Unemployed for the last 4+ years. 19 years IT experience. Need a Job

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• Mario

  0

  30 April 19

  Hi Anonymous,

  You may have already searched through our IT Jobs page and found that there are currently more than 14,000 jobs listed for project managers and other roles that require seniority in IT delivery roles. However it is very likely that there are many jobs for which you may not have the right skills or profile in some way. If this is the case it may be good to acquire one or more additional skills that may make you more aligned with the current demand. It is never too late to acquire a new skill, provided one is looks towards the challenge positively.

  Industry growth rates within the IT services sector have slowed down considerably, and at the same time the technology sets and delivery skills that are in demand even at senior levels have changed too, leading to a change in profiles required and a lot of job redundancies. The larger companies are reskilling their workforces, and those who have already left them for any reason may not find it easy to get back inside unless their profiles are updated with new skills, and a new marketing effort of that profile is done.

  The fact is, though, that demand is less than supply at the senior levels, so apart from acquiring the right new skills, one could also look at alternative pockets of demand in the hope of finding a match. For example, there are startup companies that would like to have the benefit of the experience of seniors like yourself on board either to lead delivery in a more professional manner, to act as advisors or mentors to less experienced, but highly talented younger managers and other staff.

  I hope you have also constantly been marketing your profile through online platforms like LinkedIn, as well as attending meetups and networking events to remain visible within the industry.

  For a more detailed assessment of your particular profile, and for help in identifying what skills you can pick up, create goals and a path towards achieving them, I would recommend that you browse through our selection of coaches on our IT coach page and meet with one of them to help get the guidance you are looking for.

  • Anonymous

    0

    30 April 19

    Many thanks for the response. Although I didn't mention it earlier, I did PEGA Architect certification as a new skill but all the recruiter calls were asking for years of experience on this. Even though I am happy to learn something new I am not able to guarantee myself a job yet. So, would you be kind enough to suggest a coach who would be able to help someone in my position. Please also advise what technologies are currently in demand with a potential to fetch me a job without experience. Thanks very much.
    
    

    • Mario

      0

      01 May 19

      Despite the PEGA Architect certification, the fact is that your profile remains that of senior PM/Program Manager. At your level of experience, what the PEGA certification does is convey that you might be a great guy to head a PEGA implementation, because with the combination of PEGA and PM skills you you may be able to lead and govern a large PEGA implementation program, interface with the stakeholder management, plan it, estimate what it would cost in terms of money and time, know what resources would be required for it, what training they need, how to control a PEGA implementation lifecycle, etc. Recruiters work on the basis of precise job descriptions, so when they are looking for architects they would look for those that have hands-on working experience as a PEGA architect with a limited range of hands-on work experience on it. There lies the profile mismatch, which would be difficult to overcome if you use that route to finding a placement. There are all kinds of technologies that are currently in demand, such as cloud, machine learning/AI, CRM, mobility, security, networks, Big Data, etc. In most cases, though, a balance of hands-on experience may be required along with available seniority. Even if you would be ready to start in an entry level role, most employers would hesitate to accept this for more reasons than just the lower cost of hiring a much more junior person. Therefore your best bet may remain in properly packaging yourself as a senior who understands professional delivery using Agile and DevOps processes and stacks, but also understands PEGA or any one of these current technologies. With PEGA, an understanding of CRM and cloud may be useful. I looked at our coach listings from two perspectives, and have two suggestions. One is Vivek Garg (https://www.mytechlogy.com/IT-career-development-services/career-coaches/Vivek-Garg/) and the second is Ajay Vishwanath (https://www.mytechlogy.com/IT-career-development-services/career-coaches/Ajay-Vishwanath/). Please have a look at their coach profiles. A number of the others may also be able to help but it is really you who should make the selection and any other decision, for that matter. I hope you would appreciate that although they can help you with current knowledge of the market and guide you towards success, they are not job placement agents but career professionals who have methodical ways to guide you in progressing your career.
      
      

• Joel

  0

  28 May 19

  There are a lot of PM roles out there unfortunately there are also a lot of PMs that you need to compete with. So the question now is, how competitive are you? What do you bring to the table? Is your asking rate just right? Can you justify the reason why there was a huge gap in your career? What does your CV look like?

  There are a lot of things that can make or break a job offer, and there is no sure fire formula to getting a job because requirements of companies are always different, only similar at best.

  So my advise to you are the following:

  1) Do your homework:

  • Do not just send out job applications, but take time to study the company.
  • Take time to study the requirements and if you are really qualified for the job. If there are some skills you lack, then check if you can study them even online.
  • Create a version of your CV that is very relevant to the job requirement.

  2) The direct approach:

  • If you see an email address, email them directly.
  • If they have a website, apply there directly.
  • If you have a network connection with any employee of that company, contact them directly.
  • If their office is accessible, go there directly to submit your CV. If you are lucky, you might get interviewed on the spot.

  3) Be fearless on interviews:

  • There are a lot of people who get nervous in job interviews. For me you only get nervous if you are not confident about yourself that you are qualified. So make sure you are, otherwise it will just be a waste of time for you and the interviewer.
  • Answer questions with real world experience. You said you had 19 years of experience, that means for every question they throw at you regarding their requirements, you already have a proven solution that you did in the past.
  • Interview the interviewer. Ask relevant questions. This will make them feel that you know your stuff and you are aligned with what they need.

  These are just top of mind advise, the rest is really up to you. If you say you still have a few good years in you, triple that. Bring out that passion for your work and prepare for the next 10 more years.

  Good luck and hope you find work soon.