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I Need my Career Back on Track
I've worked now for three years as a self-employed self-taught analyst programmer. I became self-employed after not getting anywhere for 18 months after the company I worked for transferred all skills back to USA.I've plenty of experience in-the-raw with many programing languages and platforms, no formal qualifications, but in the last 6 months there has been NO contract work available (barcodes, 'hazardous' data collection, asset tracking, WIP tracking...) anywhere in the South West.
I'm currently doing a temporary job sorting at the Post Office for the Christmas period!
How do I consolidate my experience to get the next job/contract? Or is it shelf stacking or 118118 from now on?
Comments
Have you thought of working in a University?
Helena - January 3, 2007 12:53 PM
I would suggest you need to look further afield than the South West and consider working in the South East, or indeed anywhere in the UK. As a recruiter I can safely say that the South West is not the most prolific recruitment area and you will undoubtedly find work if you look at other locations. As a contractor you really need to be more flexible on this.
Emz - January 3, 2007 1:31 PM
If you have no formal qualifications, it is your achievements that will sell your skills. If you have been working for the past 3 years, presumably you have had some successful contracts. You need to use this network of satisfied customers; if they haven't got work for you, can they give you possible business contacts who might? Personal recommendation carries a lot of weight (although less so with the public sector and for permanent roles). Consider whether it is worth getting some formal qualifications now while you are doing less challenging temporary work. This isn't an easy decision but it might pay off in the long run.Good luck.
Nora - January 4, 2007 9:45 PM
I am a male of sixty-two years of age, not a complete idiot nor a professor status either.
Yesterday was the worst day of my entire life, I cannot think of another day that has been so miserable, I arrived home from work in floods of tears. Surely no man, nor woman, should have their day so destroyed! But I am reliably informed that this is a common occurrence.
I work one or two days a week for one company and maybe one, two or even three for another. Totally flexible in how many days I can I work and often go in at the drop of a hat or change of shifts to suite school holidays when they come round, mainly because I am on a ‘zero hours’ contract.
You see, yesterday I felt so discriminated against and belittled by this one female, this not being the first time, I wanted to quit, run away maybe even worse crossed my mind. I have worked for this ‘company’ for about a year now and learning on-the-job as I go along and with a lot of help from the other staff members who appear to be very good and patient with me. Learning any job at my age can be time consuming and take much longer for some, especially as I have two slight medical problems.
This last job I attained under Mr Blair’s ‘Return To Work for the Over Sixties’ and was very happy to be employed, that’s all very well and a great idea. All I have to do is make sure I work sixteen hours a week to receive the ‘Working Tax Credit,’ but maybe, just maybe it could be a cop-out for companies to show us ‘oldies’ in a bad light or prove we are not as cost effective or perhaps too thick to take on new roles or perform as fast as the up-and-coming young or middle-aged people. All I can say is many of these younger members and peri-menopausal ladies have much to learn when they enter our age group. But then, maybe they have discovered the elixir of life and longevity.
During my life-time I have always showed courtesy and respect to all ladies. Perhaps I’ve missed something on my way and life has changed, certainly miss those jobs where there are many men together. Perhaps if the same thing had happened to the female work force there would have been a government initiative to promote all females into a female work group only.
Before I leave the working environment perhaps you ladies should ponder on a couple of things; first: without doubt you will reach my age one day, it will arrive very soon in fact. But then, maybe you will get through life without any discrimination what-so-ever.
The second point you may like to ponder upon is: after you’ve finally neutered the male specie, stopped them from opening doors for you etc., who will fight your future battles and help protect you?
Have a nice day.
Pete - February 14, 2007 3:57 PM
If you are a qualified programmer in different languages, how about making your own software programme.
Or have you tried selling your skills on the Web at such sites as www.elance.com or rentacoder.com
Not only would it give you short-term contract work, but might also give you ideas for your own software.
Or you could set up a website, asking viewers of your site, what software they most need but isn't available.
Do it as a survey, to get a list, and offer some small freebie software.
You will be surprised at the different replies you will receive, and you never know, that one special answer might enable you to create something really special and could turn out as a good money earner.. After all, create once, sell many times, is the sentence for software selling.
I wish you the best of luck...
Sue - February 17, 2007 3:44 PM