Cant get on the career ladder

Society Business and Career
1

Hi all. Been browsing these forums for a while but never felt the need to post until today.

I am a 23 year old in the UK. I have been in education since pretty much all my life. After high school went straight to college. After completing A-levels, into a straight 3 year computer science degree followed by a MSc in InfoSec and now unemployed.

I was fortunate enough to be offered a scholarship for the MSc so took up the opportunity with both hands. I was planning to spend a year in Pakistan along with some other places on the way. Kind of a gap year if not offered a scholarship. I was planning to take the gap year in 207/08. However the bread winner in the family has been made redundant as such the plans have been scrapped, and missed the 2007 entry graduate schemes.

The problem is I am finding it impossible to get ANY suitable position in IT. I have been through a few CV designs. The one I use most people comment on being very good. Since beginning of December I have been applying for several roles a week. From which I have only got two replies ==> interviews.

Software development is not my niche, therefore missed these jobs out. Security is where I have excelled in but any role involving support, network maintenance, general computer technician, I have applied for. Some of these roles paying just over the minimum wage i.e. £14000pa - considerably less than some of my peers. What really has done my confidence harm is a recent interview. The role was paying not much. A position for a trainee. Minimum entry requirements of some GCSE and A-Levels an advantage. Being desperate I applied, went to the interview. I think I aced the test, manager commented no interviewee yet achieved more than 50%. I believe I got somewhere in the 75-80% region. From the reaction of the manager in the interview I got the impression I nailed the job. He seemed pleased, commented on my excellent CV and interpersonal communication skills. As a trainee position i was careful not to sound like the stuck up know it all 20 something old. Where I was uncertain of my abilities I made it clear e.g:

manager: If I gave you same cat5, BNC and a switch could you get it all set up?

me: Although I understand the theoretical of a switch, including running cables between different nodes. As someone starting a career in IT I have yet to experience configuring a switch. I would imagine with minimal input or with the help of google I could do so.

manager: Ok. So what theory have you learned… what’s the difference between a router and hub

me: tells him

manager: You would be surprised at how many dont know that.

Got a letter saying you wont get the position. What am I doing wrong? some of those on courses with me, no more brighter than me are earning loads working for some big names in IT, services firms yet I cant get a low paid trainee post.

2

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

Thank you all for your greatly helpful replies.

'leaves GS

3

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

Persistence is the key. You will find your break eventually. Keep sending your CV you might get a job offer after every one has been placed but the offer you get eventually that may be your dream job , Inshallah. How long it has been since you got your degree ? I Guess not long enough to be desperate for a job offer. I do not know what is the average time from degree to job offer in UK/EU you might know. Have you passed that rule of thumb timeline ?

4

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

Your situation seems to be a under experienced and overqualifed person. many of us have faced that challenge.

underexperienced means that jobs that u should be going for require more practical experience, and overqualified means that employers think..or know..with good reason that once u get some experience you will leave for greener pastures.

so getting a break, a foot in the door is what u need. and for that you will have to be a little more proactive and work through contacts, if your friends are in diff companies solicit their help. internal referrals are very important.

get others to review your resume, there are technology professionals here who can possibly help.

you will have a better chance with a handful of opportunities that you have found through ppl you know than several dozen blind job applications for vacancy listings.

5

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

I think that the interview that you mentioned above, you were over skilled. That would not be right for the manager to offer you such postion as it would be unfair to you.

Many a times manager makes such decsion cause they dont want a over-skilled person wroking for under-skill supervsior. He was probably pro-actively trying to avoid such situation.

But I like your answer about the CAT5 and BNC. Managers are not looking for know it all .. they are looking for people who are willing to learn

6

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

I have a similar problem. I have a bachelors in business marketing. I have only worked for at the current job that I have which is an appt clerk at a hosp. This position has nothing to do with my degree and is not something I can excel in to get somewhere near where I should be. I want to know what I should do. I always had ppl tell me that I should get my foot in the door...and now that I have I am still having a hard time getting a position of my level. What can I do? I also want to do MBA in several years inshallah. Pls guide me! Thanks.

7

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

pyaari have you tried to build a network in the company? find a mentor in the group you want to be in? talk to ppl about your goals..talking to you immediate supervisor about it does not count.

have you joined yoir local AMA chapter? gone to their events, tried to get involved in AMA i.e. not just going to events but involved in organizing them?

kept in touch with ppl you graduated with?

there are many things you should be doing. being inside gives you teh ability to contact someone in the company who you otherwise as an outsider will have little access to.

express interest, tell them you are interested in what that group does and want to learn more about it. if you have 3-4-5 of such ppl across diff groups, your odds increase.

What are you wearing today?
8

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

Your in the same position a few of my friends are in, they've graduated yet are struggling to get an interview, let alone a job.

X2 has pretty much said what i was going to, all i can say it stick at, apply, apply, apply. Inshallah something will come up soon.

One thing i have noticed, that a good idea is whilst studying one should always take up oppurtunities to actually get some experience, be it on a part time basis, ie. a trainee, anything. So come the time when u have graduated ya resume can reflect that you have some experience as well as the skills and not just the Hon's abbreviations in front of your name.

9

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

X2: Thanks for the information, very helpful. Let me just give a little background. I studied and lived in one state and then after marriage moved to another state not too far away. I have contacted teachers to see if they can help me find companies or jobs where I can apply. They said they mostly have offers for their state, but not where I live. I have contacted my uni's career center to see if they could help, but not much luck. The company I currently work for is a big organization. My uncle helped me get this position too. He knows of this lady and she hands our resumes to the HR manager, which usually helps me get an interview, but because of seniority I don't get offered the job. I myself visit one of the recruiters seeing if there are any jobs that I can apply for...she knows me really well and tries to help, but still no luck. As for AMA I asked ppl on this forum before and they said it wasn't as important to join...so I am confused....I think I really need to join AMA..how do u find an AMA in ur local area?

10

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

pyaari , i understand your situation. I am in a diff city from where I went to school in, just ended up here by chance ande ended up staying so the uni network and all was not of much help.

I know what company you work for, we have spoken about it before and worked on your resume too. but you are going about it the wrong way, lady in HR is not teh right approach, for groups you want to go to, find out the people and talk to them directly, not just for a job btiu express interest in their group and ask to meet up to find out more about the group and what they do. will it work, mayeb mayeb not but keep trying.

AMA can be good if leveraged properly, my oen experience with AMA a few years ago was that it had too many junior ppl, but in your case that may work because you are starting out as well. I think BMA is better investigate them a well, just search online find the website and look for a local chapter of AMA.

also try to take a class or two at a local established uni,

as far as the company, a couple of points to note, if after doing all this you still can not move within the company then leave and find a different place

lastly, for career purposes, if your profs can help u get in a good role in a diff state, why dont you pursue it? even if it is to get started?

Blackberry apps
11

Re: Cant get on the career ladder

Currently I am trying to get a position in either HR or Marketing...reason for HR is that it is also an area of interest and closer to my home. Their marketing department is either a 2 hr drive or in the Northern part of the state.
The HR lady that I know is usually the first one who takes a look at the resumes. If she thinks that someone is suitable for the job she will pass the resume on the the hiring manager. So I think it was important that I keep in contact with her. Also I wouldn't mind getting a job in her department. Secondly even if I do know someone and have close contact it is based on seniority...someone who has been in the company for 10 years vs me who has only been there for 10 months will most likely get the job....that is what is making hard for me. But like you said I will try to see if I can broaden my network range. I am still looking into other companies as well...keeping my options open. Thanks.

For AMA is it just marketingpower.com? Or are there different groups? I want to join a major network where I can go to seminars as well as meet other ppl and go to other events. I know my husband's association has meetings every 2-3 months and then one major one every year...I tried to network through his association too. So I am trying.

I can't move to another state since I am married and my husband has a job here. And it is not feasible right now for us since he just started his career too.

I am also thinking of taking classes at a uni....I know there is a way of taking classes not for bachelor/master purposes but just as a non student or something heard about it but need to look into it further.

Thanks for the info.....