Forgot how bad job searching was :(
- Thread starter Delvis
- Start date
Or 3-4 paragraphs...
Which is what I was always taught to do. Maybe it's different industries again. Your covering letter is essentially meant to be a quick overview of your CV and why you are applying for the job. No way you can fit that into 3-4 sentences!
Yeah, no chance with that for me. In the year I was looking I probably only encountered 50 jobs in the industry I want to get into. Things like IT, web design and accounting seem to have a constant stream of jobs though.
That's just the way some large corporations work. I applied for a position on WH Smith graduate scheme a long time ago and it took them months to decide that they weren't going to have a graduate intake that year onto that scheme.
A few years ago I applied for a job at a financial services company, after a couple of months they called me in for an interview.
Great, except that the HR person gave me the wrong name of the people that were interviewing me, so when I turned up some ditzy HR assistant had me sat around in a room for 20mins while they found out who I was supposed to be seeing.
I didn't get the job in the end and they actually sent a letter telling me that I was unsuccessful to the wrong address (it had taken that long since my original application that I'd bought a house and moved out), in spite of the fact that I specifically made a point of updating them on my contact details.
I know different departments may be run differently but it does make you worry when you have organisations managing billions of pounds and they can't even handle such basic administration.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Early this week I got my notice and will be finishing next friday. I have been out of the loop a while. Basically I am looking for Data or System Analyst/Assistant Telecoms Engineer/IT Engineer roles. What are best recruitment websites/agencies for looking?
Would save me a bit of time if anyone could post up the links.
Cheers
Blackhawk
Would save me a bit of time if anyone could post up the links.
Cheers
Blackhawk
This is completely unhelpful, but I feel the need to have a quick rage at your use of the word "engineer". You are not an engineer, but it's not really your fault, given that half of people now are labelled engineers in some capacity!
On a more helpful note, the standard sites like monster and jobcentre seem to have a lot of data/system analyst jobs on.
(edit/ I realise that some Telecoms Engineer stuff is in the realm of Electrical Engineering, and thus proper engineering - the bloke doing the hashed-job of wiring up Virgin connections is not one of them though!)
Last edited:
You know it's tough when you see the Job advert saying 'experienced telesales staff' 
My problem at the moment is that I have a lack of experience and most jobs I'm seeing advertised are saying 'must have previous experience'.
I've only ever worked in a small quiet office doing simple data admin/input work. I have no qualifications past high school and I'm only 19 years old. It's going to be tough.
My problem at the moment is that I have a lack of experience and most jobs I'm seeing advertised are saying 'must have previous experience'.
I've only ever worked in a small quiet office doing simple data admin/input work. I have no qualifications past high school and I'm only 19 years old. It's going to be tough.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
This is completely unhelpful, but I feel the need to have a quick rage at your use of the word "engineer". You are not an engineer, but it's not really your fault, given that half of people now are labelled engineers in some capacity!
On a more helpful note, the standard sites like monster and jobcentre seem to have a lot of data/system analyst jobs on.
(edit/ I realise that some Telecoms Engineer stuff is in the realm of Electrical Engineering, and thus proper engineering - the bloke doing the hashed-job of wiring up Virgin connections is not one of them though!)
Well my current role is working on FTN (Fixed Telecoms Network) migration. And it is very much so engineering.
Well my current role is working on FTN (Fixed Telecoms Network) migration. And it is very much so engineering.
But upgrading and installing cables is not engineering. Designing and optimising the network for optimal data transfer and doing all the mathematical legwork behind it, is!
Bias aside, if you're looking for Data Analyst jobs there always seems to be a shedload on the job centre website, worth a gander.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Sigh.
This is my job title at current place of work Assistant Design Telecoms Engineer.
*Yawns*
You know it's tough when you see the Job advert saying 'experienced telesales staff'
My problem at the moment is that I have a lack of experience and most jobs I'm seeing advertised are saying 'must have previous experience'.
I've only ever worked in a small quiet office doing simple data admin/input work. I have no qualifications past high school and I'm only 19 years old. It's going to be tough.
I was in the same position before uni mate. I personally think the key is staying positive and understanding your strengths (which you grow to understand). Even if a job requires some experience don't be afraid to apply and talk up any limited experience you may have which is linked and your desire to learn. An application costs nothing but an hour or two of your time.
Alternatively an internship may be of interest. I know a friend who didn't find uni his cup of tea (I took him 4 years and 3 courses) and he's now doing a human resources internship (paid). This opens up possibility of climbing the ladder potentially. I wish you the best of luck.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Aug 2008
- Posts
- 4,254
- Location
- North Sea
Well, my application pack for Clyde Marine Training has arrived, all being well I'll start training to become an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy in January. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the rut I've been stuck in since I turned 18, and the start of a career that I'be wanted for a long time, and that I'm genuinely enthusiastic about. 
Last edited:
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Sigh.
This is my job title at current place of work Assistant Design Telecoms Engineer.
So what? You are still not an engineer. You are 19 years old and do not have any sort of formal engineering qualifications. You are not an engineer.
A 'true' engineer is a prestigious, difficult to acheive and important role which some could argue is on a par with being say a doctor, or a solicitor or similar. It requires years of training and involves very high level work.
Your age, experience and job role quite clearly show you are absolutely not an engineer.
The problem is that people have been mis-using the term for ages now, so half the country really does beleive that the guy who comes to fix the copier when it breaks is an engineer. Thats not engineering, thats being a techician!
If you were a proper engineer you'd be older and being paid a hell of a lot more than you are, and you'd probably have a less hands on role.
I am not an engineer and never will be but I admire proper engineers and dislike the way everyone else thinks they are an 'engineer' just because some random organisation sucks at job titles.
Engineering is awesome. Fixing copiers is not.
IMHO anyone who would not be immediatly eligiable for chartered engineer status is not an engineer.
Soldato
- Joined
- 3 Oct 2009
- Posts
- 19,893
- Location
- Wales
Well i've got a weeks work doing some gardening/landscaping with a friend of my mums. Should land me with a few hundred quid and something extra for my CV at least.
Associate
- Joined
- 15 Apr 2008
- Posts
- 1,031
- Location
- West Didsbury, Manchester
Sigh.
This is my job title at current place of work Assistant Design Telecoms Engineer.
lol. Fox is correct, I don't like to say that you need to need to be accredited by some form of engineering body but at the end of the day it gives you legitimacy. At 19 you are no where near being an engineer. I'm currently going into my 5th year of university studying Embedded Systems Engineering which probably covers all that 'black box' equipment that you install on the job. Even when I graduate I won't class myself as a 'proper' engineer until i've got at least a few years experience and am out of the 'grad job' position and moving up to a more senior role. To start your route to becoming an engineer, get accredited, get some qualifications and start working on rolling out the design plans instead of rolling out the cable.
I know that probably came off quite pretentious and I really don't want to put out your bonfire of having a job that you enjoy, but just don't kid yourself thinking you will be moving into senior, behind the scenes engineering in coming years without any formal engineering background.
The problem here comes from the fact that people ignore that the fact that the term "engineer" has changed its meaning over time. Much like the word "gay", or any other word which has changed its meaning within modern language.
A Chartered engineer will reap the rewards of their hard work in terms of the size of their wallet and job satisfaction. No engineers i know have an issue with the modern use of the term. I dont think it is shocking nor an issue at all. To get hung up over a job title seems strange to me, 99% of all job titles are totally meaningless, the title "engineer" especially so, and this is widely known.
A Chartered engineer will reap the rewards of their hard work in terms of the size of their wallet and job satisfaction. No engineers i know have an issue with the modern use of the term. I dont think it is shocking nor an issue at all. To get hung up over a job title seems strange to me, 99% of all job titles are totally meaningless, the title "engineer" especially so, and this is widely known.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
My job (which I have got my notice for as we don't have any more work from the likes of Network Rail) is nothing to do with fixing copiers and coffee machines, thanks Fox.
In this sense your calling pretty much everyone in the office I work at not a engineer.
Cut and paste from my CV because I can't be bothered typing this right now.
Who are you to question what I do and don't do?
In this sense your calling pretty much everyone in the office I work at not a engineer.
Cut and paste from my CV because I can't be bothered typing this right now.
Who are you to question what I do and don't do?
My job (which I have got my notice for as we don't have any more work from the likes of Network Rail) is nothing to do with fixing copiers and coffee machines, thanks Fox.
In this sense your calling pretty much everyone in the office I work at not a engineer.
Cut and paste from my CV because I can't be bothered typing this right now.
Who are you to question what I do and don't do?
still think thats more of a junior / technician thing
btw my job says senior engineer... and im not an engineer im a qualified and experienced technician, an engineer is completely different.
computer/network engineer senior or specialist (includes cisco network ccie,ccnp) = glorified technician
bridge design and construction engineer = proper skilled trade with years of skills and experience in solving real physical problems and huge creative technical element = engineer
^ different
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
What would you call my job role then. I mean that is the term that is used and I intend to use it at this moment in time.