Where to find work?

Minibiker · 2 Oct 2017 at 18:01

Hi all

Some of you may know I've done a lot of studying over the past few months on Comptia A+ and will be taking an exam anytime soon, I've been online looking for jobs but can't seem to find anything

this will sound silly but I'm not sure how to find work in IT as a Technician or along those lines. Do I just walk into places and ask or look online until something pops up..

Ive always had it easy with work as I worked for my mum's business when I left school and have had the same job now in a warehouse for 7 years, I need a change of job.

Thanks for any help

PhoenixUK · 3 Oct 2017 at 16:13

If you don't have a lot of experience it might be worth checking for some short "work experience/voluntary" opportunities if you can afford it. You can get great references and some of these can then lead to a permanent position.

Other than that I suggest making a profile somewhere like Reed.co.uk or Monster and making it available to view so that companies and agencies can get in touch with you. You can also setup job alerts and be notified of anything matching your interests.

Registering with some agencies specialising in that area can also help.

Obviously if you know any companies that you might be interested working for it's worth signing up on their websites (ie in Cambridge I signed up for job alerts with University of Cambridge, Cambridge Assessment or some Pharma companies) and checking up if they have any roles coming up as most of the big companies will have roles showing up and disappearing all the time throughout the year.

I don't think walking into places works anymore unless it's a small family owned business that might be advertising on shop window.

I would try not to be extremely picky at the start - the hardest part is to get in and once you're in, especially in a bigger well known company, it is easy to move around or change.
I will however look into companies that offer training (you can usually research on their website before applying or check with HR department) as then you can get something out of it rather than be stuck on the same role.

Just my 2p hope it helps.

Delvis · 3 Oct 2017 at 18:03

I posted a bunching links in my OP here I think for some job sites

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/forgot-how-bad-job-searching-was.18028196/

Just look for first line or entry level?

AHarvey · 6 Oct 2017 at 21:53

IT related jobs, cwjobs should be your first point of call. As Delvis says, first line or entry/junior positions.

Local computer shops even for a few hours here and there or weekends, start your own up doing basic repairs. Use teamviewer to remote in and repair things.

Also start looking at MS certification on their Virtual Academy, will help the CV a lot.

explicit4u · 6 Oct 2017 at 23:28

The usual places like reed and indeed.

I'm just starting off with the compTIA Certs and finding some luck with apprenticeship websites. They don't always pay the best but experience seems to be the most valuable thing at this stage. Plus you might get lucky and find a decent Paying one. There's also lots of oppurtunities to get subsided/free training while earning which is never a bad thing.

.gov website for them fyi

sigma · 7 Oct 2017 at 20:40

Linkedin or go direct to careers websites of big companies.

ObSene · 9 Oct 2017 at 18:41

sigma said:
Linkedin or go direct to careers websites of big companies.

Agreed, I get hit up a couple of times a month by companies looking to hire on Linkedin. I got my first role in IT 17 years ago via Jobserve, but rarely go on there these days.

Minibiker · 13 Nov 2017 at 17:34

Delvis said:
I posted a bunching links in my OP here I think for some job sites

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/forgot-how-bad-job-searching-was.18028196/

Just look for first line or entry level?

Sorry to bump this thread again, Been looking through a lot of job websites and came across some good opportunities i am thinking of applying for, Just one question...

Even though i am not qualified is 1st line support I.T alright for me to apply for?

Sorry if its a dumb question

skyripper · 13 Nov 2017 at 18:13

First line support of what?

"Hi, is that the helpdesk, my computer won't work?"
If you can show you can talk a caller through basic troubleshooting (is it on, is it booted, are they logged in, is it connected to the network).
Sure, go ahead and apply. If you don't apply, you will not get anything.

"Hi, is that the helpdesk, I'm trying to cancel an invoice in Alphabet Financials, and its saying my JibbleFiddler is not for this region?"
Probably not, but then that role would be targetted at people with Alphabet Financials on their CV.. but if you can show you'd handle the call politely, record the relevant information etc. - apply anyway.

Your biggest hurdle is going to be getting the interview, as so many CVs are pattern matched and AI filtered without even getting near a recruiter til later.
So play the game, reach out directly to recruiters in the industry you want, hit them up on LinkedIn (not Facebook) and have a conversation with them.
If you can prove to them you're worth a phone call, they'll make it on the basis they could make commission off you.

Minibiker · 13 Nov 2017 at 18:50

skyripper said:
First line support of what?

"Hi, is that the helpdesk, my computer won't work?"
If you can show you can talk a caller through basic troubleshooting (is it on, is it booted, are they logged in, is it connected to the network).
Sure, go ahead and apply. If you don't apply, you will not get anything.

"Hi, is that the helpdesk, I'm trying to cancel an invoice in Alphabet Financials, and its saying my JibbleFiddler is not for this region?"
Probably not, but then that role would be targetted at people with Alphabet Financials on their CV.. but if you can show you'd handle the call politely, record the relevant information etc. - apply anyway.

Your biggest hurdle is going to be getting the interview, as so many CVs are pattern matched and AI filtered without even getting near a recruiter til later.
So play the game, reach out directly to recruiters in the industry you want, hit them up on LinkedIn (not Facebook) and have a conversation with them.
If you can prove to them you're worth a phone call, they'll make it on the basis they could make commission off you.

Thanks for the reply, Basically the first one youve metioned, just talking people through any issues they may have and logging it etc.. I have a LinkedIn profile but not 100% sure what that site's all about... Ive had a 2 recruitment agencies phone me today but missed the csll as i was asleep as i work nights, they've left a voicemail asking to speak, do you think i should call them back tomorrow AM

skyripper · 13 Nov 2017 at 20:52

LinkedIn started as a way for professionals who worked together to network. These days it can be a bit like Facebook! However it is a brilliant resource for getting your profile in front of recruiters. There's a reason Microsoft paid so much for the it.

As for should you ring them? Are you in the habit of missing opportunities?

dowie · 13 Nov 2017 at 20:52

Minibiker said:
Even though i am not qualified is 1st line support I.T alright for me to apply for?

when you made the thread you were due to sit the exam 'any time soon'?

Minibiker · 13 Nov 2017 at 21:00

dowie said:
when you made the thread you were due to sit the exam 'any time soon'?

Yeah im ready to sit the exam just need to find a date and time to suit me as the local test centres to me have no spaces

dowie · 13 Nov 2017 at 21:06

Minibiker said:
Yeah im ready to sit the exam just need to find a date and time to suit me as the local test centres to me have no spaces

can you not do it online?

I'm not trying to have a go so please don't take this the wrong way but maybe this lack of motivation is one of the issues - you said back in September that you might buy a webcam and do it online, two months on you've still not even sat the exam you have put effort into studying for in order to make a career change... if you take this sort of approach to applying for jobs etc.. then it could easily become a very drawn out process

Zefan · 13 Nov 2017 at 21:09

dowie said:
can you not do it online?

No, you can't do A+ online unless there has been some new development. You need to go to a Pearson Vue test centre, like with Cisco/Microsoft/insert vendor here exams.

dowie · 13 Nov 2017 at 21:12

Zefan said:
No, you can't do A+ online unless there has been some new development. You need to go to a Pearson Vue test centre, like with Cisco/Microsoft/insert vendor here exams.

apparently there has been a new development - I checked back as the OP mentioned it back in September when he was unable to book a place