Finding hard to break into other industry of IT

franco25

Hi I am finding it very frustrating at the moment applying for jobs. I have 5 years as a BA with Degree and MSc under my belt. I have spent those 5 years working in a specialist industry i.e. multinational, highly regulated, food and pharma! When applying for jobs, say in banking I cannot even get to an interview stage going through the recruiter. I find this frustrating as they look at my industry first and don't understand how I have utilized the tools I have developed over these years as BA and the MSc to produce results and perform the functions of a BA.

Anyone come across a similar situation and how to get around this? i.e. I want to move away from food and pharma!

UDP

Whats a BA? Bachelor of Arts?

franco25

BA = Business Analyst - sorry I should have been more clear!

UDP

What are your qualifications and experience in IT (in a nutshell) and what area in IT are you trying to get into?

franco25

I have Six Sigma, Business Analysis, Statistical Analysis, KPI Analysis, ERP Support, also Network and Desktop. I am concentrating on Bus Analysis as I have done a few projects in terms of data mining, decision support systems, expert systems, linear programming.

fret_wimp2

Tailor your CV for each application. Dont have a generic CV.
In the CV, dont dwell on the source of the experience, dwell on the actual experince and the tools used.

If you get the interview, this means they are interested. Once you get in for an interview the job is yours to take or to let slip away. Be prepared. Have examples of where you used your skills, independent of the industries you want to distance yourself from.

Have some words prepared explaining how your expirience is not tied to a particular industry.

Have some examples of how you plan to apply your knowledge to your potential employers industry.

Be Confident in all the above statements. they basically show you have experience, its transferrable and you know how/have a plan on how to apply your skills in the new industry you are trying to get into.

Best of luck.

franco25

Excellent! Great advice - I am going to memorize this going forward in any job applications from start to finish. Thanks very much!

RATM

franco25 wrote: »

Hi I am finding it very frustrating at the moment applying for jobs. I have 5 years as a BA with Degree and MSc under my belt. I have spent those 5 years working in a specialist industry i.e. multinational, highly regulated, food and pharma! When applying for jobs, say in banking I cannot even get to an interview stage going through the recruiter. I find this frustrating as they look at my industry first and don't understand how I have utilized the tools I have developed over these years as BA and the MSc to produce results and perform the functions of a BA.

Anyone come across a similar situation and how to get around this? i.e. I want to move away from food and pharma!

OP do you have any exposure to SAS? I'm currently recruiting for a data mining analyst for one of the major banks. PM me and I'll send over the details.

Welease

Just a quick response...

Fret_wimp2's reponse is worth following..

franco25 wrote: »

I find this frustrating as they look at my industry first and don't understand how I have utilized the tools I have developed over these years as BA and the MSc to produce results and perform the functions of a BA.

It's YOUR job to make them understand through your CV.. In this current age they will likely get numerous CV's from people with the same qualifications (or better) with more directly relevant experience.. YOU need to convince them to hire you!

Spend time and energy to hone your CV to their requirements. You are trying to sell yourself in an environment where you are likely not the obvious choice.