Free Career and Job Search Advice

wickedgood · Newbie Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here, and I could really use some advice as to why my CV is not working.

Have moved to the UK in the beggining of the year for the first time, I have been looking for work since and have not been sucessful. 90 % of the time I don't even make it to interview stage.

I have previously worked as an 1st/2nd and sometimes 3rd line support help desk and field technician in IT and Telecoms and made over $55,000 USD.

However I have accepted that due to the current job climate I will be happy with an 1st line support role making £12,000+.

But I have not be sucessful when applying to these roles here in the UK, the normal response I get is i'm not suitable or there were more suitable people for the role.

There must be something wrong in my CV, but I cannot figure out what it could be. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

CV:

I am currently looking for roles in IT Service Desk Operator, First or Second Line System Support, User Accounts Administrator or Network Engineer. IT is my passion and enjoying learning and experiencing as much as I can so that I can be a strong asset to any company requesting my skills. Very reliable, hardworking and ambitious, never like to say the words “I can’t” or “I do not know”, so I am always looking to improve myself and my knowledge. I received my Microsoft certifications on my own initiative. I enjoy working for a company that provides good training as I like to continue become a stronger asset to the company I am working for. I can work in a team environment but am also good working alone if needed.

Main skills

• MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003 Certified (obtained in July 2008)
• PC repair/installation - Hardware and Software
• Windows XP, Server, Vista proficient
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Working knowledge in Networking TCP/IP, VPN, DNS etc
• Working knowledge in Nortel Systems in maintenance, MAC’s, fix and repair with digital sets and IP sets, with also BCM management knowledge.
• Lotus Notes, installation and troubleshooting.
• Audio/Visual experience.
• Two years 1st/2nd line Help Desk and Field Technician experience

Other skills

• Working knowledge in Maya 3D software for animation and design.
• Editing in After Effects Software
• Photoshop

Education

• Florida Career College 2003-2005
Associates in Computer Science (Network Engineering)

• Miami International University 1998-2002
Bachelors of Fine Arts (Computer Animation)

• Bermuda College 1997-1998
• Warwick Academy 1992-1997
• High school Diploma

Work Experience

IBM Bermuda (Customer Service Rep) Fulltime Oct.10 2007 – Dec.23 2008

• -Work responsibilities include: Maintaining, installing and troubleshooting internal Laptops and PC’s.
• Laptop and PC builds for internal and external clients.
• Troubleshooting routers for clients
• Cisco telephony support(internal)
• Installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting Lotus Notes and Microsoft Office for internal and external clients.
• Setting up audio/visual for client board meetings.
• Reuters troubleshooting and installing/moving Reuters machines.

• -Clients include : Local banks, Insurance companies, Airport

CCS Group (Network Engineer) Hamilton, Bermuda Fulltime 2006 – 2007

• -Work responsibilities include: Maintaining, installations, training and daily support of the Telephony services (Nortel Systems) in helpdesk and field technician for many business across the island including all Government buildings, Primary and Middle schools, Bank of Butterfield and Reinsurance companies.

Editech Studios Miami, Fl Fulltime 2002-2004

• Animation, compositing, editing,
 Filming and recording of live events
 Setting up studios,
 Filming and acting for commercials

Achievements/Activities

• MCSE Certification
• St. Johns Ambulance Brigade (CPR certified 2007)
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Bronze, Silver and Gold medals in International track meets for Bermuda, and at Duke University in North Carolina.
• Participated in Cub Scouts, Sea Cadets and Junior Leaders.

Declaration
I hereby declare that the above written particulars are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Pauloz · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: CV advise

wickedgood

This would be an unfamiliar CV format to most people in the UK. It does need work, because you're obviously cutting out a lot of information in important areas in your line of work. I'd say you're getting interviews on your obvious levels of experience, rather than your skills. Comments in italics, with alternative format, suggestions below.

wickedgood · Newbie Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Thank you very much for your suggestions and advice!

I will be redrafting my CV and I will let you know how that goes.

One question, what exactly do you mean by

Note formatting. Always list employers as headings.

Also the reason I have been applying for helpdesk roles is that most of the higher end jobs I want require me to have UK Security Clearance, which I obviously do not have since I just moved here, but also have been told I cannot get it until I get a job which puts me through the process. I'm sorta stuck in a catch-22 with that.

Theres also not many of those jobs that I have seen available so an 1st or 2nd line helpdesk job would get me in the door and hopefully I could work my way up to the higher ended jobs and get Security Clearance in the process. Well that was the plan at least.

And to be honest, I have not thought about applying for roles with my media experience, only because I felt I may be a little outdated since it has been a few years since I've done work like that having spent so much time and energy on my IT field.

But I will defenitely look into it and see what my options are.

Pauloz · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:38 am Post subject:

wickedgood

Yeah, the employers get bold type, etc., as headings in the work history so the individual jobs stand out, and the different positions and duties are delineated.

Security clearance:

Suggest government department, NGO, etc., as the best way to approach that situation. They have the security procedures built in.

Check out the media jobs, anyway. The money is excellent, and the demand is strong for people with your basic skills. As you know, a lot of media software is more incremental than revolutionary, so you wouldn't have to do much to get back up to currency in your skills.

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