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Tohrazer

Tohrazer

Tohrazer

Associate
Joined
20 Dec 2013
Posts
834
As a follow up to my previous thread, i've decided to finish my degree as many people suggested, i will be doing that part time with the OU as i only have 1 year of study left, this should take around 2 years with the OU, i intend to do this whilst working! so, onto the point of this thread:

I have some questions i'm hoping some people with experience in Corporate/IT type work could answer, firstly, i noticed a lot of jobs ask for experience in 'SAP' or 'SAGE' or 'Agile', speaking from a point of complete ignorance i'm not sure EXACTLY what they mean, this is after doing some google work of course

from what i can gather SAGE is some accounting/finance type software and Agile is certain methods of project development, which don't seem too abstract and it seems like i can study for certifications in Agile at least.

SAP however im really struggling to understand what it is exactly, there's a lot of information which says a lot without actually saying anything, like 'innovative business solution' or some similar nonsense, is there a way i can learn this 'SAP' ? or somehow become certified in its use, is it a specific piece of software or some kind of development construct like Agile?

I only ask because after watching youtube explanations of SAP i can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want you to know about development layers (whatever they are) as .. a Data entry clerk for example, i find it hard to believe something that looks so complicated could be necessary for a 14k/pa 'entry level job'.

on the bright side i've found quite a few jobs which ask for Excel/VBA macro programming etc without mentioning SAP or similar terms, and i'm hoping to hear back from them shortly.

on another quick note: is it possible i have gone overboard with my CV, as so far i have actually got immediate responses almost for all the jobs i applied for which seemed out of my league, however have received no replies yet for the Data monkey jobs i was actually expecting to hear back from, I am concerned my CV makes them look like they are a short-term stepping stone for me.

sorry for the wall of text and im open/interested to hear any feedback at all, currently im spending like 14 hours a day applying for jobs and/or brushing up on Excel/Python etc.

Thanks!
 
Strife212 said:
What's your CV like? Get rid of personal details and post it?
Click to expand...

Good idea, PS in the actual word Document it is very nicely formatted, used a really good CV font and included horizontal lines between sections etc


Personal Profile:

A logical minded problem solver, Highly self motivated to succeed at any task I'm faced with. I have 200 UCAS Points in Physics study from university and possess strong key skills which translate well into this type of work environment. I am highly adaptable and learn on the job quickly. I have a full clean UK driving license and car.

Education:

8 GCSE's graded A-C including Maths, English and ICT. (June 2004)

200 UCAS points studying physics from Open university and University of Sheffield, (more than 120 points at level 2) (higher than A level)

Skill Set:

Strong ICT skills, proficient with MS Office including MS Excel (Vlookup, Pivot tables, etc.) I also have some simple computer networking, software programming, web design and computer hardware knowledge.

Highly math literate/numerate, able to perform complex data analysis.

Good teamwork and social/communication skills, able to build a good working relationship with colleagues and clients.

Skilled in Leadership, organisation, research, presentation and negotiation.


I am able to provide examples the demonstrate my ability to perform any of the skills I have Listed upon request.

Hobbies:
In my free time I enjoy Rock climbing, mountaineering, and various forms of media entertainment.



Experience:

(Academic work based in university, largely hands-on Experimental
laboratory work/analysis/presentation as part of my degree programme)

Gathering and Entering/analysing large data sets from multiple sources
both manually and automatically.

Statistical analysis (Variance, two sample Z, statistical error, etc.)

Performing complex laboratory experiments which require diligent attention to detail; working with many thousands of data points.

Presenting Conclusions garnered via data analysis (written and oral.)

Project management & delegation, working to strict deadlines.

Working as an effective part of a larger team, performing a specific role.

Independent research to enable completion of a project.

Working to strict health and safety guidelines in a hazardous environment.

Web journalism and website development/upkeep. (some basic html/javascript/css use)

Problem solving using code (Python and VBA for Excel)

Approaching problems logically and solving them quickly and efficiently.
 
Nice CV you have there

That should really stand out in a croud.

We use SAGE at our place and it is a software package based around many things

We use it for payroll/payments and accounting

here is the sage website if you want to look at the software and see what its all about a lot of company's do use it.

www.sage.co.uk
I have not read your CV in full however just the main points.

where they are asking for experience in said tools i would add to the CV that with your vast use of pcs you have the ability to learn your way around software in a very efficient manner or something along those lines so they know you will pick it up quick

hope this makes some sense :D apparently my posts are hard to follow :L
 
harry5522 said:
hope this makes some sense :D apparently my posts are hard to follow :L
Click to expand...

Thanks, actually that's really helpful. :) Considering my lack of hands-on experience i should probably try to emphasize the speed at which i can learn new things ...rather than a list of stuff I can do which nobody is going to hire for without paid experience
 
Any 'agile' experience in a classroom is worthless IMO. A few months of actually working in an Agile team is the only way to actually say you can do it. Theres no way to 'learn' it.
 
It's how i got my job as a IT Manager. For a big plastics manufacturing firm.

When interviewed they were asking how i could help the company ect and listed off some stuff they used, some i knew/ some i didn't

When they went into the stuff that i had no idea about i made them aware of how fast i could pick it up and when it comes to stuff you do know - SELL YOURSELF

when my interviewer asked me if i could " use ms access " and i said yes he then went on and took me into a simple database that had the practicality of a burnt chip. There and then i told him of some improvements i could make to this system and offered to demonstrate.

I don't have a CV as pretty as yours either! so i would say don't hold back and go for a job you want to do.

If you get a great job offer with something you know nothing about but want to do it, just do it and learn as you go :D.


EDIT : One other little thing, i have seen a lot of CVs come through our door and noticed those titled curriculum vitae opposed to C.V tend to instantly be held in higher regard. Im not sure if this goes for many employers but it's something to consider.
 
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rogan said:
Any 'agile' experience in a classroom is worthless IMO. A few months of actually working in an Agile team is the only way to actually say you can do it. Theres no way to 'learn' it.
Click to expand...

thanks, so i should avoid online 'certifications' and just wait until im in a job where i get to see it in action?
 
harry5522 said:
EDIT : One other little thing, i have seen a lot of CVs come through our door and noticed those titled curriculum vitae opposed to C.V tend to instantly be held in higher regard. Im not sure if this goes for many employers but it's something to consider.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, i'll make that change
 
You seem to be confusing UCAS points with university credits.

UCAS points are the points attributed to A-Level grades and equivalent when applying to university - you've confused them with the credits you've earned while studying at university.

'Aglie' is a bit irrelevant for you if you're not already working as a developer.

SAP and SAGE... they're likely looking for people already employed in a role where they have relevant experience of these.
 
As you aren't going through a grad sceheme, do you know anyone a few years above you working?

Don't ever forget your networks are the key to success.. If you know anyone in your industry, send a ass kissing email asking them to review your CV. Recommendations go along way, so it's always worth the time.

I've got linked in messages asking for a advice and reviews from people I've known, and I tend to help them, even if they are loosely connected.
 
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dowie said:
You seem to be confusing UCAS points with university credits.

UCAS points are the points attributed to A-Level grades and equivalent when applying to university - you've confused them with the credits you've earned while studying at university.
Click to expand...

oh wow, thanks for pointing that out, do you think i should just rewrite that stuff as 'more than half a degree, currently completing it part time' or call them higher education credits, or something?
 
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zegna said:
As you aren't going through a grad sceheme, do you know anyone a few years above you working?

Don't ever forget your networks are the key to success.. If you know anyone in your industry, send a ass kissing email asking them to review your CV. Recommendations go along way, so it's always worth the time.

I've got linked in messages asking for a advice and reviews from people I've known, and I tend to help them, even if they are loosely connected.
Click to expand...

sadly i don't actually know anyone a few years above me that is geographically close, i have a ton of successful family/friends but they are all miles away
 
OP, SAGE is accounting software's answer to PHOTOSHOP and is recognised as the leading brand. I myself, don't use it but it has a three figure price tag.
 
Tohrazer said:
oh wow, thanks for pointing that out, do you think i should just rewrite that stuff as 'more than half a degree, currently completing it part time' or call them higher education credits, or something?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure... but I'd stop referring to it as 200 UCAS points. Can't you just put something along the lines of - you've completed your first and second year? Or have you not - you should have 240 points/credits if you'd done that as it is 120 for each year of university study.

Basically put across that you've completed two years of university education and are still completing your degree via the Open University.

Have you actually transferred the credits and/or have you registered on any OU courses yet?
 
dowie said:
I'm not sure... but I'd stop referring to it as 200 UCAS points. Can't you just put something along the lines of - you've completed your first and second year? Or have you not - you should have 240 points/credits if you'd done that as it is 120 for each year of university study.

Basically put across that you've completed two years of university education and are still completing your degree via the Open University.

Have you actually transferred the credits and/or have you registered on any OU courses yet?
Click to expand...

I changed it from ucas points to 'higher education credits' i'm in a really strange situation due to doing a weird access scheme, i have 200 points exactly, 180 of them at level 2, 140 with them are with the OU atm and i've been advised it's likely i can transfer my extra level 2 points to level 1 points at the OU
 
I've had a flick through the books about it in Waterstones but it all looks complicated and well beyond me (I've done animation with clip art and 8-bit style graphics).
 
The search continues! I have had a lot of call backs usually based on my skillset. As you can probably guess already my lack of paid experience is a problem, also my gap in education/employment due to health reasons between high school and university is being questioned. Im happy to explain to them but have been advised it's not a good idea to mention medical issues on a CV. This is my current CV:


[Personal Profile]:

A logical minded problem solver, Highly self motivated to succeed at any task I'm faced with. I have finished my 2nd year of Physics study from university (working towards a degree) and possess strong key skills which translate well into this type of work environment. I am highly adaptable and learn on the job quickly. I have a full clean UK driving licence and car.



[Education]:

• 8 GCSE's graded A-C including Maths, English and ICT. (2004)

• 200 Higher education credits studying physics from Open university and University of Sheffield (higher than A level) (more than half a degree) (2009-present)

• Certificate of Physics awarded by the Open University, this qualification is intended to enable teachers to teach physics to A-Level students. (2010)



[Skill Set]:

• Strong analysis and ICT skills, proficient with MS Office including MS Access and Excel (Databases, Vlookup, Pivot tables, etc.) I also have some computer networking, software programming, web design, VoIP and computer hardware knowledge.

• Highly math literate/numerate, able to perform complex data analysis. Can
type around 80 words per minute.

• Good teamwork and social/communication skills, able to build a good working relationship with colleagues and clients. Skilled in presentation, negotiation and organisation.



[Hobbies]:

In my free time I enjoy Rock climbing, mountaineering, and various forms of media entertainment.



[Experience]:

(This is academic work based at university, largely hands-on experimental
laboratory work/analysis/presentation as part of my degree programme)

• Gathering and Entering/analysing large data sets from multiple sources
both manually and automatically.

• Statistical analysis (Variance, two sample Z, statistical error, etc.)

• Performing complex laboratory experiments which require diligent attention to detail; working with many thousands of data points.

• Presenting Conclusions garnered via data analysis (written and oral.)

• Project management & delegation, working to strict deadlines.

• Working as an effective part of a larger team, performing a specific role.

• Independent research to enable completion of a project.

• Working to strict health and safety guidelines in a hazardous environment.

• Web journalism and website development/upkeep. (basic html/javascript/css use.)

• Problem solving using code (Python and VBA for Excel.)

• Approaching problems logically and solving them quickly and efficiently.

• Computer hardware support (I have built PC's from scratch.)
 
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