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

[Bluenose]

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.

Obtain Prince2 Practitioner, MSP Practitioner, CISSP and TOGAF Certification.

In that order.

Get all those under your belt and I will be stunned if you don't find a job.

Don't have them? That's one of the reasons why you are being pipped, your competition does and they are being called about roles whereas you are out there looking.

For a non-niche PM role, once a job gets posted you are basically f'ed. You need to rotate so they call you before a job gets circulated.

[northernladuk]

Obtain Prince2 Practitioner, MSP Practitioner, CISSP and TOGAF Certification.

In that order.

Get all those under your belt and I will be stunned if you don't find a job.

Don't have them? That's one of the reasons why you are being pipped, your competition does and they are being called about roles whereas you are out there looking.

For a non-niche PM role, once a job gets posted you are basically f'ed. You need to rotate so they call you before a job gets circulated.

It's a start but I don't agree to be stunned if he doesn't get a gig. His experience will still show a mix of PMO and PM which an agent won't understand so will pick the next person who has been carrying out the exact role the agent is looking for.

[Bluenose]

You are right NH however, the prescription is a risky one now.

I have a similar problem on my CV (just in a different area). I think the risk is because the background checks have become so draconian now the chances of you getting caught out on changing your CV to fit the role is far, far higher. Unless the recruiter is 'in on the game' on that it is now too risky (IMHO) to make your CV consistent in this manner.

The double whammy of course is that most recruitment consultants get very confused if you do more than one job role.

[LadyPenelope]

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

Hi Matt!

[SpontaneousOrder]

Its not just you...its a buyers market......employers can pick and chose who they want & how much for put an ad online they will get 100s of highly qualified/experienced contractors rapidly.

I was told only last week by head of client services at BAML that it's a sellers market - he doesn't remember ever before having so many contractors refuse to do a tech interview, etc, etc.

I guess it all depends on sector & role.

[jjdarg]

I was told only last week by head of client services at BAML that it's a sellers market - he doesn't remember ever before having so many contractors refuse to do a tech interview, etc, etc.

I guess it all depends on sector & role.

Could be Canary Wharf? It's a pain to get to.

[Goldengirl]

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

No need to be vulgar

[BolshieBastard]

You are right NH however, the prescription is a risky one now.

I have a similar problem on my CV (just in a different area). I think the risk is because the background checks have become so draconian now the chances of you getting caught out on changing your CV to fit the role is far, far higher. Unless the recruiter is 'in on the game' on that it is now too risky (IMHO) to make your CV consistent in this manner.

The double whammy of course is that most recruitment consultants get very confused if you do more than one job role.

There's absolutely no issue in changing your cv for each role providing you arent telling fibs. You cant include every aspect of the tasks done in a role on your cv (unless you're advocating a 10 page cv!). So, there nothing wrong emphasising some tasks as more important than others to different potential clients.

Covering up gaps is however risky. I used to include one liners to explain gaps on my cv when I was active. Several interviewers commented on and appreciated it. Each to their own though.

[eek]

WHS

I've seen internal feedback at my client that niche technical skills are getting difficult to fill with offshore people.

They always have been difficult to fill but after 15 years companies are starting to realise changers are chancers

[connore]

Hello,
Thanks for the fantastic replies, there's some really good advice in there. Thanks for taking the time.

I am Prince2 but I'm finding that the competition has that, and a lot more time served in contracting to get them across the line.

The CV is nearly always described as being strong, and I do get the call backs, but as a lot of agencies search for candidates on key words alone - that doesn't necessarily mean a good gig match.

I do think that the ' service' on offer has to be refined, it's PMO or PM; by marketing myself as some kind of hybrid I'm going to be overlooked every time.

I am starting to rethink my direction, and that's throwing up some exciting options away from corporate life. Maybe this is the type of break I really needed. We'll see.

Thank you very much again.