Industry experience and training vs. system experience
I'm just wondering if there are other IT professionals out there experiencing the same level of frustration as I am. As a telecom specialist, I've spent my entire career adapting to the latest technologies. I've replaced entire phone systems and then maintained and performed troubleshooting on the new system. Unfortunately, I stuck around at my last job ... one that didn't afford me the opportunity to learn and grow ... longer than I should have. When I got laid off, I immediately went to work studying for and acquiring Cisco certifications to bring my skills up to date. Still, I'm getting rejected at every turn because I can't claim to have much experience working on Cisco Call Manager. I know the product and I know I can do the job on day one but how do I convince hiring managers of that when most recruiters won't even submit my resume to them based on their predefined list of what they are asking for ? For someone that's learned and worked on as many different systems as I have, learning a new system is child's play, not rocket science. But how do I get those interview chances to try to convince a hiring manager that my industry experience shouldn't be discounted so quickly. After all, if there's any unchanging statement I can make after working 30+ years in the IT field, it's that the systems/technology a company has now will not be the same as what they will have five years from now. Given that fact, shouldn't someone with a proven track record of adapting to all of the latest technologies be equally considered to someone who's experience might be that they were taught one way of doing things on one specific system? How do I get the chance to impress this upon a hiring manager when I can't seem to convince recruiters that don't understand this to set me up with an interview ?
Hi Dave, I also had a similar situation. when i went into Product Management in the financial industry for a few years. What I did to get back into IT/Telecom was network with family, friends and even acquaintance. Did my research on what systems the companies of the people I network with. Also would like to recommend you use the term Network instead of Telecom. I know that still a big percent of someone getting a job is by referral not only thru applications, online or head hunters. Try that and you will see you will land the perfect job you are looking for. Good luck.
This is an issue with this industry, they want a 25 year old with 20 years of experience and no one sees the weirdness of this. They want to hire young not understanding that all of us old timers spent our carriers learning new things over and over. We have something that cannot be taught, only learned through bitter experiences.
You are NOT alone is all I'll say!
As a 66 year old Unix/Linux sysadmin, I couldn't agree more. Thought it was just me. Pretty arrogant huh?
Wow..... my words exactly! Very frustrating!
Dave, The issue you have to deal with is change. You did what you thought was expected. Your knowledge you stress is on product. Honestly I can learn product. You have invested in learning a product from what you believe is a market leader. It once was but even if they still are the market has changed. Telcom has morphed into just com. The lack of understanding this is crushing you. This coupled with not realizing it is no longer an industry but a line of business is why you are getting poor results. Adapting to tech is quite easy. Younger people do not adapt they just learn that method. Cause the need for adaptation. Predict the next need for adaptation. You are in a very reactive mode and people want proactive associates. What you are saying is you can learn all the new. So can I. Recruiters are garbage. Again being reactive. I can help you. I am in Blue Island so hit me up! I like Durbins and Teahans. Lets talk. Wally
Similar situation.
Not in IT but environmental, health and safety, plenty of interviews but without a BS, no job offers.
I think you would have a better chance at landing a job with this Cisco skill set in something other than a manager position. Do you have experience as a manager? If not - that may be the problem. Another thing is you have "30+" years experience which maybe a hiring manager believes you will be expecting a higher salary than they are willing to pay. Good luck.
I. To. Have certification. In. Welding. Have. Not. Had. Luck i. Going. Start. My. Own. On. Site. Welding. Bussiness i. Lov. To. Weld