How do I use this time?

[Tina Desai]

Hello Friends,

I have come to UK(Wales) for an year with my husband. I am looking for a job for a month now but no luck.

I cleared SCWCD1.3 a month ago. I am also trying to volunteer for the open source projects.

If I get a job, no probs. But if not, how do I use this time?
I am planning to keep contributing to the open souce projects and doing my SCBCD simultaneously. Will this add any value to my CV or still it will show prominently as an year's gap?

Some damage to work exp. is definite. But any other suggestions as to how I can use this time to benefit myself somehow?

Regards,
Tina

[Mark Herschberg]

Remember, it's not just doing open source, but rather having something you can show your potential employer. The best open source projects in your position are features and components which can be easily demo'ed. Alternatively you can just build something on your own. The goal is to walk into an interview, whip out a laptop, and say, "let me show you what I built..."

--Mark

[danny liu]

Tina,

a. Get used to the new environment, use their language
b. Know as many people as you can, someone may give you a job


Dan

[Jeroen Wenting]

All good advise. Some more: don't get desperate if you haven't been hired after a month.
The UK job market is still pretty bad (especially for IT people) except in some specific areas (Birmingham seems to be leading the recovery in the sector according to people I know that live there).
There's locals who've been out of work for a year or more.
The company is going to loose you in a few months when you leave the country, one of those locals is going to want to stay on for several years.
Guess who they'll hire all else being equal?

[Helen Thomas]

Try and enjoy the Welsh countryside. It is unique especially the North Welsh coastline. The Welsh are extremely hospitable (except to the English )
and despite first impressions are very learned. Cardiff and Swansea Universities are making a mark on the world map.
[ August 12, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]

[Tina Desai]

Hello All,

Thanks for all your valuable replies.

1. Im not getting desperate about not getting a job in a months time. But Im finding something fishy after not getting even a 'call' after sending my CV to many places. I have 3+ years of experience and if they have listed 10 Java/xml and related technologies, I tend to match 5 to 7 amonst them and I can see the jobs being re-posted and still.. not even a call? If I make mistakes in the interview, its clearcut my fault. But in this case, I feel, Im missing some point all together. Why is that I am not being called?
Im re-writing my CV to see if it works. The one I sent out here is getting me calls from Indian companies though!

2. For a contract position of 6 months or so, do they really want to know if I will be here after successfully completing that?

3. Mark, I was thinking if working on open source project would mean more to the potential employer than I myself doing something.

After thinking about it, I felt if I work on some project on my own, I will get experience in all the aspects of a project.

Concerns -
- I don't know how many people back in India will know about someone working on open source projects! If they do, how much will they prefer it to someone working on a small project on her own.
- Getting a laptop to the interview? Any guys back there in India have done this? I have not seen this happening. Did not hear it from anyone.
I do not mind carrying one. But I would like to avoid being perceived as someone who shows off the laptop!

Would appreciate help from any Indian ranchers out here.

I understand Mark, that what you wanted to imphasis was 'doing work that can be demo'ed'. I will keep that in mind.

4. Danny, Im here for around 3 months now and Im feeling comfortable here. My husband knows many people and they help us with info about this part of the world.

5. Helen, Wales is nice for sure! I love it and find the people very quiet and warm hearted. We do go out on weekends. Its fun and greenery is a treat to the eyes.

Its the week days Im concerned about

Regards,
Tina

[Helen Thomas]

The one I sent out here is getting me calls from Indian companies though!

TO be honest, if you are getting calls from Indian companies do try them as well.

A mutual aquaintance (who comes from India) of a friend of mine in South Africa now works for CitiBank in London for an Indian Company as a Project Manager. That's still valid experience that will stand her in good stead anywhere. I doubt she'll work as a PM on an English team any time soon mainly because her skills are not broad enough to suit the socio-political environment that comes with the territory. My personal opinion.
[ August 12, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]

[Tina Desai]

Helen,

The CV is uploaded on Indian job sites and Im getting mails from recruit ment agencies for jobs based in India. So the location of jobs is India.

Tina

[Helen Thomas]

Oh, I see.

You could approach organisations like the NHS directly. I mean not just send your CV but ring and pester them. With the kind of long term strategic plans they have (biotechnology & the rest), they'll need people who understand a larger geographical make up of people.

I'd freeze if I had to work on anything meant for a region I have no understanding of. I am sticking to my local Borough. Anything north of Watford is out of the question.

[Tina Desai]

Hello Friends,

Would it be helpful if I learn some technology that I have not got a chance to work on yet, or would it make more sense to go deeper descovering and excelling the ones I know.

Regards,
Tina