullets I hear Iraq is beautiful at this time of year

66 Blue

if your out of employment, then i am afrais you are going to have to bite the bullet nad accept whatever you get offered really. Some ****ty temp jobs can lead onto bigger nd better things such as a perm position.
Plus recruiter do not ppl that have been lying idle for sustained periods of time...
you can always enroll on some courses to improve your academic record.... the more skills u have the more sellable you are.....
perhaps your CV needs a look at too, if this is sub std then u will struggle to get past the first hurdle for sure.
I wouldn't otherwise worry too much 23ys old is still young there is plenty of time left.... you need to relax a bit mate....
also depends on what you classify as a "decent Job" 50k+????
agencies are not that bad, a pain yes but some are very useful.... it is a process i am going through at the mo. just need to be patient...
good luck and head up as always....

paulr

80k per year.......hell i'd work 8am-10pm mon-sat plus sunday for that.
what sort of hours/salary are you after?

Freak

Takes a long long long long time, and a lot of hard work, bull**** and determination, and a load of other factors im too tired to list.
Its the most evil, backstabbing unsecure job going- take it from someone who already does it for a living.
Hence why i have started my record shop during the days .Not for money- but as security and a back up if you will- and also to do something with my immense amounts of free time.
Fingers in many pies and all that

Brendan Hughes

I started doing a "real" job when I was 25, after leaving uni at 21. I earned more and more, and disliked it more and more, until I was 30, when I got out. I then took a 30% pay cut and am very happy where I am.

Relax.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I agree with all the advice about finding a job you like - after all, you're doing it for half your waking life and the money only makes a difference during the other half. So, it's only reasonable to give job satisfaction at least equal importance.

Wez, why not post your CV and let people have a look through it? I've seen quite a few and they range from excellent (easily readable, sharp, to the point) to awful (rambling, waffling, content-free and full of holes).

At the very least, it would help to know what skills you have and what you have enjoyed about any of your previous jobs.

FWIW, last year I found myself in a job which paid well, was a great career move and where I got on really well with most of my colleagues. Unfortunately my boss was, shall we say, lacking in any of the qualities required for his position - and I mean any of them. I almost quit the electronics industry entirely to set myself up as a photographer - but eventually I found a better job (similar job function, smaller company, competent boss) in which I've never been happier.

I still keep my photographic portfolio up to date, though - you never know

wez_sti

How can i post my c.v, its in word format???or just copy paste?

i'm not after a huge footballers salary, 17-20k would suit me fine right now. just want a job i like with prospects.though, its easy to say 'get a job you enjoy' but after all the jobs i've had, i didnt really like any of them.

some of my mates i went to schoold with are doing quite well for themselves, having stuck in insurance/bank jobs in the city for years, but cant see myself doing such an unrewarding job till i'm 60/70!?!?

Simon C

A good 1 I use for contrcts is www.cwjobs.co.uk its part of "I profile" so will register you with a few other job sites. I had a hit from it yesterday now just waiting to hear if, I have got it, if I do, then I have just trebled my salary!!!

Lots of employers have access, as do agencies, into the back end of it and look for people who are avaiable that work in X sector.

HTH
Simon

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Just copy & paste. If the formatting is that important, it's probably a bad CV

wez_sti

well here it is, god knows what it'll come out like. the number of jobs i've had prob puts alot of people off..


GCSE's- obtained August 1997

Physic A Technology C
Biology B Textiles C
Chemistry C Religious Education C
Math's C English Language C
Geography C English Literature D
Business Studies D

A Level’s - obtained August 1999

Computer Studies C Physics E

Relevant Skills and Experience
I have experience in many different areas of computing including, Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Access, Visual Basic, the set up, maintenance and administration of Peer to Peer and Server Based Networks, Set up of Users and E-Mail Accounts, Cabling, Testing, Computer Build and Upgrades, Large scale User Support and Site-to-Site Engineering.

Personal Achievements
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, Gliding Scholarship, Certificate for ‘Basic First Aid in the Work Place’ and successful Completion of several management courses.

Previous Employment
IBM – 07/04 Until 09/04
Position – Installation Engineer (Temporary)
This short-term contract was a great opportunity to work with one of the worlds largest I.T companies. IBM has taken on a contract with Royal & Sun Alliance to bring all of their I.T infrastructure up to date, involving updating both the hardware and upgrading to an XP operating system. Do to the huge scale of this task, it involved a great deal of organisation and planning, plus the ability to work under my own steam, often un-supervised.

Chelmsford County Council – From 05/04 Until 07/04
Position – General Administration (Temporary)
This position involved sending out letters to members of the public regarding issues relating to public rights of way, dealing with incoming mail and assisting department managers. My time in this position allowed me to further my knowledge of all Microsoft products from a user’s point of view and helped with my understanding of consumer needs.


Securitas Micro-Route – From 01/04 Until 04/04
Position – Installation Engineer (Temporary)
This is a seven-week contract position. My duties involve installing PC’s and Laptops in customer’s homes, setting up their Internet connection, giving a basic tutorial and trouble shooting any problems I should come across. I also answered any queries the customer may of had regarding their new P.C and advised them on general procedures. In many cases this was the first computer the customer had used, so it was a great way to learn how to communicate technical issues with someone who is not computer literate.

Education and Youth Services Ltd – From 11/02 Until 11/03
Position – Network Engineer
In this position I was working as a Network Engineer for a large training company, which has numerous projects throughout the country. The company had a relatively small I.T department and so because of this and due to the company’s continuous expansion, I was always very busy and continuously learning.
During my time in the position I received very intense training and greatly expanded my knowledge of Networks and I.T as a whole. This position included the setting up of new Networks, Internet set up, Network repairs, Hardware maintenance plus trouble shooting for all of the above to name but a few.
I thoroughly enjoyed this position but unfortunately I was made redundant due to the company out-sourcing their I.T.

Education and Youth Services Ltd – 08/02 Until 10/02
Position – Project Worker
This position involved tutoring students on a basic skills course, which is funded through the government by way of the Learning Skills Council. The basics skills course included basic I.T training, interviewing techniques and careers advice.

Beale Dobie Ltd – From 02/02 Until 07/02
Position – Case Officer
My position at Beale Dobie revolved around the buying of Endowment policies. It was my responsibility to take the sale of such a Policy from the point where a client has agreed to sell it to my company until the point where they would receive their funds.

Barclays Bank PLC From 7/01 Until 01/02
Position – Collections Advisor
As a collections advisor for Barclays it was my job to help customers in mild financial difficulties, to come to payment arrangements, advise of banking policy and offer any helpful advice. I was very much an active figure that organized social outings, implemented new plans and ideas and in time became a referral point for new staff.

McDonalds Restaurants Limited. From 3/98 Until 7/01
Position – Shift Running Manager
I worked within a multi-skilled team to help deliver a first class service to the public without sacrificing quality or safety. As a Shift Manager I was responsible for the safety and workload of up to twenty members of staff, was required to work on my own initiative, motivate other members of staff, maintain moral and deal with any personal problems with discretion and tact.
In this position I was also Head of Training, which responsibilities included, the organizing staff into teams, making sure procedures were adhered to, teaching others how to Train and solving any skills shortages.

References
Personal and Professional references are available on request.

Brendan Hughes

A levels before GCSE's, but disguise / explain the Physics E.

I don't give a damn about a 23 yr old's RE GCSE grade.

Management courses before gliding, at least in the IT sector. Probably personal achievements after employment by now.

It looks like you haven't really thought about it since age 19. Time to trim it up and target it to the jobs you are applying for.

Your securitas stuff is still in the present tense.

Goochie

welcome to the Scoobynet CV clinic

I found that recruitment consultants need to be pushed hard all the time, call them every couple of days and speak to the same person each time. That way, when a job comes in your name will be in their mind first.

Having said that I got my current job through an agency who found my CV on www.totaljobs.com

Also well worth sending out speculative letters to people asking of they have any jobs. I did this last time I was looking and got 3 interviews and 3 job offers out of it (all of which, I turned down but regret that now). I send out 50+ letters and got maybe 15 replies. I work on the theory that if they cant be bothered to reply then I wouldnt really want to work there.

Currently I'm looking again and have an interview tomorrow as a result of a speculative letter to a local firm.

Goochie

In the IBM section you say -
You may want to get someone else (family etc) to proof read the whole thing because I found that just by skimming through it.

I agree with targeting too - I have several versions of my CV that I send out depending on the company and what they're looking for. Not saying you should say you've done things you havent but if you're applying to be a dustman they wont care if you have a degree in Astro Physics.

Albert47

I take it u were in the forces, and by the sounds of it didnt get very far up the the promotion ladder. I think yr a bit bitter!!!

The armed forces reviewed there pay system because it wasnt as high as the civilian equivalent, the troops were leaving. They were getting qualifications and then leaving for civilian jobs. They came up with a system called Pay 2000 and the higher rate of pay. Now 90% of the jobs in the forces earn the same or more than, there civilian equivalent. There pension scheme is now 2nd 2 none, the best around I heard!!!!!

14K I think the recruits are on that!!!!!

Albert!!!!

PS I think they have just had a pay rise, after Iraq!!!!!

wez_sti

how do you mean? Lie/say how hard it was??? changed the noted errors, i wouldnt give me a job!!

maybe i'm destined to flip burgers!

Goochie

I have a degree and say the following (or similar)

2:1 BEng (hons) degree in scoobynetting from the university of Honda S2000

4 'A' levels grades A-C in maths, physics, graphic design and design technology.

9 GCSE's grades A* - C

wez_sti

wont

'2 A' Levels C-E in Computer Studies and Physics'

look just as bad though????

Brendan Hughes

I passed two A-levels; Computer Studies at grade C and Physics at grade E.

I also have X GCSEs, including (here list a few good/interesting ones and their grades).