c++/PHP Jobs in Galway?

khards

Hello,

This is my first post on this board

I am currently living in the UK and have been looking for software development work in Galway.

I have been working in both C++ for embedded devices and also done a good deal of web development in PHP.

So far I have contacted a couple of recruitment agencies, but have not been successful in getting even a telephone interview.
I feel that employers will not even consider me for a position because I am currently living outside the country..

Anyhow dose anyone know of any good job boards that specialise in software engineering vacancies in Ireland - preferable Galway?

I know Galway is not the epicentre of technology, however so far I have only managed to find job postings from Valeo and HP, neither of these are interested in me after getting no feedback from my CV.

Not really sure where to go from here.

ethernet

I'll throw out a few names that come to mind in and around the City if you want to check them out: IBM, Oracle, you've already found HP, MCS Kenny, Cisco. Lots more but blank! At least some should have openings for C++, not so sure about PHP.

Malice

There are a few technology companies dotted around in fairness but I suppose it's hard to travel around the business parks if you're not actually here in person and Google Maps might be a bit outdated.

In addition to ethernet's list there is also Avaya, SourceDogg, OpenJaw and Pivot for a start.

khards

Thanks for the great suggestions I will check them out over the next couple of days and also re-factor my CV a little I think.

I think when recruiters see PHP and are recruiting C++ developers the alarm bells ring. The truth is is far more productive to develop low throughput server side applications in PHP.

Oh well - I have recently been studying data structures and algorithms, STL and Boost since I studies electronics at uni and primarily work in electronics manufacturing where those skills are not really required.

khards

I have been trying for various positions with little/no interest.

I have suggested at starting salary of 28k EUR which is very reasonable (I think).

Anyway, here is a link to my CV in case anyone thinks they have a position that matches my skills.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rxL9k0Ul7zgdZ8e7ieYfjXqV_AZF6RGot_mISzE1OUo

CarefulNow

Your CV looks impressive, but its a bit long. Any advice I've ever been given regarding CVs is keep it to 2 pages max.

Mongey

FYI you spelt expectations wrong.

conor.hogan.2

FYI "Notes: Please note I am currently looking to relocating to ROI." is grammatically wrong.

jimmycrackcorm

Your cv really needs a re-write. I wouldn't give it a second look and I can understand why you aren't getting much of a response.

For example, no one cares about UML, you are working in an agile environment but contradict that by stressing the UML.

khards

Thanks for the help. I will review my CV again today.

The good thing about using Google docs to host your CV is that you can update it after distribution.

To be honest spelling and grammar have never been my strong point.


I think the problem with my CV is the mix of web and embedded work do not seem to go together.

kayos

khards wrote: »

The good thing about using Google docs to host your CV is that you can update it after distribution.

If you go via a recruitment agency the CV as you give them is not what the potential employer will see. They will download it butcher it (remove all personal info, stick their branding all over it etc). Also if they have that link they will always have your latest CV which might not always be what you want.

khards wrote: »

To be honest spelling and grammar have never been my strong point.

To be honest even Chrome has spell check built in these days. Mistakes in your CV are always a big flashing warning. If you can not put the time into ensuring your C.V. is flawless whats your work like? This document is what will get you an interview or not don't throw your chances away by not spell checking and grammar checking it. Posting on boards and having mistakes is one thing. Sending your CV out with mistakes is unacceptable.

BTW take your salary expectation off your CV. You are nearly 10 years in the business and you are stating a salary that is pretty much grad level I believe.

00sully

khards wrote: »

Thanks for the help. I will review my CV again today.

The good thing about using Google docs to host your CV is that you can update it after distribution.

To be honest spelling and grammar have never been my strong point.


I think the problem with my CV is the mix of web and embedded work do not seem to go together.

your salary expectation seems incredibly low to me!? I would have doubled that. At least.

onemorechance

As others have said, your skills and experience seem to be great but your CV is terrible. Keep it simple and to the point with a neater layout.

An example here on how to break it up into easy to read sections:



Give your contact details on top, don't include info such as you are relocating, leave that stuff for the cover letter. The example doesn't have a great contact section on top, make it large and full width like the other.

You then make a section a short paragraph about your self using words like enthusiastic, motivated etc. 2 or 3 lines.

Then a section with your skills in bullet point form:

• C++
• PHP

Add your education like in the example and then your work experience, again each job with a short intro with dates, contact info, role and bullets points on what you did and notable achievements.

Like the example give just minimum info needed, use bullet points as much as possible and use words that managers like to hear like "improved (process)", "reduced (costs)", "increased (sales)", etc.

Many people have two versions of their CV, a short one to get an employers attention as they typically don't have time and won't be bothered to read one like yours (no offence!) and a longer one which you can give should you get an interview or they request more information.

You should send a short cover letter also along with your CV and it's in this that you can details things like you are relocating and reasons why you are interested in the company and why you are suitable for the role.

Get a good, simple CV together and you can use it for most applications. The cover letter should be more specific to each place you apply to.

As the rest have said, your salary expectations are way too low for the skills and experience you state. It should be at least e40k for outside Dublin and at least e50k for in Dublin. You should not include it in your CV anyway, maybe in the cover letter.

If you put e28k along with that CV I would think that you don't feel confident in your own abilities in relation to the skills and experience you have in your CV. If you're not confident in yourself then I doubt any employer will be either.

khards

I would like to thank everyone for the help and comments

After reading my CV I must say it was crappy. I have now started refactoring my CV.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rxL9k0Ul7zgdZ8e7ieYfjXqV_AZF6RGot_mISzE1OUo

I am not really sure where to take it from here since I did not want to cut down on the work experience section. However I have reduced the size from 5 pages to 3.25 pages..

The reason behind the low starting salary is since I am relocating I thought it might improve my chances of getting a job in the current environment.
To be honest the money aspect of it is not important however getting the right placement is.
As long as I can earn enough to buy food and pay the electricity bill, run the car etc, then that is good with me. Yes it would be nice to afford to go on holiday one per year but it is not a necessity.

onemorechance

Just like this post it's (still) too long! :pac: You must sell yourself in seconds, not minutes!

You can have two versions, short for initial contact and a long one should they request more info. There can be several stages to CV selection. HR are told they need a guy with 5 years C++. Make this info easily viewable within seconds on your CV.

(CV) Title: Senior Software Engineer

Contact Details: Centered and use page page width. Don't be afraid to use larger fonts for this. Also add your BSc in Comp after your name. Don't bother with your address, they will be emailing or phoning you. Space saved.

Short intro about yourself (Personal Profile): Be positive and sell yourself. I think the current one is still too long, be general and leave info specific to previous roles for later when you detail your previous roles. Forget about having that extra personality section, fit it all into one section; keep in mind employers are busy and can often give just seconds to a CV. Don't discourage them by giving them 10 minutes of reading.

Technical Skills: List your skills in bullet points and your proficiency. Just list them with bullet points, don't bother with details on which previous role you used them in. Give the employer an easy to read list of your skills in one easy to read section. Again save the role specific details for your career history section. Don't bother to split them up into server side or embedded, group them in related groups maybe, two or three columns. Use a table even.
Languages

---

Frameworks

---

Tools
C++ (level or year exper.)

---

JBoss

---

Maven
PHP

---

Zend

---

Eclipse


^^This is where you will get the employer interested in your CV and it will make them read the next section if they see you have the skills they want.^^

Career History: Give dates, company name, addresss, role. Describe your role in the company in a short a paragraph.

For each role:

Make a section entitled "Responsibilities" and use one line bullet points on what you did there. Short but detailed sentences. Try to start each one of with an a positive action word.

Make a "Key Achievements" section, again short but detailed sentences using bullet points. Mention anything which you have changed for the better while you were there. Is there anything which is being done in a better way now thanks to you? Mention projects you worked on and how your role in them improved the end result. This may be the most important part of your CV.

Bullet points, short and detailed sentences, positive actions words!

^^This is the section where the employer will decide if they want to give you an interview or not, i.e. from you selling yourself and describing your importance and achievements in your previous roles, they decide if they would like you working for them, pending an interview of course! :pac: ^^

Education:


Other Skills: (langauges etc.)

Interests: (Here you can put your hobbies and maybe adds some stuff that you had in the Personality section, but really it's not important to say much.

You must put your self in the employers shoes, make it easy to read, i.e. bullet points, get their attention quick, i.e. make that (technical) skills matrix as that it what they want to know! If they need C++ let them know ASAP that you have it, they won't read the whole thing to find out; but if they find out quickly they are more likely to read the whole thing! :pac:

Again, about the wages, DO NOT mention it in your CV. You can put it in your cover letter if you want, especially if an advert asks for it.

e28 is graduate wages. IT is one of the few industries in Ireland where there are jobs and even if there were not, I doubt it would help your chances much to say you'd work for 28k. It does not make sense with regard to your skills and experience. I think it shows lack of confidence in your abilities which is not what you want to come across as. You are a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Engineer and 99.999% of employers would not expect that you would take any less than, estimate e40k Galway, e50k Dublin.

If you did find an employer that would take you on because you'd work for e28k, I expect they will be awful to work because they are either getting little re-sale value for the work you do or laughing at how much money they are making from your work; either way, it doesn't sound like a good place to work.

To be honest, I am doubting your aptitude and skill levels if you really would work for that. If they are hiring you can try and get an operator job with Medtronic, which does not require college education, and you can earn more than e28k there.

Don't forget the cover letter. This is where you tell them why you want to work for them and why you are suitable for the role, or some position if you are not replying to an add. Here also you can detail your availability, that you wanting to relocate, work visa status etc. If not applying for a role which requests salary expectation, it's up to you whether to say it or not, but it my humble opinion whatever to do, don't say e28k!

Good luck and shorten that CV!

Aswerty

Onemorechance gives some great advice. I looked through your revised version of your C.V before I knew it was revised and it definitely still came across as way too long.

The way I approach a C.V is that I start with 2 blank pages and do my best to sell myself and fit as much pertinent information in while trying to keep a good flow to it. Even if you only go a tiny bit over 2 pages that still means there is nearly fully blank 3rd page which just looks terrible imo.

Remember a C.V is a tool for getting an interview not a record of your professional career. Also tailoring your C.V for each job is a must and this will sort out whether to put emphasis on your web or c++ skills.