Anterograde

I play the game with the agencies as I have no choice but I genuinely think there is just so much competition in the market at the moment, companies are looking for perfect fits at bargain basement rates and they are getting it, if you are strong in 90% of what they are after its not good enough. I agree, $24 an hour can be found in many low skilled jobs at a fraction of the stress. I just sat a new cert and likely to upgrade another, its really all I can do while looking. I guess I am just a little shell shocked as 2.5 years ago finding a job was extremely easy. I am noticing now the weeks are passing very fast which is a worry, another 2 months and i can be classed as long term unemployed (6 months).

I have been lingering here a little while and thought Id post. I am a Systems Engineer/Sysadmin, CCNA, MCSE and soon CCA with 5-10 of years experience and longer in IT in general depending how you count it. Been in Aus for just over 2.5 years, came to Brisbane early 2012 and had two job offers inside a few weeks, thought great this is too easy, the one I took was not "quite" the role I wanted but it paid well so I stayed and I don't like job hopping. Approaching 4 months ago got laid off due to downsizing. I updated my CV which of course contained more experience and thought "no probs its a little flatter but I should have something inside 2 months". Well this time around the experience is FAR FAR different. Been to 4 actual job interviews 3 for small companies and one for a contract roll. The contract roll experience didn't fit so no issue there. The other 3 smaller companies didn't state salary ranges and asked me what I was looking for which I gave conservative answers. I got the DISTINCT impression they were looking for candidates they could low ball as there is simply a LOT of competition out there atm. I am a little tired of employment agencies posting fake fishing adverts and I am told its illegal, probably 85-95% of adds on Stuff are dupes or fishing adverts for their database. A couple of agency interview (not counted above) left me wondering what value they add to the employment process for a employer. Approaching 4 months, apart from being bored out of my tree, I am really scratching my head. Re-written CV, re-written cover letter templates, started to apply for lower support jobs which I am likely overqualified for :huh: .