Rich, Thank you for the info, I have a targeted resume and I also do each cover letter aimed at that particular job. But what I am seeing the the job offers is an uptick of IT certs, of course I have found that I have been able to work around that, but one of thing things that I am finding out is these guys are using "gateway" software to capture your application information. The soft ware downgrades you if you are missing items so that the human side of it may not even see your application. There are some of these systems that I will not even apply through any longer (Taleo, what a piece of fecal matter) I figured that since the state is offering to pay for the training I would take advantage of it and get the pieces of paper to hang on the wall or whatever.
Actually I am working things out with an old employer, they do not need me for about 3 months yet, and the state is trying to get me the grants to get the certs, they will also pay for my time so I do not need to continue to job search, so I figured I would take advantage of it. Will see how it goes, and I am already getting ready for the A+ and Network, may get the Linux one too. The people that want to put me to work in about 3 months do not need the certs they know me well I do contract work for them when I can even now, but they are adding network access to their products so having the certs supposedly gives me that much more weight when I have to go see a customer. On Sun, Jan 15, 2017 at 1:43 PM, Rich Shepard <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sun, 15 Jan 2017, Chuck Hast wrote: > > > In my field service work, I have machines that have routers and switches > on > > them, and in many cases I end up working with the customer IT people to > get > > the things on line. Now I am back looking for a job again and many of > them > > indicate that IT certs are "good to have". > > Chuck, > > I'm not a computer professional (hardware, software, networking, etc. as > my posts here consistently demonstrate), but I have run a sole-practitioner > consultancy for more than two decades and suggest that my perspective might > have value for you, Mike, and others in the same position. > > The bottom line in job seeking (whether as employee or consultant) is > what > value you bring to the company. They don't care about us, only what we can > do for them. > > For someone starting out various computer certifications might be > useful, > but when HR (or a potential boss) suggests that canned IT certs are "good > to > have" it should be a red flag that they are not the company for you. My > analogy is that teaching someone how to use a word processor does not make > her a writer. Having a cert does not provide any useful information on what > you can do with it. > > A very powerful job seeking approach is to make a bulleted list of your > major achievements. For example, as you write above you've provided the > expertise and knowledge to get things on line when the IT folks could not > do > it without you. That has nothing to do with having passed a course and > received a certificate. I'm sure that all of you with more than 5 years > experience can make an impressive list of the value you've achieved for > employers, customers, clients, whomever. > > If you can obtain testimonials from those you've helped to climb out of > the hole they were in, get them and provide a few to prospective employers. > Or, tell them testimonials will be provided upon request. > > You also want a customized resume for each company you're investigating. > Tailor your achievements and accomplishments to the type of work they'd > want > you to do. > > If you've ever used Angie's List you know that word of mouth (or > printed) > recommendations count for much more than any degrees, certificates, or > other > educational documentation. That works for us when seeking jobs (as > employees > or external consultants) and is much more powerful than anything but a > direct referral. > > HTH, > > Rich > _______________________________________________ > PLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug > -- Chuck Hast -- KP4DJT -- Glass, five thousand years of history and getting better. The only container material that the USDA gives blanket approval on. _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
