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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > May 2001 > Can't Find IT Job Here Either
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Can't Find IT Job Here Either
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| Hey,
Im in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
I've been looking for IT jobs for the last 6 months already, and have not found a single student job yet! All the employers want people with 5-10 years of experience! I plan on going to Uni in september for a CS degree. I want to a get a temp summer job so I can get experience. If anyone knows about places in winnipeg where they offer student jobs, please give me a shout. Your help is appreciated it. | |
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| Don't feel bad! Market is getting tight on IT position.
Remember Certification is a heat and everybody want to be IT. It is a temporary overcrowd period.
Go to Uni and get CS, IS or EE degree while you can try to get intern, co-op or P/T from school.
The best way I know to get hire is from the school.
Good luck | |
| Tekmazter 2001-05-23, 6:32 am |
| Not that I would applaud it, but if you have say 2-3 years strong working knowledge in and around computers, you could probably put 5 years exp on your resume to atleast get the interview. Afterall, most employers always post more than they expect to get for credentials. And I also think that most employers expect to find many people who over compensate on their resumes. It all washes in the end. Just look at what the day-to-day job description is. If you think you can do it, ask for an interview. There is always someone willing to hire. | |
| Nicole 2001-05-23, 9:46 am |
| I strongly disagree. Lying on your resume is the quickest way to lose your job and lose credibility.
I've done enough hiring to see all sorts of lies on resumes. I'm sorry to say, but it's very obvious that's what's going on, and anyone who lies is immediately out of the running no matter how great their other qualifications.
But if you see a job that you are sure you can do, even without some of the qualifications listed in the ad, go ahead and send your [accurate] resume in and write a killer cover letter. At worst, your resume ends up in the round file. | |
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| I agree with Nicole, I would never lie or cheat my resume in any way possible. The only way to get a job is if you go and knock on the door of where you want to work and tell them "I want to work here" 
Azam | |
| Nicole 2001-05-23, 12:41 pm |
| Are you living close to the University you'll be attending? If so, I'd spend some time this summer visiting with the computer department and meeting some of the administrators and professors. If it's anything like it was when I was in college (and working for my department), the summer is pretty low-stress, and mostly spent on planning and maintenance. They'll have time to talk to a new and enthusiatic student (*ahem*), and you can use the opportunity to ask them about student jobs or internships in the area. Close ties to the department are a great way to hear about work opportunities in and outside the school throughout your college career -- when companies need a student-level worker, they frequently ask at their old college.
Once fall arrives, the new students will all be a blur and everyone rushing around like mad. But you'll stand out from the crowd if they already know who you are. | |
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| Great Idea!
Thank You Nicole, I'll try just that.
Azam | |
| Tekmazter 2001-05-23, 2:51 pm |
| I never said lie. Not once. How long have you worked with computers. Hmmm, well if you have been using computers since 1985, well thats experience. It all depends on what you think experience is. Hey, some people troubleshoot computers for their friends for 5 or so years before finally deciding to jump into the field full time. If you don't think thats exp, then thats your choice. However, if someone is looking for 5 years exp, and I have 3 in a business setting and maybe a few more just messing around, I'll put the 5 on my resume. I never said lie about stuff you have done or things your were involved in. What's important here is what you can do, and that will come out in the interview. If you don't know how to manage a firewall, cisco routers etc...than say I haven't done that. Oh, and one more thing here folks, if you all mean to say that you don't pump yourself up in a resume, then maybe thats why you are looking for a job. You look like all of the other candidates out there. Put something you have done in there that will set you apart. Explain what you've done in a technical yet easy to understand form. If you want to get the interview, you need to give the employer a reason to talk to you. Be confident. Say what you can do, explain it in your skills. Just because you didn't do it for Microsft doesn't mean you can't do it. Oh, and one other thing for all those who doubt pumping yourself up...it's a doggy dog world out there and nice people aren't what companies hire...it's the confident, hard working folks that demand to get the job done and on the first try. Take a good look at what the job description says. If you can do it, APPLY. Let the employer worry about whether or not your qualified. | |
| Nicole 2001-05-23, 4:02 pm |
| Tekmazter,
I didn't mean anything as an insult to you, nor do I intend to get into some sort of contest over credentials, and yes, I have been in this business for some time. I agree with you that experience doesn't have to be paid experience, or even an official job.
However, there's a big difference between writing a resume that showcases your abilities well and, well, making them up. Resume writing is an art, but it ain't fiction.
There are a lot of folks that DO lie -- my point is that it's usually obvious to the interviewer, and you look like a fool. A few get away with it and get hired, but then they look incompetant.
This:
quote:
but if you have say 2-3 years strong working knowledge in and around computers, you could probably put 5 years exp on your resume to atleast get the interview.
Well, that's a lie. If you have 2-3 years experience, you have 2-3 years, not 5. Maybe you should apply anyway, but you apply with what you have. Considering how pathetic many job applications are, you probably won't even end up at the bottom of the pile.
Gauging from the vehemence of your reply, I'd guess that you feel that you misspoke. | |
| Firebird81 2001-05-23, 4:32 pm |
| "...it's a doggy dog world out there"
Not only that, it's a dog-EAT-dog world too.  | |
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| Here is my resume, tell me what you guys think.
Azam | |
| Tekmazter 2001-05-24, 7:12 am |
| Nicole, all of the yours and you's in my last post were not meant for you. I should have said peoples opinions of something of the sort. I wasn't trying to berate you. OOPS, I hope you will forgive me? Yes all, I am asking for forgiveness publicly. I hope all is well in the "Nicole" camp. Sorry for the miscommunication.
Tekmazter | |
| Nicole 2001-05-24, 11:51 am |
| Tekmazter,
No offense taken. I'm sorry I assumed you were speaking just to me, and I'm glad we're all happy now.
I used to write my own video games for my VIC20. Does that mean I can say I've been a programmer for 20 years? | |
| Nicole 2001-05-24, 12:00 pm |
| Azam,
Thoughts:
You list your certifications twice. I'd put it as education, and then maybe include something like "Cisco routers, switches and network design" or thereabouts in the skills section.
I wouldn't include the non-computer related skills in your skillset, unless you want another job doing lawncare But you might spread out the computer skills -- something like a bullt for computer languages, one for graphics software, another for Office sortware, etc.
Most importantly, I'd place the Computer Technician experience at the top. It's the most relevant item. You might consider expanding the description to include items which are relevant to the particular job you are applying for.
I'd add an objective. Since your experience is low, it will help focus the reader's thoughts on your goals and what you can do for the company.
This is pretty good -- it's tough to write a resume for any entry level position, and you've done a good job.
Now go get 'em! | |
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| Tekmaster, I agree with what you're trying to say. "Experience" can also be gained on your own. What's the difference between a hobbyist and a professional? The difference is that one get's paid and the other doesn't.
IT'S A REALLY TOUGH MARKET RIGHT NOW. Thousands of people are coming into the IT field every week. There are guys in Help Desk positions that don't know their jobs too well. I know guys sitting at home with more experience than some people currently in the field. The bottom line is, if you lie on your resume, you probably won't last more than a couple days on the job, but if you really have experience of some sort and confidence in your skills, then put them on your resume somehow. A resume is a formality that we all have to go thru. If you can do the job once you're hired, then go for it! I don't mean to imply that you should give false information on your resume.
Remember that once you're hired, if you can can take care of your duties, you'll be fine. The resume is just going to sit in someone's file cabinet for the rest of the time, and probably never be seen again.
This reminds me of a saying I heard some time back:
"Just when you thought you were winning the rat race, along come faster rats". | |
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| Nicole, maybe not 20 years, but you still do have experience (whether you got paid for it or is a different story.) That experience is still worth allot these days!! | |
| Nicole 2001-05-24, 1:28 pm |
| Too bad there's not much call for BASIC programmers these days. Come to think of it, I took BASIC classes in elementary school before I even had the VIC20... if I had only forseen the dot.com revolution then, I'd be retired by now and soaking up the sun in Cyprus.
I would never put 20 years of experience on my resume, even if it was completely legit. Then they'd just think you were too old to be a cutting edge programmer. With all the 13 year old hackers running around, next thing you'll know they'll want to have 20 years experience, a master's degree, 12 certifications AND be 30 years old.
Talk about your faster rats... | |
| kata_dalast_kappa 2001-05-24, 3:24 pm |
| I almost gave up on the IT field but now I have a great job. I run the domain here at work. Its a great job and great pay. I have a total of 1 year of schooling and 1 year experince and I was able to land a job paying me $27/hr. What is the average starting pay for an IT Proff.? | |
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| I wish i had seen the revolution as well. I'm 35 now and still trying to make a career change to the IT field. What i'm trying to say is that people are allot smarter about computers now than they were 10-20 years ago. With computers being more user-friendly now, people are able to resolve more issues on their own. I have noticed that allot of the things that our Help Desk was called out for are now being handled at the user level. Kids are more knowledgable about the workings of a computer than they used to be back in my time. Even allot of the people entering with A+ certifications already have a good working knowledge of their systems. My Mother even knows about computers now. Certifications are being
re-written because the older versions are becoming easier to complete. When i was in my A+ class, most of the guys had a pretty good background with computers. I felt like a dummy. All in all, there's a nw breed of user out there now than there was b4. If you ever check out one of these Tech job sites, seems like having the basic information is not good enough anymore. Employers are looking for much more in the people they hire these days. It's allot tougher to find an entry-level position these days whan all you can offer is entry-level experience, and if that's all you can offer, seems like someone else is always getting the position that you're applying for. I went to an IBM Job Fair a few months ago. There was 30 guys there applying for 2 positions that were available, and the recruiter was only offering 30k a year for the position. It's not the same rat race anymore. We now have Super-rats. | |
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| Azam,
I would lose the part about the babysitter and sandbagger. Try adding something more related to the field. Good Luck!! | |
| chunder 2001-05-24, 6:22 pm |
| hey Azam...
take a look at the attached and see what you can turn it into.. | |
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| Go Smurfman. Go Smurfman. Go Smurfman go..... | |
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| What exactly should I put for the Objective?
"Looking for any IT/Network related job" ?
Azam | |
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| Thanks for all the info guys!
Azam | |
| chunder 2001-05-26, 7:12 pm |
| let's see what you come up with... ok?
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| lumbu 2001-05-30, 11:29 am |
| Azam,
If you still need help with your resume, check out www.techiegold.com. Click "Expert Tips" and then click "How can i get the most out of my resume?
Also check out www.brassring.com. Click "Post resume." Some people post their resume on this site publicly, and you can see how they've done theirs. | |
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| Thanks for the links
Azam |
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