SharePoint User Group UK

Hi,

I have just spent alot of time passing MCTS SharePoint 2007 Configuration and Development plus have basic knowledge of C#.

However there does not appear to be any entry level SharePoint jobs available.

I don't understand this as demand for these skills appears to be very high.

Can anyone help or advise.
I am very keen to work in this enviroment but it is looking incresingly unlikely.

I live in the midlands .

Please help.

Hi,

I think the big problem is that most of the consultancies need people that can be dropped into place very quickly with the skillset ready to go, and the permy roles tend to find people re-skilling internally to fill a need, rather than employ in from outside.

It's not until a companies internal requirements outgrow the resource that they start to look to bring on a more 'junior' role to back fill the over stretched senior position.

I moved into SharePoint internally when we discovered the need for a skillset and had to fight to bring an additional resource into the role. I suspect that this situation is ever more prevalent in the current financial climate.

You haven't mentioned what sort of background you have prior to doing the MCTS, but I suspect you will need to look for a role that builds on your existing skill set prior to MCTS SharePoint with a heavy leaning towards SharePoint.

Keep an eye on the Jobs pages here, and also look at registering your CV on places like CW jobs etc.. just be prepared for lots of calls from Agencies.

Paul.

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www.myfatblog.co.uk
twitter.com/@cimares
MCTS: WSS 3.0
MCTS: MOSS 2007

Thanks for the reply I have registered at various job sites and daily looking for jobs!

My back ground is in Windows contracting for the last 8years. I have various qualifications including MCSE 2003 Messaging, MCITP, MCTS in Vista, XP and Windows7. I am also a Prince2 Practitioner and ITIL v3 Foundation qualified. I Guess you could call me a Windows Generalist

I will be attending the meeting on the 14th in Nottingham, i might see you there.

Regards

David

Hi David,

I am Head of SharePoint Solutions at Microsoft Gold Partner. We are always keen to take on SharePoint people at any level, and prefer to bring people through from entry level positions.

If you are interested drop me an email at pbaddeley@iscnet.co.uk

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Peter Baddeley
ISC Software Solutions
pbaddeley@iscnet.co.uk
www.isc-software.com

Cimares wrote:

Keep an eye on the Jobs pages here, and also look at registering your CV on places like CW jobs etc.. just be prepared for lots of calls from Agencies.

Therein lies an understatement.

As a freelancer I talk with agencies frequently and whilst I can't prove it I feel that many times agents will call up and wax lyrical about a job they are trying to hire for, and then advise that they need 2 references before you can be put forward.

The issue here is that there may not be (or to be more blunt - there isn't) a position being hired for, the agent might be trying to obtain lists of people to phone up and cold-call to see if there are any positions there. So if you aren't careful your old boss or best mate where you have just left will receive unexpected calls from agents who are trying to find new opportunities. And most probably your name won't even be mentioned.

So from that you wait patiently for the call back which will never come, because there was no job for you to be put forward for in the first place.

One guy I know was coming towards the end of his contract and making his availability known. An agent phoned and gave him the above spiel and how he had to supply references before being put forward, so this contractor gave him the name of the guy he was working for - who just happened to be sitting right next to him. Within 90 seconds of the agent getting that name the supervisors phone rang and the agent was doing the big-sell about how they could help find people - no mention of a reference for the contractor.

I'm pretty much in the same position as the OP in this situation. I just got my 2x MCTS's last week after attending training with Firebrand. I have a new contract to go to next week (non-MOSS) but in a couple of months I shall be focussing on finding work within the WSS/Sharepoint field.

Good luck to the OP in his quest for work in this field. It's a bit chicken-and-egg from what I can see thus far but the secret of success is not to give up.

Andrew

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