Sorry off-topic post, but I'm looking for an IT position and figured I'd explore all bases. I have 16 years of experience in Unix environments working in customer support, system administration, configuration management, quality assurance and development. I have a M.S. in Computer Science from NIU, so if anyone can help out a follow grad in the Chicagoland area I'd appreciate it. My email is golf4501@yahoo.com.
Hey golf, welcome to the club. I have been in the same boat as you for over a year now. Things suck right now in the IT world. Lucky for me I still live at home and have a job that I had through high school (hardware store). Probably the best advice that I have received so far that I could pass on to you is to look for jobs at smaller, less know companies where there might not be as much competition for that job. At least you have the exp where I still have yet to get my first job! :mad: Best of luck!
Have you checked with corporations such as Oracle? I know they have a lot of turnover. Also, don't limit your search to IT companies. You should also check with large accounting/professional services firms, such as Deloitte, KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, etc., which have large IT consulting practices. Also, you may want to hook up with a headhunter that places applicants in the IT field. It couldn't hurt. Good luck!
I realize you may hear or read alot of advice.
FWIW: Are there tem agencies which specialize in IT ? It's a way to get a foot in a door and then learn of openings in companies before the search and posting goes external. It's what my daughter . a recent grad in SanF, CA. with a graduate degree , is doing and it has produced leads, interviews but no offers - yet. In fact for the moment she is willing to work in an area not directly related to her field/degree nor something she hopes to do long term. Currently , she is working for a title company. It's also a way of showing prospective employers with your resume that you are working , flexible and willing to learn.
I hear so many of these stories these days. And the biggest scare to one's family is losing health coverage. When you are covered you don't care about those who are not, but when you lose yours, everything changes. Good Luck to all of you. I've been there.
I echo Dog Fan's advice. I was formerly with Deloitte. The major accounting and consulting firms (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Grant Thornton, McGladrey & Pullen, Cap Gemini, Huron Consulting, Accenture, etc.) appear to be back in a healthy hiring mode. They are always looking for high qualified IT people to support their project teams. Huron Consulting was founded in 2002 by a group of former Arthur Andersen partners. They are growing like a weed and might be one of the places you might want to investigate first. Good luck.
P.S. Let me give you a sly networking tip. As NIU alumnus, we have access to the "NIU Online Alumni Directory." The following is link (it can also be accessed via navigating the "niu.edu") menus.
<a href='http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/NOI/' target='_blank'>http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/NOI/</a>
The directory has a pretty sophisticated search engine where you can look up alumni by the company they work for. I just did a look-up of "Deloitte" and it came back with over 100 names of alums. Networking is huge in the job search process and why not take advantage of the NIU alumni community. Perhaps you can identify a name or two of an alum at each of the firms you are targeting to work for. Then either call or send a letter along with your resume. A very effective strategy in my book.
Networking is everything these days
It's so rare in one's career nowadays that workers aren't faced with such problems as yours. Sorry to learn of your plight and good luck. There is little consolation knowing you are not alone, but remain positive and try to do several things everyday towards your goal. I once joined two different job clubs which met weekly at public library and a bank just to learn from others what they are doing to promote themselves and network. Like with sports ask yourself daily what have I done to make myself a better prospect(player)?
When it's you , it's all the more real , painful and can be quite discouraging. Been there done that. It also takes time to recover from the financial shortcomings. For example if fortunate enuff to have the option, paying into COBRA each month can be a budget buster.
(I was hospitalized last month for 23 hours and had several tests. The bill was $8,000 and would be devastating without insurance.( Results suggest this old buzzard lives to attend another Huskie game. Being without insurance is almost like not an option for a family. One is forced to sacrifice alot in order to pay a premium.)
Without getting to deeply into a Bush-Kerry thread, let's just say the economic recovery certainly is not tricklin' down to alot of workers no matter what campaign propaganda is disseminated about employement, job growth etc. I did read in Sunday's Trib , however, that employment in IT was expected to make somewhat of a comeback in the months ahead. Hope that is true for you and all others looking for work.
Life Sux --- then it does get good again.
It is really not political, it's reality. It has to happen to you for you to get a clear picture. I know this, I am not better then I was 4 years ago. and I am not a spring chicken. Lack of health coverage is a big, big problem.
There's a lot of people out of work--- and a lot more stuck in jobs they don't like just because they can't get something better.
Time for change.
Thanks for everyone's advice, and emails I have received. I'm lucky on the health care front, because I have Cobra coverage through my old employer. I hope the economy rebounds for everyone's sake, because it certainly seems like the gap between the"haves" and the "have nots" has been widened the last 4 years.
Cobra is very expensive. Another fact out there are the people reentering the job market at substantial lower salries. I know because I took a 33% hit. But I am grateful that I have something. You no longer look to get ahead in a job, just keep what you have.
I'm feeling the effects of Cobra every month. :)
Short term I figured it was the way to go. But your right GCD, it's all about maintaining these days. Well unless I can hit the "Big Game Lottery" then things would be different.....