Until 6 years ago, if I got a job interview, I was hired (with one exception). But now I'm in the market for a new job for months, and I get turned down every single time. So, what has changed and how do I fix it?
Well, for starters, Human Resource Managers. They're a pretty new concept (at least to me), they have a mostly fixed list with questions, no matter the job or company, and your answers are valued the same way. Or, in other words: it's like an exam. And I get most of the answers "wrong" if I'm simply being honest.
So, my best bet is probably coming up with the right answers up front, memorizing them and sticking to them.
Further, I have done just about everything in electrics and ICT, most things in electronics and a lot of general engineering. Don't bother making a list, I probably did something alike at some point (although I never designed/build IC's or wafer steppers). I like figuring things out, designing new stuff and I run the show if needed. But I lack any formal education beyond high school.
So, I respond to vacancies that ask for a very broad experience, with a lot of overlap between different fields. But those generally turn out to want people that simply have the required education and a few years experience in the primary field. My definition of a "broad experience" is leaps and bounds above the requirements, and hard to fit in for your average manager.
And, it doesn't help, that I am used to do all the work for which companies tend to hire many different people. So, questions like: "What do you like best?" and "What career path do you want in the future?" are problematic. Because I like all of it, at the same time if possible.
Then again, I'm supposed to be in "middle management" by now, but I would rather be a senior engineer and run projects. And I readily agree, that a specialist will definitely beat me on his chosen field. But I'll beat him on any other one.
I tried having my own company, but that wasn't a big success. I'm pretty bad at sales and marketing, and the administration is a pain.
Any help or suggestions?
Well, for starters, Human Resource Managers. They're a pretty new concept (at least to me), they have a mostly fixed list with questions, no matter the job or company, and your answers are valued the same way. Or, in other words: it's like an exam. And I get most of the answers "wrong" if I'm simply being honest.
So, my best bet is probably coming up with the right answers up front, memorizing them and sticking to them.
Further, I have done just about everything in electrics and ICT, most things in electronics and a lot of general engineering. Don't bother making a list, I probably did something alike at some point (although I never designed/build IC's or wafer steppers). I like figuring things out, designing new stuff and I run the show if needed. But I lack any formal education beyond high school.
So, I respond to vacancies that ask for a very broad experience, with a lot of overlap between different fields. But those generally turn out to want people that simply have the required education and a few years experience in the primary field. My definition of a "broad experience" is leaps and bounds above the requirements, and hard to fit in for your average manager.
And, it doesn't help, that I am used to do all the work for which companies tend to hire many different people. So, questions like: "What do you like best?" and "What career path do you want in the future?" are problematic. Because I like all of it, at the same time if possible.
Then again, I'm supposed to be in "middle management" by now, but I would rather be a senior engineer and run projects. And I readily agree, that a specialist will definitely beat me on his chosen field. But I'll beat him on any other one.
I tried having my own company, but that wasn't a big success. I'm pretty bad at sales and marketing, and the administration is a pain.
Any help or suggestions?
I find the hardest slots to fill are R&D project leaders. Once the product is launched and "manage" that type is infinitely easier to find. A leader has to be willing to hurt some feelings cracking a whip to get things done right and on time and on budget. On top of that they need to understand each discipline in the project enough to act as a translator/mediator and enough to come up with good and innovative ways around obstacles.