Free Career and Job Search Advice

Eric2009 · Newbie Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hello,

I would like some career advice but before I can ask, I need to explain my situation.

5 years ago I was made redundant from a telecoms company.
I had been working there for over 15 years as a software engineer.
At the time it was difficult to find work because my skills had become specialised on obsolete technology and I would have had to commute long distances to find work.

My main priority was to spend some time with our children and find work locally to top up our family income.
My wife works full time and we have 2 children in primary school.
I did try to do a career change. The jobs I considered were relatively low skilled (administrator, receptionist, bookkeeper), however I found that although I had the potential to do the job, I lacked experience and a 'career path' in that job (I don't think my gender helped either).
There were plenty of other applicants that had the skills, experience and career path.
In the end I did manage to find some work in a local software documentation company doing basic IT tasks, However, this was on a contract for about 12 months and I did not acquire any new marketable technical skills.

Since my contract had ended, I have been looking for work for 10 months with no success.
My wife is soon to be made redundant.
Our children have now grown more independent and my older child will be going to secondary school later this year.
I would like to move back into software engineering, into a position similar to my old one.
However, I lack the skillset that many job roles require and even if it were possible to get training for these skills, I lack work experience.
I have not been in a similar job role for 5 years and to make matters worse, I am in my mid-forties!
Most of my peers have moved into a team lead or project management role.
I do not consider myself to have strong people management skills, so have remained a software engineer team member. I get the impression for the role I am searching for, employers are looking for bright young graduates. People of my age, they are expecting to be applying for project management roles.
My thoughts in moving closer to getting a job are to take up some training courses and somehow persuade a company to allow me to work for them as a volunteer (i.e. to work for free).
Once my skills/experience have built up I can apply for a real job.

This strategy may work for a small company but I am not so sure if it would work for a large organisation.

I would like the following advice:

1) whether my career goal is realistic

2) Has anyone out there been in a similar situation that can offer any suggestions on how I can improve my employability

Thanks

Pauloz · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:13 am Post subject:

Eric2009

If anything, I think you're being a bit unambitious. What you've got there is the classic IT situation, not uncommon. Not unbeatable, either. I'd say you're just lacking confidence, not potential.

Taking it from the top:

1) whether my career goal is realistic

Realistic, yes, but a bit undersold as an idea:

Sure, work for a small company, but don't lose track of the opportunities. Do this right, and you can reinvent yourself as a consultant or project person, with lots of good work and credentials.

Projects, ironically, could also use your skills, and they can lead to great jobs, even multiple jobs. Never mind the age thing, they want people who can do the work properly. Projects are networks, they get the people they want as core staff. Good money, good gigs, and usually they're the sort of people you want to work with, so the environment is pretty good.

To get your skills back up to currency, all you really need is a current job in the industry working on standard servers, etc., and maybe some of those workshops where you can get crash courses in the new stuff. That greatly refreshes your CV. You can truthfully say that your other work was circumstantial, paying for being alive, and you've been trying to get back into your real preferred role.

That also covers employability. Your CV will be self explanatory, with these added bells and whistles. What I sense is a lack of confidence. You needn't be too concerned if you find yourself in a management role. It's not that difficult. Just be yourself, learn the ropes, and it's pretty straightforward.

Large organizations aren't the only show in town for good jobs, the sort you like, either. Microsoft was two people once, and the others started in garages.

Suggestion: Check out jobs at bigger companies, talk to their IT managers, explain the situation. If you've got the skills they need, and remember not everybody is working with up to the second stuff, you're in. If not, they can give some pointers and suggestions, give you a road map to where you want to go.

Their HR people can help, as can professional associations, getting the local knowledge you need to get back in. It's not a matter of if you do this, so much as when.

Meanwhile, check out what's available, you might be in the right place at the right time.

You can always freelance. Check out Elance, Web and Programming. http://www.elance.com/

You know how to handle this software, The jobs aren't necessarily that demanding, and it's paying work that looks good on the CV, gives more currency to your skills and work history in the industry. It can also generate a lot more work. Elance is a subscriber system, using bids, and you need to do a test to use the site, but it's pretty easy. I got 95% with a head cold. I can help you with anything you need to know, and Elance are pretty good at advising, themselves.

Really, you can do a lot from this position.

Good luck,

Eric2009 · Newbie Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi Pauloz,

Thank you for your advice and encouragement.
You are correct to say I do lack confidence - not helped by not being in a proper job for so long.
I will follow your suggestions of talking to various people and try out the freelancing website.

Thanks

fong47 · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject:

Eric,

I am sorry about your situation. However, you should not give up looking for a new job or whatever your looking to do down the road. Have faith in yourself and you will pull thru. You may wanna consider doing something on the side like, working part time, starting a home based business, or selling stuff online etc...If you want, take a look at my site and we have many success in the UK. There's absolutely no obligation..

amy8 · Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

If you're looking to do freelance work, you should check out yaaze.com
It's great for part timers and freelancers, and it's the perfect thing for something to tide you over until you find something more permanent.
It allows you to network, which may help your future job searching, and it's works really quickly in finding work for you.

hope that helps!
www.yaaze.com

Guest · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:53 am Post subject:

Since you are experienced with computers maybe you could try doing some online work. If you are looking for a way to make money online I found a great way to do it. It's called affiliate marketing. Basically you promote products for other people online and you earn commission if they buy. Here is a great system that teaches you how to do it Click Here! I know it sounds crazy, but give it a try. It costs less than driving 3 hours each way to find a job at some podunk Piggly Wiggly.

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