Struggling to land an entry-level IT job after 7 years. What am I doing wrong?

Forums › Jobs › Struggling to land an entry-level IT job after 7 years. What am I doing wrong?

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Geek of Coastguard
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#3529687 21-Sep-2026 11:08

CtrlAltKiwi:

Do you really think they have black listed me forever over the invoice thing and my comment? Would they really still hold a grudge if they moved to a new job? Would they even remember me?

Its funny what some companies will do with applicants. I applied at Vodafone many many years ago for general helpdesk role - form asked if I knew anyone working there, and I said yes and put their name down. I had a rejection email within 48hrs and politely told not to apply again for 18 months. Thought the 18 months was odd, so spoke to someone else I knew there, and they said that the person I put down as knowing, was NOT liked by anyone, so I was rejected by association. He laughed when I mentioned the 18 months, apparently standard stand down period for applicants was 6 months - so I got royally ********.

Got a better job anyway after that....

XPD / Gavin

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#3529688 21-Sep-2026 11:17

Eva888:

Never, ever burn bridges no matter how angry or insulted you feel.

This applies even if you leave a job, regardless of the conditions etc - the IT community in NZ is rather tight knit, and you burn bridges with a company, depending on circumstances, it can get around very quickly, and Chinese whispers come into play.

I've left a couple of jobs on "bad terms" , but never ranted/raved about them publicly - it happens.

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CtrlAltKiwi

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#3529689 21-Sep-2026 11:18

It was during Covid I was 30 years old and I got board of my life and decided that I wanted to get my (first proper job) so I made a CV and LinkedIn account and started applying I didn't have any interview clothes at the time.

Then a year or 2 later after noticing a lot of application forms/job descriptions asking about drivers a license I decided to go for my learners and I quickly went up to full license within two years. Then I got myself proper interview clothes.

I ended up deleting LinkedIn after about 6 years as every year they would send me a email saying how long I had been with them which i found depressing as that told me how long I had been looking for a job. I've got a special email folder of all the job rejections I've received.

There's been times where I've felt like giving up and just not bothering anymore deleting my CVs.

Covid changed my life in a couple of ways I feel for the better.

I think this Volunteer work will certainly help me move forward - I only wish the one I just left had ended on better terms without me having to file a grievance.

My new Volunteer role is in retail I've had 2 shifts so far working on the till - I learned quickly. Even if I don't end up getting a paid job I can still consider my voluntary job as my job and I can always take on more shifts.

It was never about money just about doing a bit more with my life. But yes Ideally I would want a job that pays well and is in a field that I like.

When I was complaining to my mum about how long it's taking she said ''I've left it too long since leaving school''

I think a lot of my problems is I don't know anyone and that's how I'm told a lot of people in New Zealand get jobs.

Earbanean

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#3529701 21-Sep-2026 11:50

CtrlAltKiwi:

lxsw20:

You mentioned a Mitre 10 job - did you take that job? Are you currently employed?

I did not take that Job as I thought and the manager agreed that the Volunteer role I took instead of Mitre 10 would lead to better jobs in the future a better skillset for the type of job I actually wanted.

Im now thinking perhaps that choice was a mistake.

I work one day per week gardening and office work for an elderly lady my Mum worked for. Also I drive her around using her car.

That may be the reason Mitre 10 picked me out of 500 Applicants due to my experience gardening.

Is it worth contacting the person at Mitre 10 and saying you really enjoyed the volunteer role you took and learned a lot from it, but would now like to further widen your experience with something like the Mitre 10 role previously discussed. That particular role won't be still available, but there could well be something similar.

Also, I would have thought Mitre 10 is a bit seasonal, so there could be summer type roles coming up about now. Get in quick before all the Uni students snap them up. Even if they're not permanent positions, they could be good experience and could lead to something further. e.g. while you're there, keep an ear out for any IT issues and offer to help.

CtrlAltKiwi

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#3529704 21-Sep-2026 11:58

@Earbanean

In March I did apply for a part time position (11 hours) at Mitre 10 it was the same one I had got the job offer from

and in my cover letter I mentioned that I did get a job offer from them previously and i said that I felt the part time position would be more suited to me.

I'm unsure if I've burned my bridges with that Mire 10 now as I didn't accept their job offer so it's possible they now consider me a time waster.

I also no longer have the email/phone number of the recruitment person at Mitre 10 that I was dealing with.

gzt

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#3529705 21-Sep-2026 12:12

CtrlAltKiwi: As far as my job applications go I say im working full-time.

That is a risky strategy if you are not actually working 30-40 hours a week. An employer checking that reference will be immediately concerned and is very likely to downrank your application.

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gzt

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#3529706 21-Sep-2026 12:15

CtrlAltKiwi: I'm unsure if I've burned my bridges with that Mire 10 now as I didn't accept their job offer so it's possible they now consider me a time waster.

I would not worry about it. You may be the person they almost hired. Just apply for the new role with your updated cv.

CtrlAltKiwi

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#3529708 21-Sep-2026 12:20

They sort of assume it’s full-time I should say. If they question it i might say it’s part-time I don’t really want to say casual.

Ive also had to add a job that I didn’t do because IT really like people with customer service experience so I said I worked part time at Dick Smith when I was studying I felt this was safe as the company is liquidated. I think potentially this could soon be removed from my CV entirely and replaced with my recent volunteer work im just not sure if it would be considered customer service.

at this stage im unsure if I will be keeping my 1 one year of volunteer work on my cv it all depends on if my grievance resolutions are met I certainly wouldn’t trust my former manager to be used as a reference at this stage.

gzt

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#3529710 21-Sep-2026 12:40

loceff13: I wouldn't disclose autism until after you are employed and past any probation period, it's not their right to ask and could be used against you(they would find/claim a different reason to turn you down) but they might assume you will struggle to join in socially or find certain working environments difficult(ie loud offices) despite what most claim being supportive as an employer.

I have a friend who had a spectacular mental illness episode decades ago with no recurrence. Whenever they asked for my advice I've told them no one can tell the difference between them and anyone else so there's really no need to disclose it in interviews. However, in practice they've always chosen to disclose it and explain how they manage the condition. I suspect that's beneficial and creates more understanding in a number of ways.

Ultimately it is entirely your decision and there is something to be said for either option.

It's also worth thinking about how you might answer if someone genuinely asks what kind of support or adaption would be useful to you in the workplace. To some extent you may not have a clear idea of that until you're in a challenging situation and that's perfectly ok.

MikeAqua

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#3529712 21-Sep-2026 12:45

CtrlAltKiwi:

After I didn't hear back for a bit I called the manager that interviewed me and she said that the test came back as there were signs that I may get stressed so I asked her ''what type of person are you looking for are you wanting a robot someone that doesn't feel emotions''

2 interviews and a personality test reference check stage (they never called those references) It was very upsetting. I actually produced an Invoice for my time that they wasted and sent to their Accounts team with a cover letter explaining why.

I obviously didn't follow it up I was just very upset.

I get it, being rejected sucks. The later in the process it is, the worse it feels. You can't choose how you feel, those feelings are legitimate. You do have choice in how you behave.

Some roles are inherently stressful. How people are likely to respond to that stress is important - for their safety and for the success of the business.

To be blunt, you really aren't helping yourself with behaviour like you've described:

1) You've just confirmed their concerns about your response to challenging circumstances; and

2) It appears churlish and petty; and

3) You burn bridges - you have to assume there is always going to be another interaction with the same employer or recruiter.

Mike

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#3529713 21-Sep-2026 12:52

CtrlAltKiwi: They sort of assume it’s full-time I should say. If they question it i might say it’s part-time I don’t really want to say casual.

Yeah that sounds kind of ok if you are asked to clarify and you give correct information as above.

CtrlAltKiwi: Ive also had to add a job that I didn’t do because IT really like people with customer service experience so I said I worked part time at Dick Smith when I was studying I felt this was safe as the company is liquidated. I think potentially this could soon be removed from my CV entirely and replaced with my recent volunteer work im just not sure if it would be considered customer service.

Removing the Dick Smith one is definitely a good idea. For the volunteer role put the emphasis on the customer service aspects of it. That kind of adjustment is expected.

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RunningMan

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#3529769 21-Sep-2026 13:56

CtrlAltKiwi:

[snip] I've got tired of answering truthfully

[snip] As far as my job applications go I say im working full-time.

[snip] Ive also had to add a job that I didn’t do because IT really like people with customer service experience

Being untruthful with your employer (or prospective employer in this case) is probably the main reason people get fired. If the employer feels they cannot trust you (because you have misled them about something), they won't want you working for them any more. From their point of view, if you have misled them about one thing, then what else is there that they don't know about?

Your CV / letter / application should absolutely focus on and highlight your positive attributes and how they align with the role applied for, but never ever make up something that isn't true. When it's found out, it almost certainly won't have a good ending for you.

Take up the incredibly generous offers of @danfaulknor & @Dynamic. Finding people in the industry you want to get into that offer their time like that is like finding legends walking the Earth! Feedback after a real job interview can often be very vague, indirect and not that helpful for someone looking to improve their chances. Those two can hopefully be much more focussed and direct (because it's not a real interview) and give you some specific points to work on.

If you do take up their offer, make sure you treat it like a real interview - be ready to answer interview questions, and prep a couple of appropriate questions to ask them. Perhaps get some feedback from one of them, work on your application and interview prep using that feedback, than have a session with the other using what you learned.

CtrlAltKiwi

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#3529770 21-Sep-2026 13:59

When people talk about burning bridges is it ok to speak up for yourself against a manager in a Volunteer position if she said something to me that was untrue and deeply hurtful?

I mean it's kinda put me in a position where I at (least temporally) don't a reference for that 1 year of work until my grievance resolutions have been meet - a number of weeks away.

Perhaps if I had just left things as they were when I resigned rather then end up saying why or maybe just let it go and continued volunteering. though it was a very serious accusation that she made against me.

Dynamic

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#3529772 21-Sep-2026 14:09

CtrlAltKiwi:

When people talk about burning bridges is it ok to speak up for yourself against a manager in a Volunteer position if she said something to me that was untrue and deeply hurtful?

When two of my kids have been fighting, each will tell me their side of the story and typically the truth is somewhere in the middle.

As a general rule, if someone coming in for an interview is blaming other people for an issue with their previous employment I immediate wonder how much of the issue was the employee's fault. The truth is typically somewhere in the middle. As a potential employer of one of these people I'm not in a position to hear both sides of the story and judge for myself.

If I have two candidates for a job, Person A left their previous employer on good terms and Person B left on bad terms, I'm likely to choose Person A.

The only time I would bring up conflict in a previous employment discussion is to answer a question like "can you give an example of conflict and how you managed this?". If you can describe a good outcome, then use the story. If the outcome is 'the other person was an ass so I chose to leave', do not use that story.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

CtrlAltKiwi

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#3529773 21-Sep-2026 14:23

Is it completely fine to ask to skip questions in an interview that I have no answer for?

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