The UK public holiday arrived just in time. Even unemployed people need breaks, at least I do.
Most of the long weekend was spent studying XP. In other words, it was a very boring weekend. Much like most days.
Hang on. It wasn't that boring. I upgraded my PC to XP's SP2. So, that makes it ... no, sorry, that was boring as well (and uneventful, thankfully).
Today
A good start to the week as I applied for two jobs. This was after trawling through over 2000 jobs (actually I skimm rather than trawl) on web sites going back to Friday lunchtime.
Friday
I managed to squeeze out three applications which is unusual on a Friday, especially one next to a long weekend.
This means that last week I made 18 applications where my target is five. I'm quite chuffed about that.
Which is super daft as none of those applications resulted in interviews or offers (at least not yet).
Motivation
I found it very hard to get writing this blog this evening. And I didn't bother to update it at all on Friday.
So, I wonder what it's like for you readers. But I think you should show some patience and perseverence.
It is of course, hard to keep motivated when Blogger decides to clear your whole edit page just before you click the publish button. This happened just now and I had to retype most of the above.
Now I'm back in the swing I'll post more to this blog tomorrow.
Probably.
A diary based on my latest attempts to get a job; this time in Munich. I'm an engineering graduate (and chartered engineer) with more than 10 years' experience in IT. Over five of these years have been spent in team leading and project management roles both in the UK and abroad.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Excitement
It's difficult keeping the excitement going in this blog site.
Anyway, I applied for three jobs today. One of those was an online application. Normally I don't like these as they don't give you the chance of writing a covering letter.
But these days it seems agencies don't even read covering letters, and today I really didn't want to go to the effort anyway.
For those who haven't been paying attention, "writing covering letters" means writing covering emails. It is quite a big "no no" in IT to send a paper letter, that's so second millenium.
Although I've applied for quite a few jobs this week it still seems quiet. And I reckon the reason for this is that recruiters are winding down for the UK public holiday on Monday. It probably means tomorrow (Friday) will be quieter than usual.
Anyway, I applied for three jobs today. One of those was an online application. Normally I don't like these as they don't give you the chance of writing a covering letter.
But these days it seems agencies don't even read covering letters, and today I really didn't want to go to the effort anyway.
For those who haven't been paying attention, "writing covering letters" means writing covering emails. It is quite a big "no no" in IT to send a paper letter, that's so second millenium.
Although I've applied for quite a few jobs this week it still seems quiet. And I reckon the reason for this is that recruiters are winding down for the UK public holiday on Monday. It probably means tomorrow (Friday) will be quieter than usual.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Keeping the interest
Regular readers will know that I don't just write about the number of applications I make or the number of calls I receive about jobs.
Not at all.
But today that's all I'm going to write about. Today I applied for five jobs, bringing the total applications for this week to 11 jobs. And there's still one and half days to go to the end of the week.
I'll just add that I did phone one agency. They had put in their job description that experience of telecoms would be desirable.
Well, I've had responsibility for the delivery of telecom services to offices (although people doing the actual techie stuff reported to me).
It turns out that this requirement wasn't desirable but downright necessary. I've seen quite a lot of this: putting down something as desirable which is in fact necessary.
I also saw this job description today:
"... The perfect candidate would have experience in angering the following areas; project changes, project problems, infrastructure, 3rd party suppliers, negotiations, financial spends (small), charts to record progress and experience of working under ITIL practices/project management methodology. The main duties on a daily basis consist of; insure project objectives are met, lead/build/manage the service delivery projects, deployment of all projects end to end, execute a small amount of project plans and identify risks or problems within a project..."
Not sure what they meant by angering.
Not at all.
But today that's all I'm going to write about. Today I applied for five jobs, bringing the total applications for this week to 11 jobs. And there's still one and half days to go to the end of the week.
I'll just add that I did phone one agency. They had put in their job description that experience of telecoms would be desirable.
Well, I've had responsibility for the delivery of telecom services to offices (although people doing the actual techie stuff reported to me).
It turns out that this requirement wasn't desirable but downright necessary. I've seen quite a lot of this: putting down something as desirable which is in fact necessary.
I also saw this job description today:
"... The perfect candidate would have experience in angering the following areas; project changes, project problems, infrastructure, 3rd party suppliers, negotiations, financial spends (small), charts to record progress and experience of working under ITIL practices/project management methodology. The main duties on a daily basis consist of; insure project objectives are met, lead/build/manage the service delivery projects, deployment of all projects end to end, execute a small amount of project plans and identify risks or problems within a project..."
Not sure what they meant by angering.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Different
The start of today was much like yesterday.
I trawled through page after page of IT jobs for which I was not suitable.
Then things started to improve and I shot off three applications in the morning.
And after lunch I managed another three.
But of these six applications no-one has called back yet.
I trawled through page after page of IT jobs for which I was not suitable.
Then things started to improve and I shot off three applications in the morning.
And after lunch I managed another three.
But of these six applications no-one has called back yet.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Another poor start
Quite poor in fact. I didn't see any jobs today - and I look through 1,000 to 1,500 jobs each day.
But a friend did contact me. He'll be leaving his job soon as he's emigrating. There's a chance it may become available. Quick chat and I sent him my c.v.
So, technically it's one application today and one bite.
Also, I spoke with the agency who contacted me last week about a Unix job. They hadn't sent the job spec to me. The reason? They forgot.
Well, they've now sent it to me and it said - in much more detail - what their job description had said.
He'll let me know when he gets feedback from the client.
But a friend did contact me. He'll be leaving his job soon as he's emigrating. There's a chance it may become available. Quick chat and I sent him my c.v.
So, technically it's one application today and one bite.
Also, I spoke with the agency who contacted me last week about a Unix job. They hadn't sent the job spec to me. The reason? They forgot.
Well, they've now sent it to me and it said - in much more detail - what their job description had said.
He'll let me know when he gets feedback from the client.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
'
During the week it dawned on me that a sentence I was using in my c.v. and web site might have an error.
The sentence was "I have over 10 years experience in IT".
A few weeks back I read Lynne Truss's "Eat, Shoots and Leaves" which is all about the misuse of the apostrophe and other punctuation issues.
Looking again at my c.v. I suddenly thought: "hang on, shouldn't it be 10 years' experience?".
But then again, I don't really believe that the years possess the experience. It's me who's had the experience after all.
I contacted by e-mail Frank, a friend of mine, who now translates business Spanish to English for universities in Spain. Before that he was an English teacher in several countries.
His reply was that the apostrophe was indeed needed. Bother, that meant I had to change my c.v. and web site in various places.
As well as replying to me Frank accidentally included the email address of someone else. It took a few days to work out what had happened. By coincidence this person was a German teacher. He replied to Frank with his view that the apostrophe wasn't needed. That's what I wanted to hear.
But Frank then quoted a similar example from The Economist where the apostrophe was used.
I'll happily argue with translators, language tutors, even Karate purple belts but I won't argue with The Economist.
Meantime I had been browsing the web and came across www.grammarerrors.com.
They didn't have the answer but did have a form with which you could ask questions. So, I asked the question and within an hour I had a reply. It concurred that the apostrophe was required.
And thinking about it you'd say:
"I have one year's experience"
So, you'd say "I have two years' experience" and therefore it's "I have 10 years' experience".
Whilst custom often beats logic when it comes to punctuation punch ups in this case they agree.
My web site will be updated soon.
The sentence was "I have over 10 years experience in IT".
A few weeks back I read Lynne Truss's "Eat, Shoots and Leaves" which is all about the misuse of the apostrophe and other punctuation issues.
Looking again at my c.v. I suddenly thought: "hang on, shouldn't it be 10 years' experience?".
But then again, I don't really believe that the years possess the experience. It's me who's had the experience after all.
I contacted by e-mail Frank, a friend of mine, who now translates business Spanish to English for universities in Spain. Before that he was an English teacher in several countries.
His reply was that the apostrophe was indeed needed. Bother, that meant I had to change my c.v. and web site in various places.
As well as replying to me Frank accidentally included the email address of someone else. It took a few days to work out what had happened. By coincidence this person was a German teacher. He replied to Frank with his view that the apostrophe wasn't needed. That's what I wanted to hear.
But Frank then quoted a similar example from The Economist where the apostrophe was used.
I'll happily argue with translators, language tutors, even Karate purple belts but I won't argue with The Economist.
Meantime I had been browsing the web and came across www.grammarerrors.com.
They didn't have the answer but did have a form with which you could ask questions. So, I asked the question and within an hour I had a reply. It concurred that the apostrophe was required.
And thinking about it you'd say:
"I have one year's experience"
So, you'd say "I have two years' experience" and therefore it's "I have 10 years' experience".
Whilst custom often beats logic when it comes to punctuation punch ups in this case they agree.
My web site will be updated soon.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Two today
Today I applied for two jobs.
That brings my number of applications for this week to: 12
That's not bad at all, especially considering I initially felt it was a bad week.
And during this week I had two bites which is better than my expected average (one bite per 10 applications).
The agency who called me yesterday said they were going to send me a job spec. They didn't. So I emailed a reminder and also confirmed the pay rate we'd discussed.
That brings my number of applications for this week to: 12
That's not bad at all, especially considering I initially felt it was a bad week.
And during this week I had two bites which is better than my expected average (one bite per 10 applications).
The agency who called me yesterday said they were going to send me a job spec. They didn't. So I emailed a reminder and also confirmed the pay rate we'd discussed.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
An improvement
In that today I applied for six jobs.
That means that this week I've applied for a total of 10 jobs. And I've still got half a day to go.
Furthermore I had two bites.
One was an email from a company contacting me on the off chance I was interested in a contract in London. I was, spoke with them and they said they'll put my c.v. forward.
The other one was more noteworthy in that I initially had doubts about applying. It was for a UNIX support manager. Now, I've had responsibility for systems which ran Unix. But my involvement was to recruit people who were experts in Unix. My own experience of Unix is quite limited.
Initially I looked at the advert and decided not to apply. After applying for a few other jobs I went back to it. Using a c.v. tailored for another job I sent off an application on the off-chance.
Twenty minutes later the recruiter called. We had a good chat - it turns out we went to the same university (not that we knew each other). I was honest about my experience in Unix and he was fine with that.
He said he'd put my name forward and send a job specification by email.
That means that this week I've applied for a total of 10 jobs. And I've still got half a day to go.
Furthermore I had two bites.
One was an email from a company contacting me on the off chance I was interested in a contract in London. I was, spoke with them and they said they'll put my c.v. forward.
The other one was more noteworthy in that I initially had doubts about applying. It was for a UNIX support manager. Now, I've had responsibility for systems which ran Unix. But my involvement was to recruit people who were experts in Unix. My own experience of Unix is quite limited.
Initially I looked at the advert and decided not to apply. After applying for a few other jobs I went back to it. Using a c.v. tailored for another job I sent off an application on the off-chance.
Twenty minutes later the recruiter called. We had a good chat - it turns out we went to the same university (not that we knew each other). I was honest about my experience in Unix and he was fine with that.
He said he'd put my name forward and send a job specification by email.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Just to be clear
Last night I wrote that the British Secret Service doesn't have a web site. This is true. I suppose having one of the most distinctive buildings in London, by the river, is sufficient publicity.
Our security service (slightly equivalent to the FBI) does have a web site as does GCHQ (slightly equivalent to the NSA).
In fact, this morning I went to the home page of www.monster.co.uk to find that MI5 (the other name for our security service) had an advert linked on their front page. The advert was for surveillance officers which is not something I'd like to do. Nevertheless I looked through the details of the job and they warned that their security vetting could take eight months. They also advised to keep applications secret, limited to only close family, so that probably precludes recording the fact on a blog.
Our security service (slightly equivalent to the FBI) does have a web site as does GCHQ (slightly equivalent to the NSA).
In fact, this morning I went to the home page of www.monster.co.uk to find that MI5 (the other name for our security service) had an advert linked on their front page. The advert was for surveillance officers which is not something I'd like to do. Nevertheless I looked through the details of the job and they warned that their security vetting could take eight months. They also advised to keep applications secret, limited to only close family, so that probably precludes recording the fact on a blog.
It's not only job seekers ...
... who get fed up with the situation. Here's an advert posted in www.jobserve.co.uk:
"Oh well, yet another Project Manager jobad to write - pretty much the same as last time, but a different location... oh well, here goes... Please, please, please can you have a solid background in Project Management, preferably within SAP implementations, ideally with a knowledge of SAP Retail, the SAP Master Data component and generic SAP skills to configuration level (albeit, this is not strictly essential, as long as you have worked on some type of SAP projects). Any experience within the retail or distribution sectors would be ideal (infact, if you have, I may even be pursuaded to buy you a pint) AND FINALLY, good man-management skills, as you will be responsible for both permanent and contract staff within your team. Have I missed anything? oh well, if I have, we can chat about it tomorrow - it's way too late (7:15pm) and I have to go home. Nite all!"
Has he missed anything? Only that 7.15pm is a wussy time to call late in the world of IT.
In case you ask, no, I didn't apply for it as I've had no exposure to SAP.
"Oh well, yet another Project Manager jobad to write - pretty much the same as last time, but a different location... oh well, here goes... Please, please, please can you have a solid background in Project Management, preferably within SAP implementations, ideally with a knowledge of SAP Retail, the SAP Master Data component and generic SAP skills to configuration level (albeit, this is not strictly essential, as long as you have worked on some type of SAP projects). Any experience within the retail or distribution sectors would be ideal (infact, if you have, I may even be pursuaded to buy you a pint) AND FINALLY, good man-management skills, as you will be responsible for both permanent and contract staff within your team. Have I missed anything? oh well, if I have, we can chat about it tomorrow - it's way too late (7:15pm) and I have to go home. Nite all!"
Has he missed anything? Only that 7.15pm is a wussy time to call late in the world of IT.
In case you ask, no, I didn't apply for it as I've had no exposure to SAP.
A slightly better today
... in that I applied for two jobs this morning.
I didn't find any this afternoon, so my total for this week is four applications. Wow.
Just one more and I'll have hit my week's target: five applications. I've got one and half days left to achieve it.
I didn't find any this afternoon, so my total for this week is four applications. Wow.
Just one more and I'll have hit my week's target: five applications. I've got one and half days left to achieve it.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Some facts
Facts, as we know, are generally bad things as they can get in the way of opinions.
For some reason I had the opinion that Singapore would be quite a corrupt place. Well, it has got a governing party which plays very hardball indeed with the opposition. So, I suspected that their businesses would be similarly suspect.
Turns out that they rank number five in Transparency International's comprehensive list of un-corrupt countries.
That's impressive. The UK is eleventh and the USA is 18th. Finland is, of course, the least corrupt country in the world.
There's been a little bit of criticism in the last few months, years and even decades, about the Central Intelligence Agency of the US government.
But I can't fault them. When I want to find out about a country I go to their World Factbook and I'll get a very apt synopsis about the country in question. Today I found it very useful in finding more about Singapore.
Now, it doesn't give GPS co-ordinates of military bases for cruise missile attack, or infiltration/exfiltration sites for special forces use. But there's very little call for that sort of thing in my line of work so I can't complain. I'd imagine some US military personnel are a bit miffed about the lack of such information but I'd tell them to look at other countries' intelligence services. For example, the British Secret Service doesn't even have a web site. If you ask me that's taking secrecy a bit too far.
For some reason I had the opinion that Singapore would be quite a corrupt place. Well, it has got a governing party which plays very hardball indeed with the opposition. So, I suspected that their businesses would be similarly suspect.
Turns out that they rank number five in Transparency International's comprehensive list of un-corrupt countries.
That's impressive. The UK is eleventh and the USA is 18th. Finland is, of course, the least corrupt country in the world.
There's been a little bit of criticism in the last few months, years and even decades, about the Central Intelligence Agency of the US government.
But I can't fault them. When I want to find out about a country I go to their World Factbook and I'll get a very apt synopsis about the country in question. Today I found it very useful in finding more about Singapore.
Now, it doesn't give GPS co-ordinates of military bases for cruise missile attack, or infiltration/exfiltration sites for special forces use. But there's very little call for that sort of thing in my line of work so I can't complain. I'd imagine some US military personnel are a bit miffed about the lack of such information but I'd tell them to look at other countries' intelligence services. For example, the British Secret Service doesn't even have a web site. If you ask me that's taking secrecy a bit too far.
Monday, Tuesday, whatever
Monday
Applied for a job, "a job" as in one job. And that was a job posted on the Friday afternoon after I had stopped looking.
This was really just going through the motions, it wasn't a good match and I didn't bother to phone the agency.
Tuesday (today)
Only looked this morning but didn't see any suitable jobs.
Was, however, emailed by an agency for a contract management role which might fit. I phoned them but they were busy so I sent them an email.
I was also phoned by the client for the job in Singapore. We had a very good chat but I had the feeling that they weren't going to select me ("we'll get back to you in a week ... we might also consider you for other roles"). Funny chat, it went a bit off interview (questions about the seaside town in which I live, discussions about languages etc). Must remember to close the window before I do telephone interviews. The interviewer could hear seagulls in the background.
Total applications this week: 2
Applied for a job, "a job" as in one job. And that was a job posted on the Friday afternoon after I had stopped looking.
This was really just going through the motions, it wasn't a good match and I didn't bother to phone the agency.
Tuesday (today)
Only looked this morning but didn't see any suitable jobs.
Was, however, emailed by an agency for a contract management role which might fit. I phoned them but they were busy so I sent them an email.
I was also phoned by the client for the job in Singapore. We had a very good chat but I had the feeling that they weren't going to select me ("we'll get back to you in a week ... we might also consider you for other roles"). Funny chat, it went a bit off interview (questions about the seaside town in which I live, discussions about languages etc). Must remember to close the window before I do telephone interviews. The interviewer could hear seagulls in the background.
Total applications this week: 2
Friday, August 13, 2004
Slow down
Today I applied for two jobs.
My total for this week is 12 applications.
I received two bites, well three if you include the call in response to an application made last week.
As usual I only looked for jobs this morning and didn't make any calls.
My total for this week is 12 applications.
I received two bites, well three if you include the call in response to an application made last week.
As usual I only looked for jobs this morning and didn't make any calls.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Not that I'm panicking
Oh gosh no.
I mean a day without applying for jobs. Doesn't phase me at all.
Why should it? I mean, today I applied for, er, 2 jobs.
Both were for relocation projects, of which I have some experience.
I phoned one of the agencies a few hours after I had applied. The recruiter said that my c.v. didn't really jump out at her. She felt I wasn't technical enough for the role.
Let's gloss over that - I don't want Blogger.com to remove this site.
But half an hour after emailing the second application, to a different agency, I heard the happy sound of my mobile ringing. It was the recruiter.
We went through the job details - a relocation programme in Singapore with lots of money. I haven't been to Singapore but I've heard it's a fine city.
We then covered the awkward bit about my career gap.
He phoned back a little later and asked for a more detailed c.v. My first thoughts was: how am I going to put in more details in just two pages? Then I relaxed and asked if he'd be happy if I went to three pages. Actually, I think that's what he wanted. So I added loads more detail (which means loads more bullet points in my case) and sent it off to him.
I should hear from him next week.
So, this week I've had two bites and made 10 applications. Not bad. And one half-day to go, except it's Friday 13.
I mean a day without applying for jobs. Doesn't phase me at all.
Why should it? I mean, today I applied for, er, 2 jobs.
Both were for relocation projects, of which I have some experience.
I phoned one of the agencies a few hours after I had applied. The recruiter said that my c.v. didn't really jump out at her. She felt I wasn't technical enough for the role.
Let's gloss over that - I don't want Blogger.com to remove this site.
But half an hour after emailing the second application, to a different agency, I heard the happy sound of my mobile ringing. It was the recruiter.
We went through the job details - a relocation programme in Singapore with lots of money. I haven't been to Singapore but I've heard it's a fine city.
We then covered the awkward bit about my career gap.
He phoned back a little later and asked for a more detailed c.v. My first thoughts was: how am I going to put in more details in just two pages? Then I relaxed and asked if he'd be happy if I went to three pages. Actually, I think that's what he wanted. So I added loads more detail (which means loads more bullet points in my case) and sent it off to him.
I should hear from him next week.
So, this week I've had two bites and made 10 applications. Not bad. And one half-day to go, except it's Friday 13.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
But this afternoon ...
... I apply for: 0 jobs.
Blast, a flat day. No jobs applications made. No-one phoned.
Blast, a flat day. No jobs applications made. No-one phoned.
Back again
This morning the number of applications I made was: 0
Not a nice feeling. I can normally find two jobs which warrant applications. I'm hoping things improve this afternoon.
Not a nice feeling. I can normally find two jobs which warrant applications. I'm hoping things improve this afternoon.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
A change in conditions
Yesterday it was gray and rainy.
Today it was dry, sunny and rather warm.
But you're not reading this blog for a record of local weather (are you?).
Yesterday I applied for two jobs.
Today I applied for six jobs. This includes an agency who called me first, to see if I was available for some release management work (an IT service specialism). "Yes" and I sent them my c.v.
They later called back to ask if I had any enterprise management software experience. The reason it wasn't on my c.v. is mainly because I haven't used it at all. Nevertheless, in reality it's just an application, the agency recognised this and said they'd put my c.v. forward.
I also saw an advertisement from the agency who got me the last role. I phoned them up but they hadn't uploaded my latest c.v. onto their system. No worries. I told them the URL of my web site and from there they could see a version of my latest c.v.
Let's see if they get back to me.
Today it was dry, sunny and rather warm.
But you're not reading this blog for a record of local weather (are you?).
Yesterday I applied for two jobs.
Today I applied for six jobs. This includes an agency who called me first, to see if I was available for some release management work (an IT service specialism). "Yes" and I sent them my c.v.
They later called back to ask if I had any enterprise management software experience. The reason it wasn't on my c.v. is mainly because I haven't used it at all. Nevertheless, in reality it's just an application, the agency recognised this and said they'd put my c.v. forward.
I also saw an advertisement from the agency who got me the last role. I phoned them up but they hadn't uploaded my latest c.v. onto their system. No worries. I told them the URL of my web site and from there they could see a version of my latest c.v.
Let's see if they get back to me.
Monday, August 09, 2004
The German question
I got through to the agency handling my application for a job in Duesseldorf.
Their client hadn't got back to them. Not too surprising as Germans tend to get a nasty outbreak of vacations around this time of year. And remember that Germans have quite a lot of vacations to take.
It was good to talk to the agency again. They advised me that they had put my name forward for two very similar jobs. And for these jobs they had only put forward a total of four names, two of them being me!
So, what do I do if I'm offered this docklands contract before the Duesseldorf (permanent) job? Unfortunately I'm in no position to hedge. These days the trick is to get the first job going, as long as it's half-way suitable. And having applied to this company in Germany (via the same agency) last year I know they could pfaff for months and months before getting back to me.
But don't get me wrong. I'd much rather be in Duesseldorf than the docklands.
Their client hadn't got back to them. Not too surprising as Germans tend to get a nasty outbreak of vacations around this time of year. And remember that Germans have quite a lot of vacations to take.
It was good to talk to the agency again. They advised me that they had put my name forward for two very similar jobs. And for these jobs they had only put forward a total of four names, two of them being me!
So, what do I do if I'm offered this docklands contract before the Duesseldorf (permanent) job? Unfortunately I'm in no position to hedge. These days the trick is to get the first job going, as long as it's half-way suitable. And having applied to this company in Germany (via the same agency) last year I know they could pfaff for months and months before getting back to me.
But don't get me wrong. I'd much rather be in Duesseldorf than the docklands.
Quiet start
It's a gray, rainy day in southern England. Not at all inspiring.
Apart from the phone call I received I made two applications today. I also watched German news webcasts (to practise my German) and studied a bit of XP.
I reckon it's quite important that I get the XP technical exam under my belt. It would show that I still have the ability to be technical. It would also be good for me personally. I haven't done much intelluctally intense work since my accident.
Apart from the phone call I received I made two applications today. I also watched German news webcasts (to practise my German) and studied a bit of XP.
I reckon it's quite important that I get the XP technical exam under my belt. It would show that I still have the ability to be technical. It would also be good for me personally. I haven't done much intelluctally intense work since my accident.
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