How can I get a job now?

junii

Ive spent the last year or so studying an all my experience before that was in the area I spent the year studying. Im still quite young and don't want to get into a right job yet. A general operative job has cropped up in something id be quite interested in but it requires a cv. If I send one in to them they will be thinking that its a joke or something.

Please advise.

Hal1

We all had to start somewhere so dont let your lack of working experience put you off. You say you are studying and are pursuying a career that alone would impress the socks of an employer it is a general op job anyway.

junii

Yes but given my experience and what I have been doing for the last year they may be thinking "Why does he want to work here?" and if we give him the job he probably won't stay very long!

nesf

junii wrote:

Yes but given my experience and what I have been doing for the last year they may be thinking "Why does he want to work here?" and if we give him the job he probably won't stay very long!

Have you any general operative or equivalent work on your CV? It can be difficult to not appear over-qualified but you could twist it to look like that you need to start low and build up some experience, especially in the interview. It also depends on what your experience and qualifications are.

Hal1

With your attitude you wont get very far think of the positives that you will gain work experience on your CV, money etc, and what the employer could gain like a enthusasitic worker. Your next employer will be asking questions and you want to have something to show for your blood, sweat and tears.

is_that_so

junii wrote:

Yes but given my experience and what I have been doing for the last year they may be thinking "Why does he want to work here?" and if we give him the job he probably won't stay very long!

This happened to me once when I applied for a job. They actually told me that themselves and they were right. I had jumped at it because I was sure it was the right job, but it was more me being desperate to get a job.
Imagine yourself in this job in 2-3 years . Will you be content doing it?
If you been studying are you not aiming for something more than that job?

Send in a CV if it's what you are interested in but you need to make sure you convince them on the CV that you have a real interest in the area.

junii

Well maybe I am desperate to get the job and maybe I am not. I don't see myself staying there or that long anyway. Maybe 6 months or so while I finish my studies and get some things sorted out in my life.

Unfortunately, I really don't seem to be able to think of any angle I could use in an interview. Its certainly not a work your way up into the field job.

Basically im studying computers and have some experience in level1 technical support. This is a general op job in a factory. Maybe I could just say I hate the computer industry and I want to try something else but how would I explain then that ive just spent the last year studying them.

nesf

Um, when I was younger and was going for general op jobs in the summers I used approach it as "I need the money and I'm willing to work hard for it". Generally, if it's a general operative job they'll only be interested in whether you are willing to work hard rather than anything else in my experience.

That said, things might be different now.

Vikings

junii wrote:

Unfortunately, I really don't seem to be able to think of any angle I could use in an interview. Its certainly not a work your way up into the field job.

Dude you are not going at this the right way at all, do not try and take an angle in the interview at all! Go in to the interview tell them you would really like the opportunity to work for them, you are hard working blah blah blah and then wait for the good/bad news.

If/when you get the job and 6 months down the line you want to leave then hand in your notice and leave, don't be thinking about leaving before you even go to the interview, you will never get a job if you think like that.

You are thinking way too much in to this, just apply for the job, sit the interview and cross your fingers.

Dave!

Register with an agency doing temping. You'll get a wide range of different jobs which you can put on your CV.

junii

Ok. I get the message. Ill go in and say really want this job and willing to work hard et cetera.

Im just after looking at my CV though and its all technical and computer stuff. I wonder would it be better to go to a cv "expert" and get them to help me as I don't really know how to gear the cv towards this general operative job.

How much does it cost to see one actually?

Dave!

Blank out personal details and post it up here.

junii

Here we go....Its probably not a great cv anyway.

My name – Curriculum Vitae 2007
Address: My Address.
DOB: 10/12/1982
Tel: (085) *******
Email: myemailaddress@gmail.com

---

Education

Computer course name: A+ Hardware/Software Technician
I completed this with ******** in 2006. The duration of the course was just over a year. There were two modules; A+ hardware/software technician & N+ network techician. Module 1 was completed in May and I received the A+ certificate.. This module covered all areas of computers and operating systems to give me a firm grounding that enables me to be able to troubleshoot and resolve problems be they hardware or software competently.
All operating systems were covered from NT to XP.

Computer course name: N+ Network Technician
Module 2 of the computer course. The exam will be held in March ‘07.
The N+ module covered all aspects of networking. Routers, switches, VPN’s, Ethernet standards etc and of course the software troubleshooting applications such as PING, TRACERT etc.


CCNA – Cisco certified network associate
I am currently studying the CCNA course. The exam will be undertaken in March ’07.

Other
I am also studying for the Linux+ qualification and in the future plan to pursue my Cisco qualifications to CCNP.

---

Previous employment & work experience

Systems administrator – Company name 2003-2005
Tasks included:

• Maintenance of the company network.
• Installation and configuration of servers, workstations, printers and scanners.
• Installation and configuration of a vast array of software applications from email/office apps to server applications including email (SMTP & POP3) and DNS.
• Maintenance of backup systems.
• Day to day desktop support to other employees.


Company name 2
While attending my course this year, I did three months work experience for company name in Limerick. I worked on client’s sites and also at the workshop. I gained experience here in dealing with large clients such as the this company and that company.

---

Skills
• I have strong troubleshooting skills from windows through OSX, Linux and hardware.
• I have experience using a wide range of programs on Windows from the simple word processing suites like Microsoft office to msconfig and regedit.
• I have experience configuring Windows 2000 and 2003 Servers.
• I have experience configuring Linux servers from the command line.
• I have configured many network applications on Linux including bind (DNS), postfix (mail) and backup software.
• I have a lot of experience dealing with clients.
• I am conscientious and hard-working.
• I enjoy working in a team and also work well on my own.
• I hold a full clean driving license.

---

Interests
I am interested in computer networking. I spend a lot of time working on my home computers testing new software, installing and configuring. Currently, at home I have Windows Xp, Windows 2000
Debian and SUSE installed between my laptop and desktop. I spend a lot of time using the internet.
I am also interested in soccer and am a member of the local club. As well as that in my spare time I read, watch films and listen to music.

---

References
Joe Dell, Joe Soap,
Nowhere, Nowhere,
Nowhere, Nowhere,
Co. Limerick. Co. Nowhere.
(096) 888888 (091) 444555


I am available to talk or meet with you at your request. If you have any inquiries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,
_______________
Joe Soap

junii

Hello again. If nobody has any suggestions on how to gear this cv towards a general operative job could you please recommend a professional that does this?
Also, how much do they cost?

Cheers.