Axe's unemployment mystery (or misery)

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Originally Posted by TheLibrarian

Not as many places as you think will accept voluntary workers, certainly not in IT.
It's down to security and in some cases even insurance.

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Well I'll phrase it another way. If I had someone knock on my door with a CV as strong as is claimed here, wanting to do voluntary work I would want to snap their hand off!
I would certainly investigate it with the LA, and wouldn't have automatically assumed it would be a problem.

The only issues I can see preventing them from working with me on that basis would be failing a CRB check, not having suitable references or being otherwise undesireable in the role of working in a school - none of which appear to have been mentioned in this thread.

In any case, I am not particularly interested in being involved in a larger argument. I was simply saying I disagreed with hillskill generally, yet did agree on that one specific point which I don't think has been discussed in detail on this thread before.

I think a lot of people have missed the point of what I was saying.

I didnt mean to critise anyone but I am just saying that this situation has been going on a long time now with no end in sight.

I just think the same old advice- "let me look at your CV" and the suggesting of jobs for AXE.

There must something more that can be done. Sometimes the truth isnt brilliant to hear but in order to takle your problems you have to face them.

I don't think you will find it is that simple to 'use' a volunteer during school closure. These volunteers would still have the opportunity to access pupil details on the system. When I worked in a schools there were sevearl students in and around during the holidays who would need the CRB's protection.

why are people "dancing" around the issue.

All I am saying is that if an experienced ICT person was offering there skills for free schools (or other places) would definatly be interested and find a way of having them.

I know several people who have and "are" doing volunteer work in schools.

It would do AXE wonders for his CV and interviews if he did as it would show enthusiam and just how keen he was to get a job.

There are 1000's of schools in the uk, most of which are undermaned and under budgeted when it comes to ICT, are constently been asked to deleiver more on the same or less money and your telling me not one would not take him on for FREE assistance?

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Originally Posted by hillskill

why are people "dancing" around the issue.

All I am saying is that if an experienced ICT person was offering there skills for free schools (or other places) would definatly be interested and find a way of having them.

I know several people who have and "are" doing volunteer work in schools.

It would do AXE wonders for his CV and interviews if he did as it would show enthusiam and just how keen he was to get a job.

There are 1000's of schools in the uk, most of which are undermaned and under budgeted when it comes to ICT, are constently been asked to deleiver more on the same or less money and your telling me not one would not take him on for FREE assistance?

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So, have I got this right? You are offering him a job voluntarily where you work?

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Originally Posted by creese

So, have I got this right? You are offering him a job voluntarily where you work?

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Yes if AXE came knocking on our door I know we would find something for him to do.

Infact we have taken several helpers on in the past- where ever possible.

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Originally Posted by hillskill

Yes if AXE came knocking on our door I know we would find something for him to do.

Infact we have taken several helpers on in the past- where ever possible.

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If Axe can setup and deploy Windows 7 with new GPOs for me on a voluntary basis - _ have some work here. Unfortunately I'm in Swanse and Ash is not.

Gareth

Librarian, i believe your last post spoke for the community as a whole, well said.

I have been following this thread with some interest. From what I have seen everyone has tried to help in some way. Those of us who live at opposite ends of the country have done things like links to job's etc. Geographically it is all we can do. But the important thing is that we are here and trying to support Axe. Even on a forum there is support which when you are isolated in your home helps more than people know.

What I do take issue is this sentence from hillskill and if I am interpreting it the wrong way I stand corrected
QUOTE It would do AXE wonders for his CV and interviews if he did as it would show enthusiam and just how keen he was to get a job.QUOTE

We are talking about a guy who walked at 3.30 in the morning 6 MILES to the nearest railway station last week for an interview. If that isn't enthusiasm I don't know what is. For the record Asperger people make fabulous geeks. They have the attention to detail and the hunger for it.

I have been following this for the whole thread - its crazy weird!

There we have it then? Volunteering? Can no one here offer him volunteer work? An excellent opportunity to rebuild confident, skills and network. Then again there are hundreds of places with I.T. work not just schools (+ u gotta worry about child protection stuff)

This is not constructive I realize but I can't believe, I am sorry to say this but after a year Axe has failed to get any type of job at all? Ive always had some sort of job since 13 (yes I am not in the same circumstances and neither are allot of people) but there are thousands and thousands about.

Cleaning, paper rounds, dish washers, Tesco workers, taxi drivers etc. There are so many immigrants, teenagers, anyone!! or EU people who get a job instantly but AXE cannot? If it were me I would be applying for those rubbish jobs. Why can't you get even a KFC job? What are you doing wrong which someone isn't ? Find it and sort it.

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Originally Posted by Jiser

This is not constructive I realize but I can't believe, I am sorry to say this but after a year Axe has failed to get any type of job at all? Ive always had some sort of job since 13 (yes I am not in the same circumstances and neither are allot of people) but there are thousands and thousands about.
Cleaning, paper rounds, dish washers, Tesco workers, taxi drivers etc. There are so many immigrants, teenagers, anyone!! or EU people who get a job instantly but AXE cannot? If it were me I would be applying for those rubbish jobs. Why can't you get even a KFC job? What are you doing wrong which someone isn't ? Find it and sort it.

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Jiser - I believe we went through this about 30 pages ago - there aren't as many jobs around as you think , and AXE would find an interview very difficult for something he isnt experienced in, plus any company would wonder why he was applying and he wouldnt get the job as he is over qualified.
hillskill - if you were REALLY questioning things you would not have felt the need to make such rude remarks. I take great exception to your comments about 'looking at his CV'. I DID look at his CV, it was badly set out, I improved it and he is getting more interviews - if that isnt practical help then I don't know what is. I'm a long way away from where he is
As Jax says, others who are far away geographically have offered help as far as they can. What more exactly do you expect us to do?
It would be nice if someone local to AXE offered him a job, even a voluntary one, but until they do I can't see what else would be of help. I could help him with his interview technique but he is a long way away.
If a school far away DID offer him something, how would he get there? What would he live on and where?
That comment about there being 'so many' schools out there who need help isn't really that useful, is it?

Just thinking out loud, so forgive my errors (if any).

The CV has been reduced / lessened, so it doesn't look too over qualified right?

Does it include or mention EduGeek on it? As i'm writing i've just thought of a problem in my theory..

But, i was thinking, personally, at my next interview i would mention EduGeek be if at an educational institution or not. I think the way we work and collaborate here is Outstanding and i think that would be a huge plus in an employer's view. Even though there is an argument that we are 'wasting our time' being on The 'Geek all day; i counter argue that it saves me hours and hours of my own testing and research, so any time i put back helping others is definitely worth it: it's quicker to help on a topic i'm good at and receive help where i'm lacking.

So, my thinking was, I haven't noticed Axe on any threads that i have been part of, but i assume that you are an active member, using your extensive skillset to help others while you are 'free'. That is a big benefit and very real work experience. If you aren't doing that, maybe you could do it more. I know in previous jobs, we've had employees (programmers, SQL developers, etc.) who moved overseas and continued working for us remotely - the beauty of IT :)

The only downside that occurred to me while writing was that, naturally, there are some things that people say on here that they wouldn't want the world to know about - despite frequent warnings that this is public, updated on google every 15 minutes, and often quite easy to tell who / where people are if you read enough posts. Lets face it, many employers do google you these days, so if it's not here, it could be our facebook profile that gets you in trouble.

So, i think i digressed, a good record on here would be very beneficial. I know if i google my member name, i get a few edugeek hits.

Not sure if all the above is moot, so i got another idea.

Axe, do you have a lot of IT equipment at home? If you have or can get some (i'm sure donations will be coming), perhaps you could start setting up and playing with some home networks, keeping your skills fresh, as having been unemployed for a while, can make getting back into things hard. Again, apologies if you are already doing this, as i haven't gone back over the whole thread.

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Originally Posted by witch

Jiser - I believe we went through this about 30 pages ago - there aren't as many jobs around as you think

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that is it in a nutshell. i think there are more people 'actively seeking work' than there are advertised jobs. And how many of those jobs are at all IT/technical ?

difficult when you have the skills and experience, to find permanent employment, in a difficult jobs market to say the least. i think networking is a really important aspect as a result, and it's impressive to see how many contributors on this thread are willing to help in a practical sense.

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Originally Posted by Jiser

Cleaning, paper rounds, dish washers, Tesco workers, taxi drivers etc. There are so many immigrants, teenagers, anyone!! or EU people who get a job instantly but AXE cannot? If it were me I would be applying for those rubbish jobs. Why can't you get even a KFC job? What are you doing wrong which someone isn't ? Find it and sort it.

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the 'rubbish jobs' as you put it, the minimum wage jobs....do you actually think they can be done without significant benefit subsidy ? So say you do land one of these jobs - how will it affect current benefits received ?, what happens when the working hours are changed to suit the employer ? what happens if work is no longer available six months from now, do you go back on the previous benefit or do you hope to find another minimum wage job providing enough of hours of work to get the low income benefits you need to meet cost of living.

i'm sorry but it's just not as easy as going out and being offered/accepting shelf stacker or burger flipper jobs. for one, do we even know what the competition is like for such jobs....second is that all the stuff that i've talked about above applies. good for you that you've never been out of work since you were 13. i've never been out of work since i left full-time education, then again i have worked in the public sector for the majority of that time!!! so more the case that it's lucky me that i found comparative job security rather than i'm better than someone who's being frustrated and disheartened by six months on the dole or a succession of temporary jobs.

CV's for IT people are getting very complex with lots of terminology that requires a substantial amount of training for the person reading them! ey, this is just a small thought for the future: agencies need to understand what they are reading. The glory times of building computers, patching cables, installing servers and putting switches are almost over, now it is the time of specialisation.