Forgot how bad job searching was :(

In desperate need of help!

I've been casually looking for a new job now for the past 2 years, plenty of interviews but to no avail. I've mainly been looking at NHS jobs with my past 5 working years being in primary care.

I have a degree in Business Information Technology, I have no coding knowledge at all just very basic HTML, no project management qualification, but I have done a few small scale projects (system change and VOIP telephone upgrade).

I need a change, and a change soon. When I got this job 4 years ago, the salary was good, but with minimal pay rise it has now become less good. I've just bought a house so taking a pay cut to start from the bottom isn't a viable option anymore.

Ideally I need a £22k minimum entry level job, as I feel my current job skills are non-transferable.
 
Getting sick of being told how impressive my CV is but they have filled the job internally/not quite what they are looking for!
 
ouch...feel sympathy for all those looking for job, im in same boat, and its not pleasant.

Im starting an MSc whilst i look for a job, so im at least doing something that might get me into a field im interested in, whilst i look.
 
NickK said:
There are lots of companies that will take forces people due to the conditioning, training and mentality - they tend to work hard and together to achieve a set goal.

It may be worth ringing around some defence contractor company HR people. However a lot of software companies and tech companies will also take forces.

I wouldn't worry - there's lots of people with odd non-commercial skills that have made the jump. Head of sales in a software company at one of the places I interviewed for was ex-submariner/acoustics training officer for almost 20 years.
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Things like this give me hope, though I hear so many times of people that have came to regret leaving due to the job climate being so unforgiving.
 
KiwiTaff said:
Things like this give me hope, though I hear so many times of people that have came to regret leaving due to the job climate being so unforgiving.
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Apologies if you've already seen this but check out https://www.securityclearedjobs.com/ - loads of work for ex-forces on here. Remember that security clearances cost money and your clearance held with the RAF can be transferred to another employer for a nominal cost.
 
Cheers for the input & advice. As it stands i hold the normal (SC) clearance. There are few jobs that require us to hold a DV clearance. That's the big one if i am correct. I work in a pretty interesting role as it stands. Though i'm coming to terms with that Millitary life is not for me. I've been in coming up 7 years. I've worked at RAF Boulmer & RAF Fylingdales in recent years. Google them if you want to know what they're about. Though i am 24 now, would like to sink my teeth into something else!
 
KiwiTaff said:
Things like this give me hope, though I hear so many times of people that have came to regret leaving due to the job climate being so unforgiving.
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US companies love ex-forces too. Although you have the US ruthlessness that can be a bit of a culture shock too.

The main issue is that you go from the forces definition of 'team' with a whole network of support, to just you and some idiot's idea of what a team is/or not when they decide to perform rampant restructuring.
 
KiwiTaff said:
Cheers for the input & advice. As it stands i hold the normal (SC) clearance. There are few jobs that require us to hold a DV clearance. That's the big one if i am correct. I work in a pretty interesting role as it stands. Though i'm coming to terms with that Millitary life is not for me. I've been in coming up 7 years. I've worked at RAF Boulmer & RAF Fylingdales in recent years. Google them if you want to know what they're about. Though i am 24 now, would like to sink my teeth into something else!
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There are plenty of companies that are in lots of different security levels :D (got the t-shirt). The main issue is the government/public sector mentality which differs greatly from the private commercial world - I prefer the commercial business world from that perspective, but that's my personality :) DV vetting is a lot more involved.. I hope you like talking about your sexual preferences to strange men :D That sector is a bit like Neo in the Matrix.. all rabbits and dark holes and strange people..

Your clearance can be transferred as you move, it's not tied to a specific company but they need to sponsor it as part of an approve project but it will have an expiry period if you don't continue within a sponsor.
 
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Anyway .. redid my CV today.. hopefully a lot clearer and I sent to my old boss for a 2nd set of eyes (we get on well and my redundancy wasn't his call).
 
NickK said:
There are plenty of companies that are in lots of different security levels :D (got the t-shirt). The main issue is the government/public sector mentality which differs greatly from the private commercial world - I prefer the commercial business world from that perspective, but that's my personality :) DV vetting is a lot more involved.. I hope you like talking about your sexual preferences to strange men :D That sector is a bit like Neo in the Matrix.. all rabbits and dark holes and strange people..

Your clearance can be transferred as you move, it's not tied to a specific company but they need to sponsor it as part of an approve project but it will have an expiry period if you don't continue within a sponsor.
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I've heard all the stories haha!
 
KiwiTaff said:
Cheers for the input & advice. As it stands i hold the normal (SC) clearance. There are few jobs that require us to hold a DV clearance. That's the big one if i am correct.
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If you were interested in the civil service then DV is applicable for a few roles but the vast majority of roles can certainly be done with SC or even below that. I wouldn't worry too much about the clearance level but you're right, DV is a lot more intrusive but it does open a few more options for you.
 
Well, my current role is in standards and evaluation at a missile warning site. You go on plenty of courses in the millitary, but pretty much all of the ones I have been on don't give me much for the outside world. You learn plenty of skills in the millitary, though I've been job hunting in various sectors though they all require civilian recognised quals which I don't see much of. Looks like I'll have to start self funding to get myself anywhere.
 
New CV out there, applied for a se of jobs today, called one agency to see if the role they were advertising was still active.. nope - old.. already heard back from a direct application - reject.
 
Hope this isn't against the rules, I thought there used to be a jobs thread, but hey.

We're looking for a part time (second job/ evening work/ side project style) for equity in the business. Going for funding rounds soon (hence needing kick) which would involve more time/ full time but with salary then paid as well as initial equity.

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/51924320

Details in there if anyone is interested in what we're doing. It's not an advert for the business, just trying to find good people.
 
I really hate recruitment agencies.

I'm just assessing the market and what's out there by placing my CV in the usual areas - but the one thing that really ****** me off is how technically illiterate recruitment agencies are.

Every single one of them seems to detest using email has a primary form of contact. I've made this mandatory now until I get some sort of job spec or if I'm put forward for a position. I've been burned before by recruitment agents falsifying or embellishing the truth over phone. At least with email you have a written record.

No, I don't have time to respond to 5 voice mails during the day, particularly when the agent is never "free" when I attempt to call back so days of voicemail tennis ensue. Why can't a simple email suffice? Particularly when I finally get hold of one and have to politely say, no, I'm not really after a job that pays £10,000 less and requires me to relocate to the other side of the country.

Recent exchange:

Agent : DiscoDave, I have this awesome job which you may be suited for.
Me : Alrighty then, fire off the job spec
Agent : But first I want to have a quick chat with you just to find out a few things about you.
Me : Can't really do it over the phone today, as I'm in meetings for the rest of it. What questions do you need answering? I'll reply over email to get you some answers today.

Agent then disappears into thin air.
 
Ev0 said:
They don't like email as then there's a 'paper trail', and they don't like you having that!
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it isn't so much that, well I guess yes they have more leeway to BS on the phone, but in general they're sales people and well 'telling isn't selling'...
 
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