Is there any IT work out there?

CiaranC

Ive been looking for an IT job for the last month or so, with little success. In fact, I havent even heard a reply from a single application.

I have just finished my diploma in IT (Ord Degree), and have served my time in tech support (2 years exp). Im just looking to get a foot in the door somewhere, either in programming or networking. Im not looking for 40 grand a year, nor am I looking to become a lead programmer or IT manager overnight. Id take a position on a helpdesk to get me started while looking for something better. TBH, I am better than a lot of guys already working for the helpdesk in the company Im at atm.

I have spent hours focusing on my CV, have read acres of print on advice regarding it (including here).

Whats going on? Are the hundreds of people studying IT all over the country just wasting their time or what? Is it all a big scam? Is there any work in this field at all?

Help/Advice would be most welcome. Im starting to get seriously frustrated.

Einstein

Ciaran,

I work in IT, however, there are tons of helpdesk, deskside support jobs out there. Last month i had 3 interviews in the space of 2 weeks, because i felt like a change. I didn't take the jobs as they weren't really that appealing.

Check out the likes of
www.computerfutures.ie
www.irishjobs.ie
www.eolasrecruitment.com

The agencies are TERRIBLE. You have to chace them up every single day.

But I assure you, there are plenty of things happening in IT at the moment

Good luck

Dave...

MrPudding

Dell are looking for loads of people. You could try going for tech support initially. Once you have done 6 months you can apply for any Dell job in any country. I can pass your CV in if you like (if you get a job I will get a referal fee.) I will check to see of there are any programming jobs going as well.

It is not a bad company to work for, the package is pretty good.

MrP

CiaranC

Ill keep plugging away so, thanks for the encouragement.

*edit* Id rather not work in telephone tech support. Ive done it for two years already, its hell. Id do absolutely anything ahead of that.

mjquinno

www.recruitireland.com - also a good one

as divers said chase them up keep after them till you get a job you want. I also find if you check the company websites that you can get straight to their hr instead of going through the recruitment consultants.

what you should is compile a list of companies you want to work in. Check their site if their hiring great if their not send a CV anyways. YOu have to be stubborn. When i first started looking i had a sea of PFO's best of luck !!

hshortt

Go to Monster.ie and register there. Create a search agent with your key words and let them do the work. You'll get an automated email with positions that match your query. You then decide to apply or not.

There are always IT positions available and as you say you are willing to get started somewhere that should be enough to get you a job. The fact you are eager is (in my opinion) always good.

There's always agencies too, CPL are supposed to be good.

Good luck,
Howard

MrPudding

Why are agencies so bad? Considering they have to place people to make money you would think that you wouldn't need to hasle them everyday to do their job.

MrP

CiaranC

I registered with CPL last week just to get an idea of what the agency thing was all about - they didnt even contact me!

Einstein

I contacted CPL looking for IT work 3 years ago, they came back with a position working as a printer in a graphics company.
I asked them if they read my CV and they said yes, but we think this could be a great to oppurtunity for you...

I haven't been back since!!

ixoy

CiaranC wrote:

I registered with CPL last week just to get an idea of what the agency thing was all about - they didnt even contact me!

Why should they? Look at it from their perspective. A client comes to them and they ask for someone to fill a role. CPL already have people on file, so they don't particularly need to contact you as you're anonymous to them.

However, if you start harassing them, then you're not just a random collection of bytes on a harddrive somewhere - you gain a face. Keep nagging them, and you fill out more. You stand out from all those who don't bother.

I found I get the most response when I apply for a particular job through an agency. Then they'll make the effort to establish a rapport because there's a potential bonus in it for them but not until then!

FWIW, I've posted an article here about the '4000' jobs available in IT and graduate shortage and had it rubbished. I was somewhat in the same position as you and feeling disgruntled. But there are jobs out there. I got one, in my area of experience, relatively easily and am now moving jobs into application develoment. I'd love to claim I tried really hard to get it all but it wasn't that difficult to secure interviews.

You mention your CV - but what about the cover e-mail/letter? Seems strange you're not even getting to an interview stage.

CiaranC

Why should I have to nag a company to become a customer of theirs?

I dont have to nag the counter staff at McDonalds for a burger do I?

*edit* I do take your point in becoming more proactive in following up applications though. Also, maybe Ill give my cover letter template another look, ive spent a lot of time on the CV, but little on the cover letter itself.

BossArky

check out www.jobserve.com as I have mentioned previously on this board. Tonnes of jobs.

garred

Ciaran, your best bet is to email as many companies as possible. Thats what I did, sent out a standard email with my CV attached. I sent them to banks, companies, anyone who would have an IT section as well as the IT companies.
You'll find that they will more so than not reply to an email and also the fact that you won't be going through an agency there will be on fee for the employer.
On the agency front, I've applied to them on 3 different occassions and never gotten anything from them. Don't have much time for them but thats just my personal experience.
Best of luck.

Vokes

CiaranC: Symantec are having a recruitment fair in the Stephens Green hotel today and tomorrow.

mada999

When you are looking for a job, try if possible, to contact the IT Manager of the company that you want the job in.

More often than not it is the IT manager that knows they have a vacancy before HR.....HR mostly haven't got a clue.....

From my experience anyway!

CiaranC

Just an update on this, took some advice onboard from here and applied myself a little harder, and managed to land a good job with a great company in a little over 2 days of trying.

Anyone else in my position take heart!

galwaydude

good to hear ciaran

what kind of job by the way as i myself have a diploma too and 3 years+ experience

I am in the same boat but will stay here for a while longer as moving to the states next year.

CiaranC

You shouldnt have a problem if you are willing to start on a helpdesk or suchlike, with a view to moving on later. Id advise you to play up the experience part, as people I have dealt with mentioned that they wont touch grads with no corporate exposure.

You can get into fairly prestigous companies if you are prepared to start at a low level and work your way up.

WhiteWashMan

i absolutely agree.
i started my career in a call centre for ibm, worked my way to desktop support for gateway, and up until my present job, was designing, selling and implementing server infrastructure.

and it only took me about 5 years as well...

daithi

Im self employed in IT, but im looking to get into Sw Development, any tips?, ive been hunting for a few months, I have a 2.1 honours degree in Comercial Software development, with a distinction in my cert and diploma, a history of being a team leader, and coming top of the class. My final year project was very good, focusing on java/web/db/SMS etc. But i cant get a junior/graduate software development job anywhere, I have 3 months work placement (i had to get it as a summer job myself as there was no placement as part of my course)
I have submitted my CV to every Recruitment company i could find, and im registered with job search agents on all of the major websites.
I can get interviews for jobs that i feel i am well suited too, and I have often gotten into second rounds, and once a third round. So i am dismissing poor interview technique, I feel im pretty good at interviews anyway, and i study my approach, and ask for feedback.
Im just wondering what im doing wrong, I am wondering is there just that many computer graduates out there that are equally good, or better, Ive been told on the past few interviews, that they have had up to and over 250 applicants.
I would go mental in a support job, and i think the agencies have their heads up their arses, and i have never secured an interview through one.
It seems to be the case that there is plenty of work if you have a few years experience, but nothing for grads. I graduated 2 years ago, been self employed for over a year, and im looking for a job in java.
Sorry for the rant.

wes

In the same boat, looking for work right now myself. Had some initial luck with interviews, but had nothing for the last while now. Will have to keep looking and hopefully i will secure a job sooner rather than later.

WhiteWashMan

i think there is a difference between 'lots of jobs' and 'no jobs with the exact specifications that i want'

at some stage you have to look at where you want to be, and then look at what is available, and then look at which of the available jobs will help you the best to proceed into the area you want to be in.

wes

WhiteWashMan wrote:

i think there is a difference between 'lots of jobs' and 'no jobs with the exact specifications that i want'

at some stage you have to look at where you want to be, and then look at what is available, and then look at which of the available jobs will help you the best to proceed into the area you want to be in.

Good advice, personally i am not a 100% sure where i want to be, right now i am thinking software dev/engineering or perhaps systems adminstration and i am looking in that direction right now, but may have to bite the bullet in the short term and take what i can get as money will become an issue in a little while.

maggz

daithi wrote:

I can get interviews for jobs that i feel i am well suited too, and I have often gotten into second rounds, and once a third round. So i am dismissing poor interview technique

If you have an interview and you dont get past the 2nd round or 1st round interview, then it must be something to do with your interview technique. To get to the second round obviously means you are certainly qualified for the role.
If you ask the company why you didnt get the job, they will generally be more than happy to give you feedback. Recruitment agencies will help you with this also. If you meet an agency for an interview, tell them that your not getting past the 1st or 2nd round, and can they see any obvious reasons for this.
If you arent having a lot of success with the large recruitment agencies, try some of the smaller ones. It's good to have one or two recruitment agents that you can get to know well, and then you can go to them for advice when you need it.

vibe666

agencies, agencies, agencies.

they can be incredibly frustrating, but they are a necessary evil.

you will need to hound them on a daily basis though.

Benster

Agencies - necessary evil indeed, but keep them on your side even when they do your head in.

I'm not sure if this would happen in every case, but when I was out of work about 3 years ago and was doing the round of the agencies with my CV, I set up some appointments with their staff for a face-to-face meeting. Those agencies I met with have, for the most part, been much more helpful over the years than those that I didn't, they know my face and know that I don't have two heads. And it works the other way too, you can easily spot the tossers and chancers that don't listen to what you want to do and will sell you down the river.

B

daithi

I see what you are saying maggs, but i do get some feedback, and i generally get a positive response, I only ever got one negative response, but i knew i made a mess of that one anyway(one of my first when i finished college).

I was talking to a guy today who was telling me that the sheer amount and quality of people in IT looking for jobs is massive, he was particularly taken back by the quality.

People with a few years of experience seem to be sorted, I suppose i'll stay doing what im doing for now and bide my time, maybe do a masters, if i get completely fed up with this self employment business, but for the moment, it has good perks.

RainyDay

CiaranC wrote:

Why should I have to nag a company to become a customer of theirs?

I dont have to nag the counter staff at McDonalds for a burger do I?

The job seeker isn't the customer of the recruitment agency. The customer is the one who pays the bill, i.e. the recruiting company.

Dublin7

RainyDay wrote:

The job seeker isn't the customer of the recruitment agency. The customer is the one who pays the bill, i.e. the recruiting company.

True !!
Agencies are not going to send graduates to companies. They get money if they found someone competent for a job thats why they are always asking for so much experience!!

preilly79

Ciaran,

Where are you living at the moment? are you confining your job search to a particular county within the country or would you be prepared to commute/relocate?

if you're willing to re-locate (or are already living there) i know a company in galway that's always looking for developers.

let me know dude. you seem pretty enthusiastic, i work in IT too and have never had a problem getting jobs, despite my almost complete lack of certification. go into your interviews with an pretty obvious desire for the job, that's what they want to see.

ps: Lidl are always looking for IT staff, particularly now as they'll be openning a new distribution warehouse in cork (one or two positions in Newbridge also). i had some interviews with them a few months back and made it down to the last two (position was IT Specialist). the package is attractive: €45k for the first year, €50 for the second, €60 for the third. Audi A4 .... you'll work for it no doubt, it being Lidl and all, but who cares? you get what you work for!

if you need any more info, drop me a message sometime.

best of luck dude!