Contractor Gurus - Help a first timer

[BAContractor]

Hi All,

I have been trying to get into the contractor market (This is my first time) but I see that there is no response to my CV. My background is 5 years IT BA (I have worked at a prominent high street bank -3 yrs and a leading Consultancy - 2yrs). I am also ISEB certified.
I have been trying to apply to contract jobs from CWjobs for the past month and no luck. Not even a call for an interview. Am I competing against individuals with more experience than me? Any examples of CV that contractor veterans here can point to on web as to the type of info I should include.

Help pls.

[cojak]

Hi BAContractor!

Welcome to CUK

Read these articles, they should give you a lot of pointers: IT Contractor CV Writing: Advice and Guides for UK Contractors

[northernladuk]

What did you do before the 5 years as a BA?

[BAContractor]

What did you do before the 5 years as a BA?

I was at the University :-)

[BAContractor]

Hi BAContractor!

Welcome to CUK

Read these articles, they should give you a lot of pointers: IT Contractor CV Writing: Advice and Guides for UK Contractors

Cheers Mate. I am going through the links as I type this response.

[SueEllen]

I was at the University :-)

1. Use all the job boards you can find not just one.
2. Rewrite your CV
3. Increase your geographical area as much as possible
4. Be patient

[northernladuk]

I was at the University :-)

There is your problem then. Less than 3 maybe 4 years real experience does not make a specialist your line of work. There will be literally 100s of much more experienced people ahead of you. Whatever you put on your CV it is going to lack the most important buy which is experience.

It's not impossible but it's going to be hard.

[BAContractor]

2. Rewrite your CV

Regarding the CV, Is there a specific format/template to be used. This is how my CV template looks like:

Page 1
------------------------------------------------
Name XXXX

Mobile: XXXX Email: XXXX

Industry Experience Highlights

Functional Experience Highlights

Certifications

Key Role Specific Experience

Page 2
-----------------------------------
Reverse Chronological Experience

Company 2

Company 1

Education

[BAContractor]

There is your problem then. Less than 3 maybe 4 years real experience does not make a specialist your line of work. There will be literally 100s of much more experienced people ahead of you. Whatever you put on your CV it is going to lack the most important buy which is experience.

It's not impossible but it's going to be hard.

Yeah, I felt that this would be my main hindrance. Any particular way to substitute the lack of experience with other skills.

[northernladuk]

Yeah, I felt that this would be my main hindrance. Any particular way to substitute the lack of experience with other skills.

Nope. Clients want highly experienced professionals that can deliver benefits from day one.

Well yes. You can stay permie and build up your skills and experience of course.