Thinking of changing jobs

jasonb

Hi there,

I'm thinking of changing my job. I've done up my CV, had a look at some Agencies, set up a profile on LinkedIn etc. What I'm trying to do is figure out what are the next steps to take.

Do I register with one agency and see what they can do for me? Do I register with more than one? I've heard not to put my CV up on job sites as I'll just get a lot of annoying email back?

Any advice on what to do next would be appreciated. Just for info, I've been working in IT for about 15 years and in my current job for 7 years. Thanks...

J.

mood

Can I ask why you want to change jobs now?

ntlbell

do you have any ideas on what you want to do?

do you have anything that's relevant to that sector?

now is an excellent time to train.

jasonb

Thanks for the replies... Basically, after 7 years I'm looking for a new challenge. There are certain aspects of working where I work that I'm not happy with and won't be changing, so I'd like to see what my options are. I'm not desperate to leave, so this is more a seeing what my options are and if something out there suits me I'll grab it!

I'd like to continue working in IT, so I'm not looking for a change in career as such. I'd just like to take it to the next level and get my teeth into something new, with a different company and a different setup.

I hope that all makes sense!

J.

ntlbell

jasonb wrote: »

Thanks for the replies... Basically, after 7 years I'm looking for a new challenge. There are certain aspects of working where I work that I'm not happy with and won't be changing, so I'd like to see what my options are. I'm not desperate to leave, so this is more a seeing what my options are and if something out there suits me I'll grab it!

I'd like to continue working in IT, so I'm not looking for a change in career as such. I'd just like to take it to the next level and get my teeth into something new, with a different company and a different setup.

I hope that all makes sense!

J.

Do you want to specialise in a particular area of IT?

jasonb

Pretty much what I'm doing now. So it'd be Windows ( and some Unix ) Sys Admin stuff, including Networks, Active Directory, Domains, Citrix, Sharepoint as well as Switches / PABXs etc.

I'm basically running IT for my company on my own right now, so I'm responsible for everything. I'd ideally be looking for a company that has a bigger IT department ( wouldn't be too hard ) so I could focus more on the Server / Data Centre side of things.

J.

mood

I think it is a very bad move to give up a secure job at the moment. Also, there may be less job available right now that you think. You will probable be looking at taking a serious cut in pay and will have little security (on probation, no redundancy entitlement until your there two years etc).

Anyway, if you skill want to look I would register with a few agencies. Some specialise in IT. Check out the jobs websites ie Irishjobs.ie, Recruitireland.com etc

gleep

One bit of advice, STAY AWAY FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES!

They will promise you the world, and deliver nothing! They are well known for roping you in by advertising fantastic new jobs that never EVER existed in the first place. They're on a par with estate agents and bankers, sleaze ball grifters, absolute lying twats!

Ponit is they will wate a hell of a lot of your time talking bull**** that could be spent productivly. Look for jobs that are advertised by companies, not agencies and rule out agencies on any interne jobsites you use. Have you noticed how many agency jobs on these sites at the minute, no less than there was in the boom/bubble - eventhough there a basically no jobs in the country?
Why is this - Because they are lying bastreds!

jasonb

I agree, it's not the best time to be looking, and I wouldn't do anything as rash as handing in notice etc. unless I knew I was going to a job I really wanted. But that said, there's no harm in looking at all.

Gleep, when you say look for jobs advertised buy companies, not by Agencies, where should I look for these jobs? Is it possible on Job Sites to search only for jobs from Companies, and not from Agencies?

J.

gleep

jasonb wrote: »

I agree, it's not the best time to be looking, and I wouldn't do anything as rash as handing in notice etc. unless I knew I was going to a job I really wanted. But that said, there's no harm in looking at all.

Gleep, when you say look for jobs advertised buy companies, not by Agencies, where should I look for these jobs? Is it possible on Job Sites to search only for jobs from Companies, and not from Agencies?

J.

Yes J, on irishjobs.ie anyway, you can do a advanced search and search by recruiter type, then select employer(not agency). I think most sites have this function.
You may want to check out the FAS site, they have a few decent jobs up there and most of the employers are real no - nonsense types, if your good enough you'll get an interview.
Good Luck

mrpink6789

gleep wrote: »

One bit of advice, STAY AWAY FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES!

They will promise you the world, and deliver nothing! They are well known for roping you in by advertising fantastic new jobs that never EVER existed in the first place. They're on a par with estate agents and bankers, sleaze ball grifters, absolute lying twats!

Ponit is they will wate a hell of a lot of your time talking bull**** that could be spent productivly. Look for jobs that are advertised by companies, not agencies and rule out agencies on any interne jobsites you use. Have you noticed how many agency jobs on these sites at the minute, no less than there was in the boom/bubble - eventhough there a basically no jobs in the country?
Why is this - Because they are lying bastreds!

yawn.....not all agencies are useless, the stereotyping on these boards is terrible.

Never rule out agencies, yes companies are trying to do recruitment themselves but a lot of HR people are getting so many CV's that quite a few are being lost on the way to the hiring manager. A lot of agencies deal direct with hiring managers so there is a stronger chance of your CV actually being looked at. Of course some companies dont use agencies at all so your best bet is to get the hiring managers name and try and submit your CV direct that way.
Unfortunately there are agencies out there that will mess people around but I'm a recruitment agent myself and if it comes down to I can make some money off you then I will work for it.

On another note I recently worked a Network Consultant role and the volume of CV's in that area were huge, seems like the market is saturated with the AD, Firewall, Cisco skills etc at the moment so my advice would be to stay where you are.

mood

jasonb wrote: »

I agree, it's not the best time to be looking, and I wouldn't do anything as rash as handing in notice etc. unless I knew I was going to a job I really wanted. But that said, there's no harm in looking at all.

Gleep, when you say look for jobs advertised buy companies, not by Agencies, where should I look for these jobs? Is it possible on Job Sites to search only for jobs from Companies, and not from Agencies?

J.

Just look up the jobs sites and the newspapers. Look up companies websites if you have an particular companies in mind. Just do the same as you did when you were applying for your current role. Things have not changed that much.

gleep

mrpink6789 wrote: »

yawn.....not all agencies are useless, the stereotyping on these boards is terrible.

Never rule out agencies, yes companies are trying to do recruitment themselves but a lot of HR people are getting so many CV's that quite a few are being lost on the way to the hiring manager. A lot of agencies deal direct with hiring managers so there is a stronger chance of your CV actually being looked at. Of course some companies dont use agencies at all so your best bet is to get the hiring managers name and try and submit your CV direct that way.
Unfortunately there are agencies out there that will mess people around but I'm a recruitment agent myself and if it comes down to I can make some money off you then I will work for it.

On another note I recently worked a Network Consultant role and the volume of CV's in that area were huge, seems like the market is saturated with the AD, Firewall, Cisco skills etc at the moment so my advice would be to stay where you are.

Mr Pink - I don't want to get too off topic here but I think my advice to OP is sound advice. I know recruitment agents who have told me how they operate - they are proud of it in so much as they'll try anything to make a buck.
I understand what you mean about working hard to get your client a job because you are incentivised to do so. But a question for you - have you or your company ever advertised a job that didn't really exist in order to collect top notch potential clients cv's, with the aim of then approaching companies trying to get these new clients placed? Or holding these cvs just in case a suitable job comes along?

Mrs OBumble

OP, I think some of the posters here don't understand the part of the employment market you are in. (technical IT jobs still in the newspapers? yeah, right!)

As others have said, it's not a great time to move from the security of a permanent job where you have over a year's service (and thus employment rights) into a new job. On the other hand, good people are tending to hang on to their jobs for just that reason, so some employers are actually finding it hard to fill roles!

Yes, there is a lot of competition from people who are currently out of work (including me ... anyone want a west-of-Ireland-based business-systems-analyst? ... but it's still true that employers like hiring people who already have jobs, so you have a real advantage.

Agencies sometimes do evil things. They sometimes lie, and use your CV in ways you didn't intend. But they can sometimes convince employers to consider people who don't immediately seem to fit the requirements. And for this, they are worth their weight in, well not gold ... maybe silver!

I'd say look around. Cruise the job boards yourself - every day, so you learn how to spot the fake ads that have been there for ever. Register with an agency or two. Consider putting an anonymous CV onto Monster.ie, and see if you get any calls that lead to something (a while ago, we were getting lots of empty calls from recruiters, but these seem to have toned down lately).

And think about how risk-adverse you are in terms of losing stability and employment rights. How bad would it be if you got let go, for no reason at all, after a couple of months?


My 2c. YMMV.

waterdale33

I have been unfairly dismissed from my job does anyone know much about the rights commissioner because i have case coming up

mood

waterdale33 wrote: »

I have been unfairly dismissed from my job does anyone know much about the rights commissioner because i have case coming up

You need to start your own thread about this.

And JustMary I have seen IT jobs in papers.

I think OP needs to look himself. It sounds like he has not even botherer going online etc to start looking around yet.

fret_wimp

OP, im in the same position as you. in a job a few years now, in IT and sick to the teeth of it.

I want to change direction a little, nothing drastic, into a very much related, but more specialized field. I had my cv up online(monster), got recruiter calls who promised me awesome jobs, and luckily, in two of those companies i knew people who gave me the full story.

Recruiters story:
Great job, awesome benifits, secure, no chance of being fired as long as you get over the 6 month probation period etc etc etc.

Mates story:
Unpaid overtime of 3+ hours a day expected, benifits being cut, all new hires will NOT Pass their probation but instead they find some reason to say that you need to stay on probation for 3 more months , and after that 3 more months, so you are on a rolling probation contract essentially and could be let go at any time.

Its an employers market. unless you are absolutely sure of where your moving to, i say stay put. even if it sucks, you have rights and some form of security( as already stated).

Also, remember there are not as many jobs, and i know of 2 financial institutions that have let go over 100+ IT employees in the next 6 or so months. 100+ IT folks will mean your in competition with up to 100 people for any good jobs. interview process will go on much longer and chances are, even if you are the most qualified, someone else will do the job for less than you will and you wont get the job.

be very careful. Dont worry also, employees time will come again when we can pick and choose!

jasonb

Thanks for all of the replies...

Can I just say to Mood, in the first post I said that I'd done up my CV, looked at a few agencies and created a profile on LinkedIn ( and put a post on here ). So it's safe to say I've 'bothered' to go online etc.

I'm just not sure if I should go with Agencies ( 1 or more than 1 ) or try to go direct to companies. I've heard good things about Agencies and terrible things about Agencies and I don't know which to believe. I can't even be sure that a good job I see online actually exists.

I've been in this job nearly 7 years, and I was lucky to find out about this job through a friend and therefore didn't have to go with Agencies etc. So it's been 15 years since I've actively looked for a job, and I'm sure things have changed in that time.

I appreciate all the advice, both about agencies / companies / job sites etc. and also about the pros and cons of leaving a permanent job at the moment.

J.