I'm fairly new to contracting, having started my first contract in April 2004. I was lucky enough to have that renewed 4 times until it finally came to an end at the beginning of February this year.
The role was pretty much a 2nd line support role, but I was working as the lead in the user / system admin team for a well known transporation company in London. There was a huge project to rollout Oracle and other enterprise apps to the business and my team fed into the programme, as well as providing general 2nd line desktop (XP & NT4) and server (NT4 & W2003) support. I was extremely well respected there and became the central point of focus for a lot of the local IT knowledge. I was working for a large outsourcing company, but unfortunately the contract was taken over by another supplier and all support was moved offsite (my function is now being provided from Inverness).
For financial reasons and really no other, I took up the first contract I was offered which was a Project Officer role for the NHS. I previously worked for the NHS for nearly 6 years and then local government for a few months, so have a wealth of NHS experience. I wasn't too keen on moving into project management though, but I have a can do attitude and have PRINCE2 foundation which I'd never really used, so thought I'd give it a go and nothing else had materialised. I was keen to make sure there were technical hands-on aspects to the role and was sufficiently satisfied on this (projects mentioned were SMS rollout and IP addressing migration). I wasn't there long enough for the hands-on stuff to materialise really though apart from a short stint setting a NHS smartcard registration PC in preparation for future implementation (one of 7 or 8 projects I was leading on). My contract was terminated for financial reasons (budget cuts meant culling contractors).
I was looking for 6 weeks, keen to get back into a pure support role, as I really hated the project management - it just wasn't challenging enough and certainly not cut and thrust, something which I particularly thrive on. I also really missed the interaction with the users that I'd previously had in my other jobs. Nothing came up at first and then I managed to land another short project admin role - I was desperate for money by this time and got offered the job without interview, so though what the hell and it's only for 6 weeks. Big mistake. The role was simply to produce a business case to support procurement of a clinical and patient information system, therefore I knew that it would not be extended. I continued looking for my next contract ideally 2nd line desktop/server support.
My contract finished on 8th July and I am still looking for work now and getting more frustrated and desperate by the day. I am determined to steer well clear of PM as I really hate it . I want to start working towards MCSE 2003 and because of this am really keen to be working in a role that will support me in doing this having the chance to apply my study in a commercial environment - not really an unreasonable aspiration. Anyhting working in an IT team would do, at least then I could ask questions.
I also have over 6 years team leading experience, but contract roles for support team leaders are rare and many now require ITIL foundation. I looked into ITIL, but being on JA benefits just cannot afford it (up to my eyes in debt )
I just cannot seem to get anywhere though and am pretty convinced that the PM roles are the major problem. I'm not being taken seriously when applying for support roles. I know and I've been told I have an excellent skill set being a very well rounded IT professional and I always have excellent feedback on my CV. I've tried stretching the truth a bit and putting some desktop support into the PM roles, but it's not easy and I don't want to be in a position to get caught out.
I've had interviews, but it never comes through.
Quite a few roles, I never heard back anything after the interview despite hassling the agencies
One role the feedback was that they felt I wouldn't fit into the team
Another, the agency came back to me to say that the client felt that I would be uncomfortable working in an all male IT department
A few roles, the feedback has been that the client hasn't felt that I'm technical enough.
Recent conversations with recruitment consultants have frustrated me even more - they have felt that the PM roles (14 weeks worth in total) will make it very difficult for me to get back into a technical hands on role. Combined now with more than a 3 month gap not working is really not good. I have only ever wanted a career in IT and have a real passion for what I do. I've had excellent feedback and references from all previous employers and really cannot see myself doing anything else. However, I am really starting to lose faith. I've got over 11 years IT support experience from 1st thru 3rd line, which seems to count for nothing. Most won't even consider me without MCSE and it's not that I don't want to do it, I simply cannot afford it in my current circumstances. It is now very hard for me to keep motivated and I'm usually a very self-motivated person.
I now do not know where to turn or what to do. I've never wanted to work so much in my life than what I do now. I also cannot afford much more time out of work professionaly and financially. I'm no longer restricting my search to contract, but looking at permanent as well, but no success there either.
I don't think I'm being too unreasonable in asking for a minimum rate of £18ph for a 2nd line support role in London and I have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share and very keen to do so.
I've thought about changing my CV to highlight more the support experience, but I just cannot see how I can do this. Leaving off the PM roles altogether leaves a 9 month gap which would be impossible to explain. I was thinking along the lines of a more skills based type CV, but just don't know where to start with that and experience shows that clients do prefer a more traditional CV. I think I would benefit from a session with a career consultant, but am dubious - tried PCS which is the only lot I know about, but they don't ever respond to me, therefore I think they would be a waste of time. I'd only probably need the free consultation just to get a bit of guidance and some basic guidelines, but I'm not too convinced it will really help that much.
The Job Centre are of course totally useless and I have only been signing on since the beginning of September (another mistake made). The just do not know how to deal with professional (what they call executive) job hunters. I'm registered with just about every agency (certainly all the bigger ones), do Jobserve and Jobsite searches daily. I must have applied for over 200 roles in the last 3 months.
I'm trying to keep myself occupied with the MCSE stuff doing free practice tests etc., helping friends and family out with problems on their PCs, responding to posts on newsgroups asking for help. the self-study MCSE route isn't really for me though - I much prefer a classroom environment and I do not have the kit to really practice properly at home.
If I can, I'd like to stick with contracting and have so much determination to do so, but cannot seem to get anything to turn into an actual job offer.
I know people on here have a great wealth of experience and I have really appreciated the advice given here to others in the past, so would really value any opinions anyone could offer on my situation. Am I a lost cause (my self-esteem at the moment is virtually non-existent)?
Thanks
Nicola
The role was pretty much a 2nd line support role, but I was working as the lead in the user / system admin team for a well known transporation company in London. There was a huge project to rollout Oracle and other enterprise apps to the business and my team fed into the programme, as well as providing general 2nd line desktop (XP & NT4) and server (NT4 & W2003) support. I was extremely well respected there and became the central point of focus for a lot of the local IT knowledge. I was working for a large outsourcing company, but unfortunately the contract was taken over by another supplier and all support was moved offsite (my function is now being provided from Inverness).
For financial reasons and really no other, I took up the first contract I was offered which was a Project Officer role for the NHS. I previously worked for the NHS for nearly 6 years and then local government for a few months, so have a wealth of NHS experience. I wasn't too keen on moving into project management though, but I have a can do attitude and have PRINCE2 foundation which I'd never really used, so thought I'd give it a go and nothing else had materialised. I was keen to make sure there were technical hands-on aspects to the role and was sufficiently satisfied on this (projects mentioned were SMS rollout and IP addressing migration). I wasn't there long enough for the hands-on stuff to materialise really though apart from a short stint setting a NHS smartcard registration PC in preparation for future implementation (one of 7 or 8 projects I was leading on). My contract was terminated for financial reasons (budget cuts meant culling contractors).
I was looking for 6 weeks, keen to get back into a pure support role, as I really hated the project management - it just wasn't challenging enough and certainly not cut and thrust, something which I particularly thrive on. I also really missed the interaction with the users that I'd previously had in my other jobs. Nothing came up at first and then I managed to land another short project admin role - I was desperate for money by this time and got offered the job without interview, so though what the hell and it's only for 6 weeks. Big mistake. The role was simply to produce a business case to support procurement of a clinical and patient information system, therefore I knew that it would not be extended. I continued looking for my next contract ideally 2nd line desktop/server support.
My contract finished on 8th July and I am still looking for work now and getting more frustrated and desperate by the day. I am determined to steer well clear of PM as I really hate it . I want to start working towards MCSE 2003 and because of this am really keen to be working in a role that will support me in doing this having the chance to apply my study in a commercial environment - not really an unreasonable aspiration. Anyhting working in an IT team would do, at least then I could ask questions.
I also have over 6 years team leading experience, but contract roles for support team leaders are rare and many now require ITIL foundation. I looked into ITIL, but being on JA benefits just cannot afford it (up to my eyes in debt )
I just cannot seem to get anywhere though and am pretty convinced that the PM roles are the major problem. I'm not being taken seriously when applying for support roles. I know and I've been told I have an excellent skill set being a very well rounded IT professional and I always have excellent feedback on my CV. I've tried stretching the truth a bit and putting some desktop support into the PM roles, but it's not easy and I don't want to be in a position to get caught out.
I've had interviews, but it never comes through.
Quite a few roles, I never heard back anything after the interview despite hassling the agencies
One role the feedback was that they felt I wouldn't fit into the team
Another, the agency came back to me to say that the client felt that I would be uncomfortable working in an all male IT department
A few roles, the feedback has been that the client hasn't felt that I'm technical enough.
Recent conversations with recruitment consultants have frustrated me even more - they have felt that the PM roles (14 weeks worth in total) will make it very difficult for me to get back into a technical hands on role. Combined now with more than a 3 month gap not working is really not good. I have only ever wanted a career in IT and have a real passion for what I do. I've had excellent feedback and references from all previous employers and really cannot see myself doing anything else. However, I am really starting to lose faith. I've got over 11 years IT support experience from 1st thru 3rd line, which seems to count for nothing. Most won't even consider me without MCSE and it's not that I don't want to do it, I simply cannot afford it in my current circumstances. It is now very hard for me to keep motivated and I'm usually a very self-motivated person.
I now do not know where to turn or what to do. I've never wanted to work so much in my life than what I do now. I also cannot afford much more time out of work professionaly and financially. I'm no longer restricting my search to contract, but looking at permanent as well, but no success there either.
I don't think I'm being too unreasonable in asking for a minimum rate of £18ph for a 2nd line support role in London and I have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share and very keen to do so.
I've thought about changing my CV to highlight more the support experience, but I just cannot see how I can do this. Leaving off the PM roles altogether leaves a 9 month gap which would be impossible to explain. I was thinking along the lines of a more skills based type CV, but just don't know where to start with that and experience shows that clients do prefer a more traditional CV. I think I would benefit from a session with a career consultant, but am dubious - tried PCS which is the only lot I know about, but they don't ever respond to me, therefore I think they would be a waste of time. I'd only probably need the free consultation just to get a bit of guidance and some basic guidelines, but I'm not too convinced it will really help that much.
The Job Centre are of course totally useless and I have only been signing on since the beginning of September (another mistake made). The just do not know how to deal with professional (what they call executive) job hunters. I'm registered with just about every agency (certainly all the bigger ones), do Jobserve and Jobsite searches daily. I must have applied for over 200 roles in the last 3 months.
I'm trying to keep myself occupied with the MCSE stuff doing free practice tests etc., helping friends and family out with problems on their PCs, responding to posts on newsgroups asking for help. the self-study MCSE route isn't really for me though - I much prefer a classroom environment and I do not have the kit to really practice properly at home.
If I can, I'd like to stick with contracting and have so much determination to do so, but cannot seem to get anything to turn into an actual job offer.
I know people on here have a great wealth of experience and I have really appreciated the advice given here to others in the past, so would really value any opinions anyone could offer on my situation. Am I a lost cause (my self-esteem at the moment is virtually non-existent)?
Thanks
Nicola
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