Curriculum Vitae

[harry94]

A while back, I had my CV up on some recruitment sites for graduate jobs. It was very clear that I had just spent four years on a degree and my full work experience was detailed.

So many phone calls from thick agents saying shite like 'OK, I have something that looks good for you but I just need to double check if you have fifteen years experience in the construction industry?'. I must have just missed that part out in between my coding experience. Also trying to waste everyone's time by sending me to interview for jobs that I really am not qualified to do.

[throbber]

Got you. No, I went to college, but there's nothing particularly specialist about my job. Or if there is, I've learned it purely through in job experience. That applies to both my work in a construction management and on the tools (my job is a bit of both).
 
Reading that back, I might be selling myself a wee bit short there. I suppose the surveying and pricing side of it just seems the norm to me now after almost a decade in the job. It is generally something that people would study rather than learn to do in situ.

I would rather have learned on the job rather than have gone to uni but I was at a crossroads in my life and wanted a change. Uni is just to give you a piece of paper to open up a few windows and to prove that you aren’t completely thick, it’s over rated.

[Sweet Pete]

10 minutes ago, throbber said:

 

I would rather have learned on the job rather than have gone to uni but I was at a crossroads in my life and wanted a change. Uni is just to give you a piece of paper to open up a few windows and to prove that you aren’t completely thick, it’s over rated.

Not fussed nowadays, but thought I'd have liked it when I was younger. Too late now at any rate.

[Ross.]

They do the photo on your CV thing here as well. Wasn't entirely comfortable with it but it didn't seem to hold me back any. My CV is full of lies(Well, half truths), but I was able to back them up with a convincing interview and I haven't killed or bankrupted anyone yet. Took a while to learn the job but I knew enough when I came in to hit the ground running while learning what the role actually involved.

[throbber]

Just now, Sweet Pete said:

Not fussed nowadays, but thought I'd have liked it when I was younger. Too late now at any rate.

I had good grades at school but just completely went to f**k when i turned 18 and started drinking so had to drop out of uni and then didn't think I could have the motivation to stick it out so did a trade which i didn't really want or have any interest in so I eventually got to the point I wanted out of it and my CV didn't really include anything other than having a trade so it wasn't easy to switch careers at the time despite applying for various positions so I just thought i was as well getting a degree before i had children/proper adult commitments. If i hadn't done it at that time then theres no chance i would go back into education at the age of 31 so I'm happy i did it.

[welshbairn]

3 minutes ago, Ross. said:

They do the photo on your CV thing here as well. Wasn't entirely comfortable with it but it didn't seem to hold me back any. My CV is full of lies(Well, half truths), but I was able to back them up with a convincing interview and I haven't killed or bankrupted anyone yet. Took a while to learn the job but I knew enough when I came in to hit the ground running while learning what the role actually involved.

Do many non-white candidates get interviewed?

[Ross.]

1 minute ago, welshbairn said:

Do many non-white candidates get interviewed?

Probably on a par with the general population here. If anything it's harder for the Swiss to get interviewed than for anyone half qualified and foreign.  They take on the minimum required in that respect, partly because they can pay the foreigners far less for the first few years. I'd say over 50% of our workforce in this office are non Swiss.

[Sweet Pete]

3 minutes ago, throbber said:

I had good grades at school but just completely went to f**k when i turned 18 and started drinking so had to drop out of uni and then didn't think I could have the motivation to stick it out so did a trade which i didn't really want or have any interest in so I eventually got to the point I wanted out of it and my CV didn't really include anything other than having a trade so it wasn't easy to switch careers at the time despite applying for various positions so I just thought i was as well getting a degree before i had children/proper adult commitments. If i hadn't done it at that time then theres no chance i would go back into education at the age of 31 so I'm happy i did it.

If I have a professional regret, it's that I ignored my old man's advice at 15 and didn't get a trade. At that time I didn't fancy that line of work and was naturally disinclined to take advice from him. I now work in the construction industry and get along reasonably well without one, but I'd be able to do a bit more on the tools if I'd actually served my time rather than learning as I went over the years. I'm fine with basic joinery, basic plumbing, shit hot at decorating and can do the handyman stuff, but anything beyond that has me stretched. Thankfully, the game I'm in now is reactive maintenance rather than large scale construction projects, so I'm generally OK with my skillset for the work required. When working for myself I do home repairs, painting & decorating and bathroom fitting, with a more skilled partner on the bathrooms for the second fix plumbing and minor electrics, but lately I've been working with a maintenance company owned by a former gaffer of mine so haven't needed to do as much of my own stuff. I can fit wet wall panels and paint houses all day long, but the lack of a proper trade has held me back on jobs occasionally with the more complex stuff. Generally though, the site side of my work is probably only about 40% of it now that I'm not doing solely my own stuff.

[John Lambies Doos]

Probably on a par with the general population here. If anything it's harder for the Swiss to get interviewed than for anyone half qualified and foreign.  They take on the minimum required in that respect, partly because they can pay the foreigners far less for the first few years. I'd say over 50% of our workforce in this office are non Swiss.

Do Switzerland have a work agreement with all or some EU countries or do you need a sponsorship visa? ( I'm making the assumption you don't hold citizenship)

[Shandon Par]

Decided to update my CV (last accessed in 2008) the other day. Saw some recruitment places ask for your social medial pages. Is your P&B profile page acceptable?  

[Ross.]

1 minute ago, John Lambies Doos said:

Do Switzerland have a work agreement with all or some EU countries or do you need a sponsorship visa? ( I'm making the assumption you don't hold citizenship)

There are agreements in place with the EU on freedom of movement and the right to work, though they will likely be changing at some point given the Swiss voted to implement immigration caps a few years ago. I am coming towards the end of a 5 year permit which, providing I don't go off on a murder or rape spree, should be renewed at the start of next year. If you have a job lined up when coming in, you are straight onto the 5 year permit. If not, the initial permit you get when you move is for 3 months at a time, which has to be renewed each time until you find permanent employment or go into full time education. You need to either support yourself or have someone guarantee they will support you financially(Pretty much pay your medical insurance and provide you with a roof over your head). I don't expect that to change a great deal when they finally implement whatever watered down immigration cap they eventually put in place.

[throbber]

14 minutes ago, Sweet Pete said:

If I have a professional regret, it's that I ignored my old man's advice at 15 and didn't get a trade. At that time I didn't fancy that line of work and was naturally disinclined to take advice from him. I now work in the construction industry and get along reasonably well without one, but I'd be able to do a bit more on the tools if I'd actually served my time rather than learning as I went over the years. I'm fine with basic joinery, basic plumbing, shit hot at decorating and can do the handyman stuff, but anything beyond that has me stretched. Thankfully, the game I'm in now is reactive maintenance rather than large scale construction projects, so I'm generally OK with my skillset for the work required. When working for myself I do home repairs, painting & decorating and bathroom fitting, with a more skilled partner on the bathrooms for the second fix plumbing and minor electrics, but lately I've been working with a maintenance company owned by a former gaffer of mine so haven't needed to do as much of my own stuff. I can fit wet wall panels and paint houses all day long, but the lack of a proper trade has held me back on jobs occasionally with the more complex stuff. Generally though, the site side of my work is probably only about 40% of it now that I'm not doing solely my own stuff.

It's good to have a trade and when i've gone for job interviews they have liked that I have worked on the tools as its a good start in life but f**k doing that as i get older. Particularly if doing it in the north/west of Scotland. 

I just want a semi acceptable job that i don't hate going to and that i don't have to live on the poverty line, I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel or anything like that but i think my lack of ambition might come across a little bit too much.

[The OP]

13 minutes ago, Shandon Par said:

Decided to update my CV (last accessed in 2008) the other day. Saw some recruitment places ask for your social medial pages. Is your P&B profile page acceptable?  

Saves anyone on here phoning your boss to report your posts I suppose. 

[Northboy]

29 minutes ago, welshbairn said:

34 minutes ago, Ross. said:

They do the photo on your CV thing here as well. Wasn't entirely comfortable with it but it didn't seem to hold me back any. My CV is full of lies(Well, half truths), but I was able to back them up with a convincing interview and I haven't killed or bankrupted anyone yet. Took a while to learn the job but I knew enough when I came in to hit the ground running while learning what the role actually involved.

Do many non-white candidates get interviewed?

I believe that ethical HR policy (if such a thing exists) is to discourage photos for exactly the scenario described above.

[Sweet Pete]

12 minutes ago, Ross. said:

There are agreements in place with the EU on freedom of movement and the right to work, though they will likely be changing at some point given the Swiss voted to implement immigration caps a few years ago. I am coming towards the end of a 5 year permit which, providing I don't go off on a murder or rape spree, should be renewed at the start of next year. If you have a job lined up when coming in, you are straight onto the 5 year permit. If not, the initial permit you get when you move is for 3 months at a time, which has to be renewed each time until you find permanent employment or go into full time education. You need to either support yourself or have someone guarantee they will support you financially(Pretty much pay your medical insurance and provide you with a roof over your head). I don't expect that to change a great deal when they finally implement whatever watered down immigration cap they eventually put in place.

Sorry to hear your 5 year permit isn't being renewed, Ross.

[Ross.]

Just now, Sweet Pete said:

Sorry to hear your 5 year permit isn't being renewed, Ross.

They have to prove it first. I reckon I've watched enough CSI to have my back covered.

[Sweet Pete]

7 minutes ago, throbber said:

It's good to have a trade and when i've gone for job interviews they have liked that I have worked on the tools as its a good start in life but f**k doing that as i get older. Particularly if doing it in the north/west of Scotland. 

I just want a semi acceptable job that i don't hate going to and that i don't have to live on the poverty line, I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel or anything like that but i think my lack of ambition might come across a little bit too much.

Big time. Wrecking your body every day in multiple ways is not a long term plan. Always gives me a shiver when I see the nick of the older guys on sites, still swinging a hammer with arthritic fingers and struggling along with five stone of extra weight and fucked knees. It's a young man's game definitely, and I've made it clear for years now I've no intention of being on the tools past a certain point.

[Sweet Pete]

1 minute ago, Ross. said:

They have to prove it first. I reckon I've watched enough CSI to have my back covered.

Swiss detective: "Victim was drugged with fifteen 500 millilitre glasses of beer and a concoction of pomme frites smothered in soft cheese. A note left at the site by the killer reads thus "Crazy Braezy 2k17".

[Ross.]

1 minute ago, Sweet Pete said:

Swiss detective: "Victim was drugged with fifteen 500 millilitre glasses of beer and a concoction of pomme frites smothered in soft cheese. A note left at the site by the killer reads thus "Crazy Braezy 2k17".

15 pints? That's a good 90 quid. I can get a decent litre of gin in Lidl for a quarter of the price.

[throbber]

4 minutes ago, Sweet Pete said:

Big time. Wrecking your body every day in multiple ways is not a long term plan. Always gives me a shiver when I see the nick of the older guys on sites, still swinging a hammer with arthritic fingers and struggling along with five stone of extra weight and fucked knees. It's a young man's game definitely, and I've made it clear for years now I've no intention of being on the tools past a certain point.

I had tendonitis in my arm once and needed two weeks off work and my arm had basically seized and i couldn't do anything. My back is also constantly sore when working and another thing that might just give way at any time, so if i hadn't moved on in life i could be at the risk of being physically incapable of working in my 40/50's without anything else to fall back on. It still could have been worse though, you get a strong feeling of satisfaction from doing building work and admiring your finished article, you don't need to deal with angry clients/customers and you don't really need to be particularly polite or sociable or presentable when you're at work either. You do have to deal with complete moron coworkers though.