Do "Hidden jobs" exist? Where do you look?

mxmaniac

I'm trying to get my foot in the door with my A+, Net+, 1 year experience as a cable/internet/voip technician, and 5 years customer service. I've been seeking Helpdesk, desktop support, pc support technician, and noc. I've put in 8 hours a day of searching and sending resumes for months however it has been months of utter failure.

I feel like maybe craigslist and indeed might just not be good places to look. I feel like maybe they are flooded with responses, because 90% of the time I don't so much even get an acknowledgement. I've tried my best to network, but it hasn't generated any leads. I've tried direct calling, and just showing up, but I get referred right to the website. i've used recruiters but no good leads ever come up. I'm exhausted, out of ideas, and completely out of time.

Wondering if there is a better approach. Are there are any tricks to finding hidden or unadvertised jobs. Somewhere I may not have looked, or even a different position I may be qualified for? Anything different than this craigslist / indeed / cold calling approach.

dou2ble

How's your resume? Are you selling yourself appropriately?

Essendon

Yep, work on your resume and work towards another cert, there's got to be scores of folks with an A+,N+ combo. A CCNA/MCTS and good resume will likely start getting you calls.

MeanDrunkR2D2

If you are sending out tons of resumes and not getting any responses, it's likely that there is something on your resume that is making you get passed over. Post it here for our resident resume experts to help guide you to making a resume that will get you callbacks. Your effort and determination is there, which leads to why aren't companies/recruiters calling you? As far as the career sites go, indeed is great, but also use Dice, Monster, Careerbuilder and find out who the major employers are in your area and check out their internal websites. Get a list of the top 100 companies in your area and spend that time on their sites. And since you are looking to break into IT, find some local recruiting agencies in your area and see if you can sit down with a recruiter and get to know them and they get to know you. Sometimes making that connection helps. Do you also have a LinkedIn profile? There are jobs posted on there as well. When looking for a job I use every single possible resource available. Sure, Monster and CB will get you crap leads which are companies looking for something not even remotely related to IT, but they are looking for the desperate to join their "scam" or crap job.

10Linefigure

I agree with MeanDrunk. Indeed is good and usually has links to the organizations private web page where you can apply directly. Keep learning while you wait to snag a job, and add certs as you earn them. Good luck!

Codeman6669

you might want to post your resume (hide your contact and personal info) and lets take a look.

Node Man

Many IT jobs are contract at first. Many people get their jobs through a recruiter or staffing agency.

cyberguypr

I don't know about Craigslist but saying Indeed may net be a good place to look for a job is like saying a police station is not a jood place to find people who can fight crime. As the guys said, the problem may be your resume. Have you posted it here for review?

srabiee

I also recommend that you start by posting your resume on the forum (start a new thread). There are plenty of people that would be willing to critique it for you.. for free!

JoJoCal19

Agree with everyone else and I'll add this: This is purely my opinion and others' experiences may have differed, but I think the CompTIA certs are useless for trying to land an interview for a job. I let my Network+ and Security+ lapse as they were never once listed in a job description, mentioned in an interview, or had any measurable positive effect on my career. I think the value is in the material for the certs but not the certs themselves. Read the material, make sure you know it, and move on. The best bet for trying to land that first IT job will be what Essendon said, a CCNA/MCTS and I'll add in the MCSA. Having those on your resume will get plenty of hits on recruiters searches, and will get past the HR filters when applying for a position. The best thing to do is be very knowledgeable and be able to speak to the technologies in an interview and sell yourself that you can do the job.

Chitownjedi

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

Agree with everyone else and I'll add this: This is purely my opinion and others' experiences may have differed, but I think the CompTIA certs are useless for trying to land an interview for a job. I let my Network+ and Security+ lapse as they were never once listed in a job description, mentioned in an interview, or had any measurable positive effect on my career. I think the value is in the material for the certs but not the certs themselves. Read the material, make sure you know it, and move on. The best bet for trying to land that first IT job will be what Essendon said, a CCNA/MCTS and I'll add in the MCSA. Having those on your resume will get plenty of hits on recruiters searches, and will get past the HR filters when applying for a position. The best thing to do is be very knowledgeable and be able to speak to the technologies in an interview and sell yourself that you can do the job.

I've personally helped 4 people get their first IT job, and the difference between interviews and contact for interviews increased dramatically when they were trying to get into IT with no certs, versus when they had the same resume but added A+ or Net+ Sec+. 1- 2 calls maybe a week went to well over 10 a week for all of them. And they all were able to get jobs within 3 weeks of posting their resume with the cert.. versus months of looking without it....

Here in Chicago, a lot of entry level jobs have A+ listed as recommended or required, and there are a lot that may not even have a certification requirement listed at all. But point blank HAVING THE CERTS NEVER HURT... and when you need all the help you can get... you can't really get caught up in over thinking things like this... learn the material.. get certified in it, then move on.

JoJoCal19

Chitownjedi wrote: »

I've personally helped 4 people get their first IT job, and the difference between interviews and contact for interviews increased dramatically when they were trying to get into IT with no certs, versus when they had the same resume but added A+ or Net+ Sec+. 1- 2 calls maybe a week went to well over 10 a week for all of them. And they all were able to get jobs within 3 weeks of posting their resume with the cert.. versus months of looking without it....

Here in Chicago, a lot of entry level jobs have A+ listed as recommended or required, and there are a lot that may not even have a certification requirement listed at all. But point blank HAVING THE CERTS NEVER HURT... and when you need all the help you can get... you can't really get caught up in over thinking things like this... learn the material.. get certified in it, then move on.

I agree, and like I said other's experiences may have differed. But I personally would put the money towards the CCNA (two tests at $150 each) instead of the A+/Network+ (over $250 each). The CCNA will help far more than the Network+.

dou2ble

I think an updated resume (this forum will help for free), posting it in all the job sites, and updated LinkedIn will definitely help. Like others suggested going for your CCNA will definitely help...but for helpdesk positions I think you have enough. I honestly think the problem lies more in your resume and how you're selling yourself.

gespenstern

Are you working on your resume all the time? If you just created it and stopped modifying it on a permanent basis it probably will lead you nowhere. The purpose of your resume is to pass HR filter and get you to interview. Each position you apply to should be treated individually. First off, remove some parts of your resume if positions doesn't ask for them. Usually companies look for specialists, not generalists. Second, fill you resume with keywords that you see on this particular position. Then submit.

Do this with EVERY position you apply to and put each version of your resume along with job description in a separate folder for each position. Job search equals full time job. Each day you have to submit 6-12 customized resumes for different applications.

Another thing, are you looking for a job only in your small town with no IT whatsoever? Consider relocation across the whole U.S. or at least your region, like west, mid-west, east coast, this will raise your chances.

Recruiters usually suck, what they do is they make a resume of yours on their own and push it to whatever job boards and companies in their region. Then they employ you for $20k+/year less than you worth and put the difference into their pocket. You can easily do everything yourself.

Also, keep in mind that you have to make slight updates to your resume every morning so it gets up in the charts.

Bryando

Check websites of schools and other government institutions. Civil Service type jobs.

mxmaniac

Well I've had my resume critiqued by many, and have been told that its very good given the limited experience I'm working with, I've also been told I interview very well. I've had a few interviews where I came in second place, being beaten by people who had a couple years experience. Even the interviews I got wanted about 1-2 years experience. I'm working with recruiters, but even most of their jobs want about 2+ years experience on average.

So I really feel like the problem is there just aren't any entry level jobs out there that don't want 2+ years experience, or else they are hidden and I'm looking in the wrong place.

I do find it interesting a couple people mentioned about posting their resume on job boards. This is one thing I haven't done. I always heard that it was bad, and also shows desperation. Blindly posting your resume with the other millions on the web. Have you guys ever had any luck that way? Do good, legitimate, non-scammy employers actually search resumes on these websites, and actually hire people that way?

iBrokeIT

mxmaniac wrote: »

Well I've had my resume critiqued by many, and have been told that its very good given the limited experience I'm working with, I've also been told I interview very well. I've had a few interviews where I came in second place, being beaten by people who had a couple years experience. Even the interviews I got wanted about 1-2 years experience. I'm working with recruiters, but even most of their jobs want about 2+ years experience on average.

Getting your first IT job is always the hardest part because there are so many people trying break into the field and those that have no interest in advancing their skill set beyond the entry level. Maybe try taking some freelance IT jobs part time while you are on job search. Who knows, you might even get a lead to a full time offer by networking and performing well. Check places like Craigslist > Gigs > Computers or Onforce.com

mxmaniac wrote: »

I do find it interesting a couple people mentioned about posting their resume on job boards. This is one thing I haven't done. I always heard that it was bad, and also shows desperation. Blindly posting your resume with the other millions on the web. Have you guys ever had any luck that way? Do good, legitimate, non-scammy employers actually search resumes on these websites, and actually hire people that way?

Absolutely, creating a LinkedIn page and posting your Resume to Dice.com and Indeed.com will definitely increase your visibility as a candidate and let the prospective employer find you if they aren't going bother posting their job publicly or in a place you know about.

techfiend

Don't post your resume on monster unless you want to be pursued for dozens of non-it sales jobs.

RHDS2K

Honestly, certs are a great thing. I had my network+ and MCP with 10 months experience and i got a FEW calls. Now i have a new job as an associate systems admin for a little over 6 months, I finally got my MCSA and i started putting in last week in case i don't get the raise i'm hoping for.. I've had 8 companies contact me in the last 3 days. I have interviews/ and or phone interviews every day all through next week. Now as i said certs are a great thing, I've noticed a drastic difference with my MCSA but obviously that will take a longer time for you to get. My honest opinion is to get the CCNA as others suggested (something i always wanted to get but haven't had the chance) and get a Microsoft certification. These two combined will show an awesome diversity to hiring managers. I understand you want a help desk job, but if you want to move into higher paying positions later like a sys admin go for the 70-410 exam right away. Its aimed towards server side services, but you learn a ton of fundamentals on dhcp/dns/ etc. which are crucial for help desk. If you have that knowledge you'll feel extremely comfortable talking about issues with an interviewer. I can almost promise with an MCP and CCNA you'll get responses like crazy. That's my 2 cents. I don't have a ton of experience by any means, but it wasn't that long ago i was in your shoes so i know what steps i took to work my way up the ladder.

mxmaniac

RHDS2K: Wow, your saying getting the MCSA made that huge of a difference for you?

That's good to hear, I've actually already began studying for the MCSA months ago, just small bits at a time since I don't have the money for it anyways, but at least I'll have a head start for when I do. I'm actually interested in getting both the MCSA and CCNA. Right now though I don't have the money, and my time is too consumed searching for work, I need to just get some sort of foot in the door job first before I can get another cert.

Being helpdesk or similar is definetly not where I want to say, its simply that I'm pursuing the lowest hanging fruit right now (though even that seems to be hanging quite high).

So where did all these 8 companies find you? Did you post your resume online, or did you contact them directly?

Definetly interested in hearing where people have had the most luck posting their resumes online. Maybe I've been missing out, by thinking that was a bad thing to do.

RHDS2K

Yeah i believe the MCSA is what is making the difference for me. A lot of companies have "MCP" as part of their hiring criteria. You only need to pass 1 microsoft test to have your MCP, so just make sure you choose to take the test that will lay the path towards the MCSA you want to pursue later on. I took anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month of hardcore studying for my Microsoft tests. I'd say 4 hours a day after work then 8-10 hours a day on the weekends. It's more than passing the tests though, you really need to understand the material so you can apply it at work and in interviews.. My sole opinion is that an MCP alone will be more valuable than all Comptia exams put together. They are really more aimed towards very low end basic essentials. It will just look extra good having them on top of an MCP, it shows dedication to hiring managers. Buy the microsoft press book. They are called the "Exam Ref 70-410" (or whatever exam you decide you want to take). Read the book cover to cover, find some practice tests online and watch the CBTnugget videos and you should be able to pass. PM me if you need more advice on that later on.

As far as the 8 companies that recently contacted me, i've always been told Indeed is the best search engine. I applied to every job i saw on indeed that interested me. I also went to careerbuilder and i found additional jobs i didn't see on indeed. Apply to literally everything that interests you. Majority of managers won't even consider you without a cover letter, so write a nice cover letter and tailor it to the specific job you are applying for. Make sure you create a Linkedin if you don't already have one. Search for recruiters in your area and keep your profile up to date as you maneuver into IT.

As stated i don't have a ton of experience; i've been in IT for about a year and a half and have had 2 IT jobs. Luckily my dad was a systems engineer for over 10 years and now he's a PMP IT project manager, so he leads me in the right directions a lot. I basically did everything i'm laying out for you, and it's been helping me land interviews and jobs with some well known companies.

IIIMaster

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

I agree, and like I said other's experiences may have differed. But I personally would put the money towards the CCNA (two tests at $150 each) instead of the A+/Network+ (over $250 each). The CCNA will help far more than the Network+.

I agree. I was going to do my A+ until I saw the cost. Also to be honest any job that requires probably isnt going to pay much.

LeBroke

A+ was a massive waste of $400 for me (yay two exams at $180 US, and that was when the Canadian dollar was good). CCNA got me hired on the spot for my second interview. Also got offered a job during my third interview during the same job search, though I think that was more personality than credentials.

kiki162

Start looking at taking a different approach than what you are doing now. Clearly what you are doing isn't working, however it could also be where you live too.