Thursday 30 August 2012

Things may be coming to life again after a typically quite August

Now the bank holiday weekend is over again it does seem that the jobs market is waking up again a bit.

For the last few weeks I have been struggling to find things to apply to but I did get a couple of calls from agents today so perhaps that's a good harbinger of things to come. 

I'm still trying to make up my mind what I should be asking for salary-wise.  I'm not over centred on cash (I hope) and would be willing to go down from my last salary a bit if that is what the market demands.  But how much?  If any?  I don't want to sound desperate and make it seem as though I would accept any wage offered. 

Given these straightened times,  or despite of them,  what do people think about salary downsizing?

Monday 20 August 2012

Nearly, but no cigar

I've done well considering its August,  probably the worst month to try and get a new job.

I've had a couple of interviews.

The first went very well and I was well suited to what would have been a great role.  I got through to the last few (probably last 3) but not quite....

Second one was a role that I was perhaps less well suited for,  and I did not think the interview went as well as the first: I was never certain that I had all the skills that they were asking for: and probably over emphasised that in interview.  Its not down to me to tell people what I cannot do.  I still got down to the last 2 but....

Since then I've done an online technical test for another role : which I have never heard back from: so I'm guessing wasn't great.

There was another role that I was called about: and out went the trusty CV: but again I've heard nothing back.

Indeed I heard nothing back from the company for role 2: which is a bit poor considering I travelled to London twice to see them.

So we live and learn.  I need to improve my interview technique: but its not that bad and for things that I feel I really want I think/hope that I come across well.  I just need to learn to project myself as the person that someone really needs to take their company forwards: the one to make them forget the rest of the candidates.

I also know that I will need to keep working on making sure my technical abilities are up to date.  Most specifically on exchange server.  There has been recent learning with setting up Office 365 just before I left my last job.  That turned out to be a more challenging technical ask than I had realized: with the active directory preparation and DNS work perhaps the most challenging.  But it was all working when I left,  its just a pity that the new people wanted to go back to Lotus Notes.

So I'm working on updating my Exchange 2010 expertise at present: lots of exiting hours ahead studying the subject beckon.  I also plan to do some more learning around virtualization in the enterprise as well.

Wish me luck everyone.


Thursday 9 August 2012

I've had my first interview, and I have another today

First one went very well yesterday,  at Surrey CCC.  Its always hard to tell what the "other side" thought of you but it was all very friendly and I seemed to have answers to their questions.

I have another today: put over from yesterday so we'll see about that one.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

My first interview

Great news: looks like the new CV is paying off as I have my first interview now booked.

Next week I'm up for what looks like a great position.

People have been quick to remind me that the first "should be seen as practice" and that's all well and good: but I may as well go for it anyway.

Seeing the E Mail coming back was a great surprise: it was the first time I had turned on the computer today.  Have spent all day decorating the kitchen and its going OK although there is a lot of work to do.  I am not looking forward to all the cabinet doors which look like they will need 2 coats.