Invisible wrote:

> I'm doing some searching myself. It seems that "Imagination 
> Technologies" have a whole bundle of adverts for people designing custom 
> digital hardware and/or writing device drivers and firmware for such 
> hardware.

http://www.imgtec.com/graduates/index.asp

Mmmm.... *drool*

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> This looks like the kind of thing I could really enjoy doing. Trouble is, 
> I'm not seeing any specific job that I can tick ALL the boxes for.

Hardly anyone can do that.

> In this instance, they seem to be *demanding* actual experience. 
> (Specifically C, C++ and VHDL. None of which I have, but I'm pretty sure I 
> could learn the latter two.)

Exactly.  Make this clear on your CV and letter.  You want them to employ 
you because you are quick at learning new concepts and being able to work 
with them, not because you have 12 years experience in C.

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scott wrote:
>> This looks like the kind of thing I could really enjoy doing. Trouble 
>> is, I'm not seeing any specific job that I can tick ALL the boxes for.
> 
> Hardly anyone can do that.

Really?

I thought there were people out there who *have* 3 years of C experience?

>> In this instance, they seem to be *demanding* actual experience. 
>> (Specifically C, C++ and VHDL. None of which I have, but I'm pretty 
>> sure I could learn the latter two.)
> 
> Exactly.  Make this clear on your CV and letter.  You want them to 
> employ you because you are quick at learning new concepts and being able 
> to work with them, not because you have 12 years experience in C.

I totally feel like there must be *something* useful I could do for 
these guys... Now I just need to convince *them* of this fact! ;-)

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Invisible wrote:

> http://jobview.monster.co.uk/GetJob.aspx?JobID=73965942

Kings Langley /= Kings Lynn. o_O

PWN3D.

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> I gather some of them have friends and are able to pool their resources to 
> rent somewhere.

If you earn 25K you'll have, what 1500 GBP a month to spend?  I'm pretty 
sure that even for a third of that you could rent somewhere half decent by 
yourself.  If you like it there (the job and the location) you could buy 
somewhere small after a year or two.  That way you're not wasting money on 
rent each month.

> It's not like it has to be right next to my front door, but I would like 
> it to be within a *sane* distance, yes. (E.g., Northampton, Buckingham or 
> even Cambridge wouldn't be too bad.)

You won't believe how much nicer it is to only have to commute 5-10 mins to 
work each day.  I didn't think it was too much of a problem doing 45 mins 
each way, but once I moved I swore I would never go back to anything more 
than 20 mins each way.

> It says "up to" 25K.

That's because it's aimed at graduates, someone with your experience and 
degree would easily expect the 25K or more (hey, I would expect even a good 
graduate with NO experience could ask for the 25K, especially as it's near 
London).

> Your employer [usually] wants you to stick around. *Customers* don't care 
> if you get infected, crawl under a rock and die a slow, painful death - 
> just so long as they get their system working again. And they aren't 
> afraid to say so to your face.

Funny, the customers I deal with are not like that at all.  They appreciate 
the work I do and with most of them the relationship is pretty similar to 
that I have with my colleagues.  Maybe it's because we're always working on 
the same level with technical issues, it's not like I have a meeting with 
the CEO of BMW where he's shouting at me to do something which is 
impossible.  In fact with most of our customers we usually go out for dinner 
with them after meetings and generally have a good time.

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scott wrote:
>> I gather some of them have friends and are able to pool their 
>> resources to rent somewhere.
> 
> If you earn 25K you'll have, what 1500 GBP a month to spend?  I'm pretty 
> sure that even for a third of that you could rent somewhere half decent 
> by yourself.  If you like it there (the job and the location) you could 
> buy somewhere small after a year or two.  That way you're not wasting 
> money on rent each month.

All I know is that my sister lives in Guildford, she earns *twice* what 
me and my mum combined earn, her boyfriend earns a similar salary again, 
and they're *still* always broke.

Apparently, the nearer you get to London, the more expensive everything 
becomes.

> You won't believe how much nicer it is to only have to commute 5-10 mins 
> to work each day.  I didn't think it was too much of a problem doing 45 
> mins each way, but once I moved I swore I would never go back to 
> anything more than 20 mins each way.

Oh well, I would *much* prefer to not have to crawl out of bed and spent 
an hour of my life driving. But since there doesn't seem to be much in 
the way of computer jobs in MK, gotta be realistic. (Apparently. So the 
last consultant I spoke to said.)

>> It says "up to" 25K.
> 
> That's because it's aimed at graduates, someone with your experience and 
> degree would easily expect the 25K or more.

Does changing some tapes once a day count as "experience"? I guess it 
might...

>> Your employer [usually] wants you to stick around. *Customers* don't 
>> care if you get infected, crawl under a rock and die a slow, painful 
>> death - just so long as they get their system working again. And they 
>> aren't afraid to say so to your face.
> 
> Funny, the customers I deal with are not like that at all.  They 
> appreciate the work I do and with most of them the relationship is 
> pretty similar to that I have with my colleagues.  Maybe it's because 
> we're always working on the same level with technical issues, it's not 
> like I have a meeting with the CEO of BMW where he's shouting at me to 
> do something which is impossible.  In fact with most of our customers we 
> usually go out for dinner with them after meetings and generally have a 
> good time.

Damn, you have some much nicer customers than us!

(Ours are famous for not having the slightest clue what they want from 
us, but getting extremely angry when we don't give it to them. And they 
send in auditors once every few years to prove we're doing our jobs 
wrong...)

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Invisible wrote:

> Hey, guess what? Several of the backup settings have magically changed 
> themselves to something completely different values.
> 
> I wonder, who could have done that? Perhaps it was the fairies? Yes, 
> that must be it. It was changed by faries.
> 
> I'm completely sure that none of this has anything at all to do with the 
> new global backup procedure document that comes into effect on the 1st 
> of December. (Notice today's date: 18 *November*. Hence, our current 
> procedure document is still in force and must be followed to the letter.)

The head of IT wants me to file a deviation record for this. Rather 
than, you know, put the settings back to what they should be until the 
SOP actually comes into force.

Because let's face it, signing a bit of paper saying "hey, we're sorry" 
makes it all OK, doesn't it?

> Obviously I have no proof of who changed those settings. But I have a 
> pretty good idea.

"Oh yeah, I should have probably had Chris touch base with you on that."

What the **** do you mean "probably"?!



Still, I'm just a mino in a very large pond. I suppose I should just be 
thankful I haven't been eaten yet...

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Invisible wrote:

> The head of IT wants me to file a deviation record for this. Rather 
> than, you know, put the settings back to what they should be until the 
> SOP actually comes into force.
> 
> Because let's face it, signing a bit of paper saying "hey, we're sorry" 
> makes it all OK, doesn't it?


> "Oh yeah, I should have probably had Chris touch base with you on that."
> 
> What the **** do you mean "probably"?!

The head of QA thinks I should write an email about this and send it to 
the head of IT and the UK MD.

Oh goodie. So as well as trying to figure out what needs to go in this 
deviation record, I also need to write a lengthy email to Mr 
Self-Important too. And hopefully without causing myself even more 
problems than I already have. Yay, me. :-/

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scott wrote:

> You're either applying for the wrong jobs or doing something wrong with 
> your CV or covering letter then.  I think I mentioned in another thread, 
> take your GCSE results off your CV for starters.

I just checked my CV. Apparently I've already removed the GCSE results. 
(I think the consultant I saw in London suggested that one.)

> Why don't you post your CV and covering letter here and I'm sure a few 
> people will volunteer some helpful feedback.  After that you can take 
> into account whatever advice you choose to and work with that.  I 
> understand if you don't want to though, I wouldn't want to :-)

I've attached my CV. Please don't laugh. :-P

I don't *have* a covering letter. If I find a company interesting enough 
for me to contact them directly, I write something from scratch. 
(Depending on how I heard of them, what line of work they're in, how 
closely my skills match what they seem to be looking for, etc.)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Attachments:
Download 'cv-v5-programmer-minimal.pdf' (39 KB)

Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> scott wrote:
> 
>> You're either applying for the wrong jobs or doing something wrong 
>> with your CV or covering letter then.  I think I mentioned in another 
>> thread, take your GCSE results off your CV for starters.
> 
> I just checked my CV. Apparently I've already removed the GCSE results. 
> (I think the consultant I saw in London suggested that one.)
> 
>> Why don't you post your CV and covering letter here and I'm sure a few 
>> people will volunteer some helpful feedback.  After that you can take 
>> into account whatever advice you choose to and work with that.  I 
>> understand if you don't want to though, I wouldn't want to :-)
> 
> I've attached my CV. Please don't laugh. :-P
> 
> I don't *have* a covering letter. If I find a company interesting enough 
> for me to contact them directly, I write something from scratch. 
> (Depending on how I heard of them, what line of work they're in, how 
> closely my skills match what they seem to be looking for, etc.)
> 

Please accept this as honest and well intentioned advice and feedback. 
I'll be direct because you have asked for help.

Your actual work history over 6 years amounts to 5 bullet points and 
less than half a page !

Come on.  This is the important bit.  Without waffling or including 
every time you turned on your PC you need to add more substance here.

You undercut points by saying how small and trivial they are - 'number 
of small scripts', 'a small client survey'.  Why not say how much time 
or money they saved ?

Don't just say what you did but link it to the value.  What would have 
happened if you did not do certain tasks, come up with and implement 
those ideas for improvements, have such great skills etc?

If you write policies and procedures that have to be reviewed by 
external parties then don't phrase it as if they had to be passed by 
some other agency and just squeaked through.  What you did was 
'Developed written policies on X, Y, Z that were implemented department 
wide and endorsed by the the relevant government agency and external 
auditors.  This achieved compliance with legislative requirements 
resulting in new contracts to the value of ...'.

Above all, remember that even the best CV may not get you to an 
interview.  Recruiters are (often) clueless, cruel and stupid.  A lot of 
this is arbitrary and random.

You certainly need to improve your chances at step 1 with a better CV. 
You also may need to submit it to more potential opportunities.  It is 
somewhat of a numbers game.  And that means that failure to strike any 
one mark isn't a personal failing or put down.

What if you applied for that job in far away London and actually got to 
the interview stage?  You get experience and who knows it just might be 
such a good company or more money than you expected that makes it 
attractive.  Wouldn't be unknown for them to offer a different role than 
the advertised one if you are a decent candidate.

So what if you have to travel a bit to get there?  Read on the train. 
Catch the eye of the cutey sitting opposite.  Become a cycling nut.

Sure you don't want to waste your life in travel but sometimes you have 
to trade a bit of pain for other substantial gains.  Later on you move 
closer or find another job nearer but as good or better.  It is easier 
to get into another higher paid job once you are already in a tier. 
Particularly if you demonstrate some achievement and advancement.

If you discount 95% of chances without applying then you've really 
limited the probability of success.  Who knows - it might be that your 
superficial evaluation is wrong.  Gee - that sounds like dating advice.

Finally, if your current situation is so bad then change it and soon. 
If the sparse job history is right then you don't have the opportunity 
to achieve much in your current job.  Plugging away for another couple 
of years may not be adding anything and in fact it will soon be a 
negative to have stayed so long in an obviously dead end job and 
company.  Not to mention the obvious negative motivation and morale. 
Meanwhile time and opportunities are sliding away.

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