How to find contracts with big companies?

[DarioDarioDario]

Hello,
I'm a bit new to contracting... so I have some questions about job hunting. I'm an Java Developer and when looking for contracts on jobs board I don't see ads from regular big companies, because they seem only to post for perm roles. But I know that they do hire contractors, simply I don't know which channels they use. For the most, you have to apply to job offerings from recruitment agencies and lose a lot of time trying to make them confess what job we're talking about.

I mainly use JobServe and Linkedin... sometimes CWJobs too.

So how do you approach the problem:
- do you apply for roles that are for perm and maybe some big company replies
- do you waste your time with recruiters
- you use some secret trick?

Thanks everyone

[cojak]

You don't bother finding out who the contract is with while you apply.

Big companies generally use preferred supplier agencies but often you can guess the company by the location.

[northernladuk]

The big companies tend to use agents so you have to read the profiles and location on Jobserve and try and guess who the companies are. For example, I think we can all guess a financial client in Cheshire or a Telecoms client in Berkshire and so on.

That said in this day and age I don't think you can be picky on the actual client. Apply whoever it is and when you've got an interview and an offer then you can decide.

- do you apply for roles that are for perm and maybe some big company replies
Nope. Waste of time.
- do you waste your time with recruiters
Yes seems they hold most of the gigs. They are part and parcel of contracting in a majority of cases.
- you use some secret trick?
Yes but it wouldn't be a secret if I told you

Just got to keep plugging on. The market is very quiet at the moment and it's not uncommon to spend some time on the bench between gigs. Trick is to get a warchest up so you can survive this time relatively comfortably. You've got the added problem of being a newbie so have your work cut out.

I only use JS and LinkedIn and to be honest never had a gig from LI to date though I see it works for others.

Knuckle down and keep at it.

[SueEllen]

So how do you approach the problem:
- do you apply for roles that are for perm and maybe some big company replies

Nope because I'm not looking for perm work

- do you waste your time with recruiters

It's not a waste of time especially if you end up on their "go to contractors" list

- you use some secret trick?

I've already given you a massive hint above and that's all you are going to get - though myself and others including NLUK have laid lots of clues in other threads to less blatant questions.

[TheFaQQer]

Hello,
I'm a bit new to contracting... so I have some questions about job hunting. I'm an Java Developer and when looking for contracts on jobs board I don't see ads from regular big companies, because they seem only to post for perm roles. But I know that they do hire contractors, simply I don't know which channels they use. For the most, you have to apply to job offerings from recruitment agencies and lose a lot of time trying to make them confess what job we're talking about.

I mainly use JobServe and Linkedin... sometimes CWJobs too.

So how do you approach the problem:
- do you apply for roles that are for perm and maybe some big company replies
- do you waste your time with recruiters
- you use some secret trick?

Thanks everyone

Purely out of interest, why are you focusing on big companies?

[l35kee]

I worked for a big company as a permie. We hired a lot of contractors, and i mean a lot. We used an agency, this agency then contacted a set of preferred agencies to provide relevant CVs.

us > agency > agencies > contractor

[Cirrus]

The impression I've had over 30 years is that big companies use agencies. Agencies don't reveal the name of the client simply because a swarm of other agents will immediately attack.

Agents who deal with permie jobs almost always do not deal with contract. That'll be someone else in their agency, so they are not motivated to do anything about your CV. Unless of course you are from a known in-demand skill. You don't appear to fit that category.

Don't discard smaller companies. I did a £20m project for a building society with only about 600 employees. It came second in some industry awards thing. (The winner was RBS. That hurt.)

[billybiro]

The big companies tend to use agents so you have to read the profiles and location on Jobserve and try and guess who the companies are. For example, I think we can all guess a financial client in Cheshire or a Telecoms client in Berkshire and so on.

Out of curiosity, has anybody ever put together a comprehensive (ideally, UK-wide) list of such things?

i.e. Industry Sector / County = Actual Company

[SueEllen]

Out of curiosity, has anybody ever put together a comprehensive (ideally, UK-wide) list of such things?

i.e. Industry Sector / County = Actual Company

It would be impossible.

My first contract was with a division in a company that had 3 names in one year. This is because that division was taken over and sold 3 times in that year. OK that is an extreme case but the point is some divisions of larger companies have a different name and are also sold on their own.

[quackhandle]

I've already given you a massive hint above and that's all you are going to get - though myself and others including NLUK have laid lots of clues in other threads to less blatant questions.

You are very tolerant. Hats off to you.

qh