IT Positions -help.

yoganmahew said:
...Yes, that is the sort of technology I'm working with - at least from the programming point of view. It is also the sort of technology every major (scheduled) airline and financial institution is working with (assembler, cobol...).
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Don't I know, we've loads of old Cobol stuff where I am too. We needed to fix one yesterday that a date problem. The original programmer obviously didn't expect the application to be still in use some 27 yrs later. However we are slowly replacing them with new applications which are much more easily mantained and vastly better scope for being developed further. Most other organisations I've been in with similar legacy applications are doing the same. One of the very good reason for this that is the skill pool of people that have these skills is shrinking rapidly.
 
cobra, any jobs going for a cobol Y2K developer? Top rates expected.

To the OP, Id suggest handing out CVs elsewhere and do what most people do and lie. I interview candidates all the time for roles and its laughable when you question them on their CV as they dont have the skillset to back what theyve said theyve done elsewhere. However, if you do have the skillset, when you sit down in an interview you'll be able to hold your own. Everyone blags on their CV. Everyone.

"So you work with Oracle databases?"
"Yeah, Ive done all that stuff."
"You say youre certified"
"Yeah, whatever, Im your man, love pc's me..."
 
car said:
cobra, any jobs going for a cobol Y2K developer? Top rates expected.

To the OP, Id suggest handing out CVs elsewhere and do what most people do and lie. I interview candidates all the time for roles and its laughable when you question them on their CV as they dont have the skillset to back what theyve said theyve done elsewhere. However, if you do have the skillset, when you sit down in an interview you'll be able to hold your own. Everyone blags on their CV. Everyone.

"So you work with Oracle databases?"
"Yeah, Ive done all that stuff."
"You say youre certified"
"Yeah, whatever, Im your man, love pc's me..."
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Frankly I think this is awful advice. I've seen a lot of CVs and I've spotted some absolute howlers of lies. It ruins your reputation if you're caught out.

One example was where a colleague had worked with someone directly, and when I got their CV they had indicated they were working with another company in a more senior position when actually they were working with my colleague. The CV was binned and there was no chance anyone would ever consider him again.

In a 200 person company there's every likelihood quite a number of the staff may have worked with you or have some knowledge of you from before.

I know that CVs can often be fluff but it's easier to lie about your role in the Bratislava Electronic Company than BallymagashTech ... Ireland is too small for "fibs" on CVs.

I notice often that people include skills matrices with all the buzz words but often these are not backed up by project knowledge. It is easy to spot who is lying as the previous correspondent says. If it's so easy to spot then why suggest it in the first place.
 
Hi Guys,
First off ...what the hell has my thread started????

Cerberos- I don't have an attitude problem I'm just frustrate because im good at something that I want as a career but cant get into to . I do not scorn computer degress in fact I think if you want to a programmer or developer etc it would be a good thing to have dont you think??
I completely agree with yogi and I think he was spot on with everything he said.
I didn't get the tech job in the company where I work because I "don't have hands on experience" ,in my original thread all I was asking was how do I get this hands on experience if no one is willing to give me a chance in tech support. Stepping back and looking at myself etc etc has bugger all to do with anything.
My CV and cover letter is perfect I even had it checked over by a friend of mine who works as a programmer in Microsoft. Theres not a lie in there as I don't believe in it , It'll only come back to bite you in the ass.
The techs (well some of them, about 60%) are all trained in web development and programming etc but dont know how to fix a pc when its down ,I've been on to many techs and alot of them really don't know what their talking about (A prime example would is when my wireless broadband wouldnt work and I was told to wipe my hard drive and reinstall windows ....which is the worst advice ever ). I am a self builder ,have been for 5 yrs now, I have two certs (1 which is a worldwide standard...A+) ,that have trained me in the maintance and technical support of PCs . My boss even referred to me as his " technical wizard" yesterday in work . Everyone on my team in work and most on the floor say that im in the wrong dept ..if they can see it then why cant I get the chance to prove myself.
 
Hi Rover, I sympathise, I really do. In the early nineties (er, very early), when I was starting out, there was the 'great graduate shortage' (this was in England) and the company I ended up working for flew people in from Ireland and Italy in addition to it's local recruitment and trained us all up in what they wanted us to do.

Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to happen now. Companies want instant skills when you join, and because they don't really know what those skills are, they tend to go for CV experience in something that sounds like it might be what they want!

So, aside from leaving your current company to go to another as sales with a view to moving to tech support, is there any way you could get a secondment to tech support in the current company? (Sort of a 'get to know the business inside out to sell stuff better' pitch).

Or could you get your boss to change your job description so that it is sales and departmental technical support (so the work you do fixing other peoples' problems locally is recognised on your CV)?
 
If you have the certs, "the perfect CV", are practically doing the job, and everyone thinks you are brilliant. Lack of experience seems very petty. They should back up the talk with some postive action IMO.
 
Rover45 said:
The techs (well some of them, about 60%) are all trained in web development and programming etc but dont know how to fix a pc when its down ,I've been on to many techs and alot of them really don't know what their talking about
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This is called specialisation. If I have a large company then I find someone who is good at fixing PCs to fix PCs, and I find someone who can use HTML and Flash to design a webpage, and a find someone who knows Oracle and Database Design to develop my database.

Just because someone doesn't know what you do, or can't fix a "blue screen of death", doesn't mean they aren't excellent at what they do.

I think you may have some misconceptions here. It is the attitude that I know what to do and those uni guys don't that is coming through strongly and that other posters have commented on. I didn't spot that in your earlier posts but I certainly notice it now. I think you need to put it behind you.

Granted some guys with uni degrees don't know how to programme, while some non-graduates make great developers, but I'm afraid HR departments are inherently conservative and will likely go for the graduate.

Best of luck but focus on yourself and not others perceived inadequacies.

Also why not try further certification? Something like RHCE Red Hat Certified Engineer. It may help get you from fixing PCs to administration and a big step up in your career.
 
I didn't get the tech job in the company where I work because I "don't have hands on experience"
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Might be worth talking to the person who interviewed you and see if it is possible to even do one day a week or something there to get hands on experience so then you can get the next position coming up. Generally if you are a good worker they would give you the chance.

My CV and cover letter is perfect I even had it checked over by a friend of mine who works as a programmer in Microsoft.
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Might be worth getting this checked over by a recruitment agency rather than a programming friend.

The techs (well some of them, about 60%) are all trained in web development and programming etc but dont know how to fix a pc when its down ,I've been on to many techs and alot of them really don't know what their talking about (A prime example would is when my wireless broadband wouldnt work and I was told to wipe my hard drive and reinstall windows ....which is the worst advice ever ).
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Dunno why you are so bothered about this ... its not their job, its not what they trained to do. Just because they can program doesnt mean they should be able to deal with hardware too.

Everyone on my team in work and most on the floor say that im in the wrong dept ..if they can see it then why cant I get the chance to prove myself.
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People lie!! You must be speaking about it alot at work if so many people seem to have an opinion - sometimes its easier to agree with someone.
 
Frankly I think this is awful advice. I've seen a lot of CVs and I've spotted some absolute howlers of lies. It ruins your reputation if you're caught out.
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theres 2 things going to happen if you "garnish" your CV. You'll be asked about it in the interview, if you can back it up you stand a better chance of getting the job, if you cant then you wont and your rep is ruined.
Obviously you have to be smart about it, some people arent.
 
Rover45, I also sense from your posts that you might have an attitude problem, e.g. I sense you think you're "deadly".

Most employer do not want to hire cocky people. They want employees who'll do what they're told, keep their mouth shut, and won't think they're too good for the place. ESPECIALLY junior tech support.

I do get the feeling you think you're better than everyone...

I used to work in recruitment. I'd be happy to take a peep at your cover letter and CV. You can copy and paste them into a PM if you like.
 
"The techs (well some of them, about 60%) are all trained in web development and programming etc but dont know how to fix a pc when its down ,I've been on to many techs and alot of them really don't know what their talking about"

The more I read the more convinced that my initial comment was right.
Many of my sons friends build their own gaming PCs and know a LOT about building Lego pieces into Boxes and software, Firmware and drivers and that go along with them and they do impress me. But I see them as very capable and knowledgeable hobbyists.

But they are much more MODEST than you.

Perhaps Attitude and a know all approach is your problem.

Whiz Kid - I thought you were in SALES??

C
 
I do alot of interviewing and to be honest I would pick someone with hands on experience in a comapny doing the job I am hiring for any day over someone who taught themselves at home - all things being equal. Its not because I dont think the other person would be capable but you cant afford to make a mistake and hire the wrong person. So much time goes into the recruitment process that takes away from my day to day work that I dont want to be back hiring in 3 months after I realise I hired someone who couldnt do the job.

Unless you are talking about grad positions, most companies will go with the person who has experience - why take a chance on someone?

As for being given the chance in your own company, it is possible that you are too good at what you are doing and they dont want to loose you in that role.
 
Apologies, I havent read everyones comment barring the Original Poster. OP: in my opinion, software is the one of the few fields where you learn something by practise. If you wanna be a hardcore programmer, which I believe you can be, all you need to do is just take any [I mean any] software programs that you can lay hands on and re-develop it. [like Internet Banking app, railway reservation, hotel reservation anything for that matter...just a thought
 
cnu said:
Apologies, I havent read everyones comment barring the Original Poster. OP: in my opinion, software is the one of the few fields where you learn something by practise. If you wanna be a hardcore programmer, which I believe you can be, all you need to do is just take any [I mean any] software programs that you can lay hands on and re-develop it. [like Internet Banking app, railway reservation, hotel reservation anything for that matter...just a thought
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For support?
 
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