Hitting a brick wall...how do I break through this?

[JRCT]

In contracting there are only two types of interview feedback:

1) Well done, you've got the gig.

2) Sorry mate, better luck next time.

Ask yourself which one of these is great feedback?

That's rubbish.

[newmove]

Do you have the Prince? It could get you into the palace

[jmo21]

In contracting there are only two types of interview feedback:

1) Well done, you've got the gig.

2) Sorry mate, better luck next time.

Ask yourself which one of these is great feedback?

That's rubbish.

You may get the agent telling you more than that, but really, can you trust what they say?

You're lucky if the agent will give you anything, and 99% of the time, they want off the phone as soon as possible, no argument for your about you not being experienced enough, or whatever, which leads to feeback like "Yeah, they liked you, but this other guy was slightly better so they went with him" which is no use to anyone

[northernladuk]

You may get the agent telling you more than that, but really, can you trust what they say?

You're lucky if the agent will give you anything, and 99% of the time, they want off the phone as soon as possible, no argument for your about you not being experienced enough, or whatever, which leads to feeback like "Yeah, they liked you, but this other guy was slightly better so they went with him" which is no use to anyone

+1 to that.

[gigahoe]

I am extremely particular and realistic about what I apply for anyway

Maybe try being less particular. We all know that job specs can be rubbish a lot of the time and you maybe be exactly what they're looking for on one of the roles you're discounting because the specs are poorly written.

Some of the roles I get called back on are ones I didn't think were perfectly suited, whereas ones where I match the specs exactly sometimes garner no interest.

[PurpleGorilla]

I don't have much advice as I'm new to contracting - but keep going - hopefully the new FY will turn around for you.

[northernladuk]

Personally I would be having a good rethink about your chosen path and seriously considering other options. No good thinking about it in another three months and then taking a few months to get a perm job.

Why not contact Andy Hallet who posts on here. He might look at your CV and give you some honest feedback.

[BolshieBastard]

Hello,
I came into contracting last year after years as a perm PMO Manager and PM. I held my first contract for 9 months and I absolutely loved it - hard work but so satisfying.

Now I have hit a brick wall in finding my next contract. I have been searching feverishly for a contract since November last year, and my CV never fails to garner interest and I do get call backs and interviews; however that is where it ends - I cannot seem to secure a contract.

After 4 months of being messed around by agencies, hopes built up then let down at the 11th hour, turning up for interviews only to find they have changed the role; being offered a start date then told the role has been 'filled internally' I am beginning to get extremely worried and discouraged.

I appreciate that it is year end, and new budgets are yet to be launched; I also know that a lot of roles are niche or specialist and I wont be shortlisted for interview every time, but I am extremely particular and realistic about what I apply for anyway; it is the agencies that call and push for my consent to apply for roles which they have sourced me for based merely on one matching key word in my CV; that just drives me mad! They are just so appallingly unprofessional.

I am fairly flexible on location, and I always get great feedback from interview. But....??!

Has anyone else faced this type of challenge, and if so, how did you overcome it? Was it just a matter of time and perseverance, or maybe 'right place at the right time'?

I don't want to write this off as a career path yet.

Many thanks.

Welcome to the world of contracting, it isnt all continuous invoicing and can be quite long stretches of no income. A lot of noobies dont really seem to consider this when making the switch but everyone comes across it sooner or later.

Applications is a numbers game, the more you make the better chance you have. The big but though is agencies and recruiters can be very selective. You could satisfy 14 out of 15 requirements of the job spec but because you dont have number 15, its the round filing cabinet for your cv.

Agencies are the major stumbling block because you usually end up talking to a drone about an advert they placed. They may consider you suitable but they say that to probably 90% of applicants. If you're lucky, your cv is then passed to an account manager. If your cv doesnt tempt him \ her in 30 seconds, its the round filing cabinet again.

In the current market, clients also seem to be taking back contractors who've worked for them before. Nothing wrong with that but again, it narrows the opportunities.

If you've amended your cv for each app, it may be the rate you are asking needs to be reduced a little. No one likes reducing their rate but sometimes its what clients will look at.

Sometimes it is a question of right place, right time.

[tarbera]

Matt updated my CV a few years ago, since then it's been the land of mike and honey for me

Next demo here

https://www.ipse.co.uk/events/2015/0...elop-brand-you

But best £199 I've ever spent

[GlenW]

Matt updated my CV a few years ago, since then it's been the land of mike and honey for me

Next demo here

https://www.ipse.co.uk/events/2015/0...elop-brand-you

But best £199 I've ever spent

Do you use the honey as lubricant on the mike before you shove it up your arse?