Tips to Find a Job in UK

[joebloggs]

I started in IT in 1977 and have done various roles and jobs programming, analysis, support, team leading etc until 2002

On average I apply for about 2 jobs a week and have done for the past 5 years. Nobody seems to want the skills i had 10/ 11 years ago when i was very well paid. My guess its a bit of ageism plus lack of jobs in the first place. At 59 getting an IT qualification isnt at the top of my TO DO list and i think all employers have the view i am looking for an easy life up to retirement. Suprise,suprise, i still have a brain!

So not suprised you can't find IT work.....but don't give up , I won't either!

1977 those were the days what did you program in COBOL ?

my brother was in a similar situation to you, but was made redundant, couldn't find a similar job, started his own IT business , mainly does CCTV stuff these days ..

[lordna]

1977 those were the days what did you program in COBOL ?

my brother was in a similar situation to you, but was made redundant, couldn't find a similar job, started his own IT business , mainly does CCTV stuff these days ..

First job was Fortran, BASIC and Assembler, then did a contract in Munich using COBOL, followed by lots more IBM COBOL, MBASIC, PICK BASIC, IBM COBOL again, UNIX , ORACLE PL/SQL, VSAM, ADABAS NATURAL then some CTI work. You would think someone would be interested!

Just a reminder of how things have changed....my first job was in a college Electrical engineering department (1977) who bought a new PRIME 300 minicomputer. This amazing machine was 64K virtual memory with very large removable hard disc and supported 15 teleprinters, a graph plotter and digitiser. No screens in those days, just printing on paper rolls and programs stored on paper tape!

I went there for a job as an electrical technician but the job was filled already but they offered me a job as a computer technician if i was willing to teach myself programming! How things have changed!

[joebloggs]

First job was Fortran, BASIC and Assembler, then did a contract in Munich using COBOL, followed by lots more IBM COBOL, MBASIC, PICK BASIC, IBM COBOL again, UNIX , ORACLE PL/SQL, VSAM, ADABAS NATURAL then some CTI work. You would think someone would be interested!

Just a reminder of how things have changed....my first job was in a college Electrical engineering department (1977) who bought a new PRIME 300 minicomputer. This amazing machine was 64K virtual memory with very large removable hard disc and supported 15 teleprinters, a graph plotter and digitiser. No screens in those days, just printing on paper rolls and programs stored on paper tape!

Salford college of technology had a Prime many years ago when i went there, it was

well you've definitely have experience and that's something you cant buy...

lordna and Rayna did you ever do any JSP (Jackson structured programming) ??

SQL theory is probably the most boring subject known to man

[raynaputi]

Salford college of technology had a Prime many years ago when i went there, it was

well you've definitely have experience and that's something you cant buy...

lordna and Rayna did you ever do any JSP (Jackson structured programming) ??

SQL theory is probably the most boring subject known to man

I don't really have a lot of programming experience other than COBOL 400. I've had trainings on Java and C++ but I wasn't able to use them coz I was assigned to a COBOL project. I blamed Accenture for that, for not properly designating employees to the right projects! Anyway, my recent work experience mainly involves xPression designs and testing for a US insurance company.

[raynaputi]

1977 those were the days what did you program in COBOL ?

my brother was in a similar situation to you, but was made redundant, couldn't find a similar job, started his own IT business , mainly does CCTV stuff these days ..

I used to program in COBOL too!!!

When I started working in Accenture after I graduated and passed the ECE board exam, the company put me in Java programming training for 4-6 weeks I think. But then they put me in a project/client who uses COBOL 400 in AS400 platform. The client then put me in training for COBOL programming after 2 years of working for them already! Hahahahha.. I've also had lots of training for software testing coz I was the one in charge in my team for regularly testing our software aside from fixing bugs and programming.

Then I resigned (after being in Accenture for almost 4 years) and worked for 6 months in Singapore and when I went back to work in the Philippines, the client I was lined up for cancelled the project. So because the new company can't offer me any projects using COBOL 400, I was put up in projects as a Test Analyst. I was earning a salary as a developer but working as a Test Analyst which was an advantage for me! I stayed in that company for almost 4 years before going to UK.

And now here in the UK, I've got calls for jobs as a Test Analyst/Developer (exactly the same work I left in the Philippines) but the location is just too far, one was in Stratford-upon-Avon and the other one was in Brussels! Nothing here near our area, but I've seen a lot in Liverpool, Manchester and down South which are too far for me.

[Mrs.Smith]

I used to program in COBOL too!!!

When I started working in Accenture after I graduated and passed the ECE board exam, the company put me in Java programming training for 4-6 weeks I think. But then they put me in a project/client who uses COBOL 400 in AS400 platform. The client then put me in training for COBOL programming after 2 years of working for them already! Hahahahha.. I've also had lots of training for software testing coz I was the one in charge in my team for regularly testing our software aside from fixing bugs and programming.

Then I resigned (after being in Accenture for almost 4 years) and worked for 6 months in Singapore and when I went back to work in the Philippines, the client I was lined up for cancelled the project. So because the new company can't offer me any projects using COBOL 400, I was put up in projects as a Test Analyst. I was earning a salary as a developer but working as a Test Analyst which was an advantage for me! I stayed in that company for almost 4 years before going to UK.

And now here in the UK, I've got calls for jobs as a Test Analyst/Developer (exactly the same work I left in the Philippines) but the location is just too far, one was in Stratford-upon-Avon and the other one was in Brussels! Nothing here near our area, but I've seen a lot in Liverpool, Manchester and down South which are too far for me.

Hi Rayna,

I used to work in Accenture too but my skills is Sql Server. Got lots of call from London, but quite far from where I am now

[raynaputi]

Hi Rayna,

I used to work in Accenture too but my skills is Sql Server. Got lots of call from London, but quite far from where I am now

Why don't you apply in Accenture here in the UK? They might have a job for you. But I'm not sure if employees have to be client based or have to work in Accenture offices. The nearest Accenture office for me is in Manchester! But I'll try to pass my CV just in case.

[Mrs.Smith]

Why don't you apply in Accenture here in the UK? They might have a job for you. But I'm not sure if employees have to be client based or have to work in Accenture offices. The nearest Accenture office for me is in Manchester! But I'll try to pass my CV just in case.

I'm considering that. But I'm trying find a job just near my area. Just giving myself a few months and then I'll try to pass my CV to Accenture UK, just that its really far from where I live. Wishing you good luck.