Update, I've started getting some interviews, which is good, although I'm finding that the roles I go to talk to them about are a little above me (technically-wise) when they explain them a little further. Still, at least I'm on the radar, which I feel is a good thing.

Job hunting at the beginning of the year has never worked out for me.

 

1. Christmas break slowdown
2. Multiple public holidays means people can be out of the office for weeks
3. TYE (Mar/Apr) approaching, i.e. new budgets means companies wait until later
4. ...

Glad to hear that things are looking up.

Still getting the odd interview but lots of no responses - mind you, one job I applied for had 209 applicants (according to Seek), so I'm not surprised employers simply don't have time to reply to every single applicant with those numbers.

quickymart:

 

Update, I've started getting some interviews, which is good, although I'm finding that the roles I go to talk to them about are a little above me (technically-wise) when they explain them a little further. Still, at least I'm on the radar, which I feel is a good thing.

 

Fake it till you make it.

Not possible with all jobs but sometimes this is the way to approach it.

One job sounded good but there were a few too many things I couldn't do when they asked me, ie, did I know about this system or that system. I wouldn't have felt right faking it, especially if they offered me the role and then found I didn't know enough about SQL (for example).

quickymart:

One job sounded good but there were a few too many things I couldn't do when they asked me, ie, did I know about this system or that system. I wouldn't have felt right faking it, especially if they offered me the role and then found I didn't know enough about SQL (for example).

That's a good idea - I'll definitely be employing that at my next interview. Thanks :)

Still on the hunt, and have been using Seek lots but have they done something to their app recently?
When I used to look at a vacancy that might be of interest, they had a note saying "You may be a strong applicant", which I found quite helpful - and useful after reading the job description to decide whether to apply or not.

Tonight I had a look and it doesn't say that any more, not on jobs that are supposedly "recommended" for me - nor for ones that I was apparently a strong applicant for in the past. Anyone else getting this? Note; I haven't tried from the website, just the mobile (Android) app.

Edit: the website does show it - just not the app?

Some updates: I've had a couple of interviews at different companies now and got close but got turned down both times. Not the desired outcome but both times each company has said I'm welcome to apply again if the role comes up in the future - which I think is something positive to take away. My guess is there were more skilled people who got both roles, but at least I'm getting somewhere, I guess.

Hang in there. It is a lottery because often it is not the best person or most qualified that gets the job. Recruitment isn't so black and white, sadly. 

The good thing is, you're getting more practice at interviews too. I think there is a definite learning curve to performing well in interviews (having been on both sides of them), and the more relaxed and confident you feel in interviews, the more likely it is that you'll be successful. 

Also, as mentioned previously, don't be afraid to say "I can learn that".

And if a lot of the jobs you are looking at require SQL (or Python or whatever), then it would be good to start learning those skills (if that is the way you want to head).

heavenlywild:

 

Hang in there. It is a lottery because often it is not the best person or most qualified that gets the job. Recruitment isn't so black and white, sadly. 

 

Yes I've noticed a fair few crappy people being given good cushy roles and thinking "I could do a much better job". Of course, a lot of the time those people did a lot of brown-nosing to get the role. I don't do that though.

I decided I will be reapplying to both places who told me to re-apply. My stepsister does recruitment and said that she had one girl who did exactly that and when she re-applied she was at the top of her list. I imagine I may need to re-interview however.

quickymart:

 

Most of my working career (over 20 years), I've been in Telecommunications (majority of it answering phones). - in Customer Service, Helpdesk, Service Desk, Provisioning, etc. am looking for something that pays $60k or more

 

I'd say it is too high, at least for that kind of work.

And you're getting too old. I know, I'm older. I can't that work anymore either.

myfullflavour: We're after staff with telco experience, but based in Tauranga.

Depressingly that would be Trustpower right?
Sadly I know someone who works for them, I looked after her PCs for years, on that basis(Partly) she got the job and decided to branch out into PC repairs locally.

(Not Tauranga, the other Trustpower location).

She was quite surprised her first customer was irate and told her she had cost her heaps to have her PC looked at elsewhere after she lost all her stuff.

I asked this person what she had done, she said oh cleared the startup.

Cleared how I asked?
Oh deleted everything off the desktop.....

Ah yes....