Certificates but still no job :-(

Hi all,

after receiving another bunch of rejections from job applications I wanted to get everybodies opinion on what might be going wrong here.

I'm now 25 years old and have worked in IT since 1999. I have lots of experience in the ISP sector (having spent 4 years at two big ones) and have gathered lots of Unix knowledge as a SysAdmin over time (esp. Linux + Solaris). I also worked with Cisco stuff a lot and I'm going for CCDA and hopefully CCNP the next year.

As you can see from my profile I have gathered quite a bunch of certificates since I started working on them in March of this year.

Do you guys have any ideas how I could improve my chances ? I thought that the certificates I have should improve them but that doesn't seem to be the case so far

Regards,
Lordy

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Comments

Non-Profit Techie

do you have a college degree?

lordy

No. I went to school for 12 years and have something called "Fachabitur".

I could study Computer Science but that would take at least 4 probably 5 years, so I would be 30 by then.

garv221

I have no idea what the Job market is like in Germany.

Noods

Relationships are often as important to getting hired/promoted as qualifications are. If you dont already have one, get an entry level position and work up. Get to know people, and establish good relationships. Then try and emulate what others have to to find the job you may be interested in.

TeKniques

Do you get interviews and then rejection letters? Or do you just receive the letters after applying? I'm just asking because I doubt your knowledge couldn't land you a job, but maybe your interview skills could use some retooling.

lordy

Well, so far after applying to ten jobs I have had one test day (where I spent one whole day at that company) and two small phone "interviews".

I'm confident that I could land a job if I would be invited to interviews though.

johnnynodough

perhaps its the resume? Post a copy with the relevant stuff, we dont really need your address

Ricka182

If you don't hear back from a potential employer after an interview, it's not a bad idea to follow up. You could either call and ask if they have filled the position, or you could send a letter directly(not to HR), and thank them for the interview. That would let them know you really want the job. Like someone else said, Networking is a great help, as in networking with other IT people. The right connection can make all the difference.

qsub

Have faith and work on you're communication skills

Be prepared for questions and don't say ughhh or I don't know.

skully93

hang in there. You'll get one eventually.

You're also aiming at a higher end network field with those certs. This may prove a tighter market than the more entry-levelers like myself, but it will probably pay off with a higher base pay.

lordy

Thanks.

I'm indeed not looking for jobs like Desktop Support and the like. I've been there, done that.

I feel, that after 5 years in the industry I should rather wait for a job then to settle with a low one because that really looks bad on a CV. Not that a gap doesn't but I feel that I can better explain the gap then the step back.

chris2wire

I say just move to the United States.

The sky is the limit here. Work hard and you'll get far.

Ok ok im not telling everyone to leave home because the USA is the best place for personal interests, but I am saying that it can be very beneficial to cut ties with family and friends and go where your personal success is.

lordy

In fact, I had thought about this already a few years ago.

The point is, that there is kind of a chicken-egg problem.

If you don't have a job, you cannot immigrate and if you are not there you cannot find a job.

mobri09

I think you have the right attitude and the right experience. Dont give up just because this economy is doing bad. You will land a fairly nice job with your knowledge. I was always told from day one..."You better have lots of experience or a college education, one or the other". Did you ever think about getting a 2 year associates degree in business or something?

Undertow

My condition is even worse.
I am 19 years old and I have an experience of.............0 years!
But I have a very strong intention to work!
Is there any possibility to find a job , at least with a low salary?

lordy

Just when you expect it the least, good things happen.

I have just been invited to a first interview as a Network Engineer at a nearby company.

Strange thing is that it took them no less then 3 weeks to reply to my application...

victorou

Hi guys. I have a similar situation too. I have my bachelor degree in Information Technology and got my A+ as well. I don't have experiences so far since I'm just a recent graduate. Any one here can give me some advices about what kind of entry level jobs I should expect for entering the IT industry? Right now, I'm studying towards Network+, CCNA, MCP, or MCNA hopefully. Not sure if they could help me for getting a job in the field. Can these certificates replace my weakness of lack of experiences?

Victor

Webmaster

victorou wrote:

Can these certificates replace my weakness of lack of experiences?

Not 'replace', but it can make a huge difference in getting a job/interview or not. imo the best thing is to take any IT job you can get, just to build up some experience on your resume. We all had/have to start somewhere, and that's usually at the bottom, regardless of a degree or certs.

victorou

It seems like my degree cannot make a different for me in this IT industry. Is it better to get a diploma from college and concerntrate on getting more certificates rather than spending 4 years struggling for the degree like I did ?

Some of my friends are going to persue their master degree in ITEC. The reality really makes me doult if the master degree could be useful or not. Any opinions or advices for me?

rjpaw

I'm in a similar situation, 10 years exp in IT, updating my certs from previous NT 4 track (missed the NT4 MCSE by one exam), but no college degree. I can't find a job either. There are many that are up my alley, but getting the actual face to face interview is harder than passing the 70-291 test.

I feel confident that if I got an intervew with someone, I'd at the very least be in the running for the position, but I'll send out resuemes and it seems like the dissappear into the black hole of HR IT recruiting. Someone told me a disturbing fact one time: a recruiter spends an average of 5 seconds looking at a resume before deciding to keep it or junk it.

From everything I've heard, the BEST thing you can have is experience, the Certs, and a degree even if it's an Associates.
Skully has a good point too, the higher the level the job, the pickier people tend to be about qualifications. Sad part is it's just to get you in the door. I went to College part time, but have learned more from my certs and exp than I ever would have in school.... saying that though, I'm going back to finish my degree in the spring. It'll just be one more key to try and open the doors...

Good luck to everyone!

nknk417

I am just curious what have you done to find a job? I know the IT field has gone through some tough times lately, but I don't think is as bad as it is made out to be. I have seen people offered jobs who weren't even looking and I wouldn't say that they knew everything or had some special skills that would make you want to hire them. All they had was a good attitude and loved what they do.

darkmagic

spfdz wrote:

Be prepared for questions and don't say ughhh or I don't know.

What do you do then if you don't know the answer, go round & round in circles & then land yourself in a mess

Honestly, i want to know what to do in such situation, except for getting a diplomatic answer like "Be diplomatic"

Ten9t6

darkmagic wrote:

spfdz wrote:

Be prepared for questions and don't say ughhh or I don't know.

What do you do then if you don't know the answer, go round & round in circles & then land yourself in a mess

Honestly, i want to know what to do in such situation, except for getting a diplomatic answer like "Be diplomatic"

I can tell you that I have done many interviews of applicants wanting to join our team. I can not stand it when people try to BS me. I usually crank up the heat at that point and the interview gets much harder. I have already decided not to hire at that point and just want find out what other BS they will feed me. On the other hand.....If you say I am not sure or I don't know and then attempt an answer, I usually help them out with clues. This does several things......First, I find out if they have any knowledge of the subject..Second, it helps them relax a little. Once they relax, people can usually answer many more questions. I don't make it a "Military" style interview unless they bring it on themselves.

Bottom line....do not bs in the interview. A lot of times, that person asking the questions will know more than you and you will just dig a hole that you can not climb out of.

Two other things....Only give them what they ask for in a question..nothing else. I have had several people answer the question correctly and then they tried to give an example or elaborate. At this point they start giving wrong examples or information and then it spins all out of control. Answer the question and nothing more...

Second......If someone asks you what the name of OSI model layer 5 is....don't say the Sausage layer.

Kenny

lordy

Well, here is a little update on my situation:

I have been to two interviews with one company lately for a job as 'Network Engineer'.

The first interview was kinda bad (from my point of view) but they invited me for a second one with the manager of the department I would join. This guy was pretty nice and he asked a bunch of networking question that I could ace thanks to the CCNA

Unfortunately I had sheduled and paid an abroad vacation so the boss of that company told me to give him a call when I return. He said that they are not in a hurry to hire somebody but that they would look at 2-3 other guys in the meantime and tell me what's up when I get back.

Fortunately, if this doesn't work out I have been invited to an interview at a hiring company which would send me out to different companies... sounds interesting.

Well, just wanted to keep you guys posted and keep the discussion rolling.

darkmagic

Exactly "Ten9t6", you snatched words out of my mouth, thats what i was thinking of.

I would prefer to say, Sorry, i do not know than giving a run around which would create further problems for me. After all, no one knows everything

Ten9t6

There are many that say / think they know everything.....But, I do not want them working with me. They tend to cause more work for everyone on the team.

Kenny

louzam2115

Second......If someone asks you what the name of OSI model layer 5 is....don't say the Sausage layer.

LOL what is that!

Is that just a joke, or did someone actually say that to you?

Also, do interviewers really ask questions like that, such as, how would you manually configure a IP address and ect... ? ??

TheShadow

High to low (Transmit) 7-1
All People Seem To Need Data Processing

Low to High (Receive) 1-7
Please Do Not Throw Sausage Pizza Away

OSI layers memory jogger but if you are a braindumper maybe that is all you memorized hoping to see the answers on the test and just match up the letters. Some people never remember the real names therefore what Ten9t6 wrote is not a joke

Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, Physical

coreuk

a quick note as i know its been awhile since the discussion about USA came up.

I have talked to a few friends in USA who all just packed their things went over to USA on a temp tourist visa and spend the 2-3 months they had on looking for jobs, they ofcourse got tons of no´s but a few of the companies actually wanted to help them obtain a vaild work visa and thats the main reason they are now both working in Florida and New York

So if you got the cash and the guts to do something different

just go over there

cdad2000

Do not give up hope.