Is anyone a (junior) quality manager in a device production company?

[isodontknow]

I've seen a job advert for a junior quality manager which I'm considering applying for. I've no background in industry as I've basically been a sahm for the past 14 years since right out of uni. I've no idea if I could actually do it, it's so long since I've been in the real world. But it says "junior" so I'm going to give it a go.

Would you mind answering some questions about what you do? (Either on this thread or pm)

Which device?

Medical devices. I'm assuming the general quality process is the same for any company following ISO9001?

How do you expect to get a professional job with no experience in this sector or in any sector?!?!

If I were you, I would get a job in a shop to get some experience. No one will hire you to do a decent job if you’ve never worked before.

Well how are you supposed to get experience if you can't get a job?

I've applied for entry level/office admin jobs to be rejected because I'm "over-qualified". Other jobs I get rejected because I don't have sufficient experience. I have the right academic qualifications for this job and I fit with the 0-2 years experience.

If you have the right academic qualifications and experience levels, just apply and in your cover letter, say that you're ready and willing to learn, you know about ISO standards but you are eager to see how their organisation applies them in practice, and that you're ready to work hard and learn more about the role.

Nobody can ask for more in a junior position.

Because the fact you must be in your mid thirties and never worked a day in your life would put a professional employer off.

I very much doubt a degree you obtained 14 years ago is enough to get you a foot in the door now. I also doubt that a degree you obtained 14 years ago will make you over qualified for an admin position.

I personally wouldn’t hire someone if they can’t prove they can hold down a job.

Thats why I said I would get a job in a shop, or keep applying for admin positions. Promising you will work hard as per PP, although sounds nice, isn’t going to cut it in the real world of work. You need to be able to prove it.

I personally wouldn’t hire someone if they can’t prove they can hold down a job.
And yet, you can't prove you can hold down a job unless someone will hire you...

I'm not sure I could have done anything differently. It's only been in the last year that we can leave DC1 unsupervised for any length of time and that we've had any family close by.

I second this, OP.

On a side note, there will always be those who take the opportunity to be crush to a stranger on the internet, eh?! Don't even feel like you need to justify yourself to these clearly unhappy folk.

Wishing you the very best of luck!

@Dontsayitlucky blimey talk about negative attitude. Did you get out of the wrong side of bed today?

@isodontknow all you can really do is apply, be honest about your knowledge and take their feedback. Although with regards to your comment about not being able to have done anything differently. Most people obviously use paid childcare to stay in the workplace even if they don’t make any ‘profit’ once bills are paid.

I was trying to be helpful! I think it’s better to be told the situation outright than to have OP set themselves up for failure.

I second what PP said. I don’t have any help from family with childcare. I have had to pay for childcare and had virtually no money left at the end of each month.

@Starshine8 I know, but before school, lunch and after school club refused to take DC1 and I never found any private childminder willing to take a child with SN. They had enough business as before school club ran once a week, lunch and after school three times a week and twice a week school closed at 12.

And yet, you can't prove you can hold down a job unless someone will hire you...

Agreed! Which is why I said to start small and prove yourself. Going straight in for a professional job with no experience and a qualification from 14 years ago, is going to lead to disappointment I’m afraid.

What does it say the essential and desirable criteria are? For medical devices you need ISO13485 more than ISO9001. What type of devices is it? What is your degree in?

I work in QA field - with ISOs etc. Apply for it, at junior level they will be looking for attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, willingness to train etc.

Good luck

Sorry, seen you said medical devices already, ignore me.

If you have been slogging your way through the SEN system you may well have relevant experience of reading up, interpreting and following complex rules and regulations.

At a junior level you can audit against ISO13485 if you are trained to ISO9001 and the report can be counter-signed by a 13485 trained auditor. We do this against IAFT/AS/17020 and 17025..

@ExquisiteIyDecorated

basic technical or commercial training
Knowledge of quality management (ISO 9001 or ISO 13485)
Very good written and spoken English and Italian skills
Sound knowledge of MS Office
Experience in medical technology or pharmaceuticals an advantage
High quality awareness and appropriate working methods
Stamina, resilience and flexibility
Enjoy working in a team and also repetitive tasks

I think go for it OP as there is nothing to lose in applying but I think you may struggle getting roles like this (doesn't mean it's impossible). A lot depends on how your CV is written. Please don't put childcare/SAHM on there as experience- it won't be received well by potential employers. When I went back after being a SAHM for several years I spoke about my strengths/experiences and avoided talking about the SAHM aspect. It's frustrating as looking after children full time requires a multitude of skills but it won't serve you well in the world of job hunting to talk too much about it (from my experiences). If you struggle to get an entry level QA job, then try getting a job on the factory floor for a while. Lots of people get into those sorts of roles from the shop floor and it's a great way of gaining understanding And experience in readiness for a QA role. My time as a factory OP when I was a student during summer breaks has helped me time and time again later in my career.

What's your degree and what's the salary?

Go for it definitely- but I work in a similar industry and think you will struggle to get a manager position without previous management experience or experience in the relevant industry.
You'd have more of a chance with "quality officer" or "quality reviewer" type roles to get experience towards working up to management

Sounds like you may have less competition for this job because of the requirement to speak and write Italian. So worth a shot if you do indeed have the Italian.

Yes, getting some technical experience first is probably the most likely entry route, you do need knowledge of the product and processes in order to apply the standards effectively. I agree that the Italian requirement probably rules out a lot of people though so if you have that it's worth a try.

Can you speak Italian?

I agree that this is going to be a difficult post for you to get. I work in recruitment and I doubt this will even get to interview, let alone a job offer.

You say you have a degree but it’s a long time ago. That’s why people in professional roles are required to do CPD every year to keep your knowledge up to date.

You will either need to get a basic level entry job as PP said, shop, factory etc, to get some stuff on your CV, or do some more up to date qualifications.

Sorry if that’s not the answer you were looking for!