Beginner's question: What am I doing wrong?

**crapot** · 1 March 2015, 23:19

Hi smarcjanski,

Sorry to hear about your situation but I can assure you that you are not the only one.
I am experiencing the same. Though, my situation is a bit different because I was a developer for 8 years and then moved into a business (analysis) facing role for a year.
I did do a couple of gigs through friends and acquaintances for a year in 2010 before moving back to a permanent position.

The company was small so ended up doing a bit of development as well BAing.

Your profile looks good so I think you should keep searching because perseverance and tenacity with a bit of patience is the key to your next gig.

Good luck

**gigahoe** · 2 March 2015, 10:01

I'm not familiar with the .net developer market (inf PM myself) so I'm not sure about the certificates or buzzwords recruiters are looking for. However, from the information you've given I'd ask someone to check out your CV. Your LinkedIn looks good but your comments in this forum certainly show that English is not your first language so maybe people are being funny about that if your CV is in the same style. The only other advise would be to have a look at the profile of someone you know (or can find on LinkedIn) that is getting the kind of contracts you'd want and see what the differences are in your profiles etc.

Best of luck.

**BolshieBastard** · 2 March 2015, 10:10

Originally posted by smarcjanski View Post

Hi guys. I would like to ask you for advice.
I am trying to enter contracting market but I have no luck so far. Worst thing is that I have almost no feedback why. Over 10 years experience IMHO should allow me to find something. I did a lot of contracing in Poland for many years, here in UK I was permanently employed for couple of months, but I think I am doing best on contracts.
Yes I have received tens of phone calls but I still ended up with no interviews.
My cv is almost on every job site, I try to apply for only few jobs per day.

My profile can be found here
Linked In

I also have very good references from my current employer.

I would not mind if I would fail on some interviews or something (I would know what was wrong and I would be able to work on it) but instead I am hitting a wall of silence. Attempts to call recruiters usually ends up with them being on meetings, lunches and never calling back, or answering emails... I would not even mind if they would tell me that they are not hiring polish swan eaters (joke) - nothing like that just polite silence

.

Maybe I am not used to UK's market but I can imagine it should be example for rest of the Europe... somehow I am unable to see that

The contract market in the UK is now very competitive especially in some disciplines. Not only do you have other contractors, there's offshore(!), specialist companies offering their services as consultancies and agencies offering their 'employed contractor model' more and more to clients.

No disrespect but you dont have any track record in contracting so 10 years permie experience doesnt count for a lot if anything in the current market.

Contracting is a numbers game, the more you apply, the better your chances. But that doesnt mean you'll land a role quickly.

**jmo21** · 2 March 2015, 10:27

Originally posted by smarcjanski View Post

here in UK I was permanently employed for couple of months

Did you quit to try contracting?

It may be that this looks a little weird on your CV, your first job in the UK, permanent, and only 2 months.

**northernladuk** · 2 March 2015, 10:59

Originally posted by smarcjanski View Post

Hi guys. I would like to ask you for advice.
I am trying to enter contracting market but I have no luck so far. Worst thing is that I have almost no feedback why.

You have your feedback. With contracting you either get the gig or you don't. Absolute silence after the interview is the only feedback you need. If you get a quote from three builders you don't ring the ones you didn't want with feedback do you? Why would an agent who is going to make no money from you waste his time to give you pointless feedback.

Over 10 years experience IMHO should allow me to find something.

That is a very dangerous assumption. I would go as far as to say that is actually wrong.

I did a lot of contracing in Poland for many years, here in UK I was permanently employed for couple of months, but I think I am doing best on contracts.
Yes I have received tens of phone calls but I still ended up with no interviews.
My cv is almost on every job site, I try to apply for only few jobs per day.

the number of calls you get and jobs you apply for don't really have bearing on the odds of getting a gig. If something is wrong then it's wrong however many calls you get. You need to find out what point you are failing on. Not having any solid UK contracts when there are 100's of very experienced guys on the bench is probably your biggest problem.

My profile can be found here
Linked In

Am loving the fact the URL has 'Lightworker' on it. That's not gonna help you one bit.

I also have very good references from my current employer.

Absolutely no user whatsoever. Zero, zip, nada. Read the sticky on 2 references in the other area of the forum as well.

I would not mind if I would fail on some interviews or something (I would know what was wrong and I would be able to work on it) but instead I am hitting a wall of silence. Attempts to call recruiters usually ends up with them being on meetings, lunches and never calling back, or answering emails... I would not even mind if they would tell me that they are not hiring polish swan eaters (joke) - nothing like that just polite silence

.

Welcome to the cut and thrust of contracting. If you don't like this you are gonna have a miserable time contracting.

Maybe I am not used to UK's market but I can imagine it should be example for rest of the Europe... somehow I am unable to see that

Absolutely no idea what this is supposed to mean.

**Eirikur** · 2 March 2015, 13:34

You will have to stay longer in your perm role, so recruiters will see you have sufficient UK experience.
I came from contracting abroad to the UK and had a perm job for almost 4 years before becoming a contractor again.

**mrv** · 2 March 2015, 13:56

There are many things that successful candidate is evaluated on. How is your spoken english? Do you have any niche skills, or are you just plain .net developer? Have you worked in some niche markets? How do your rate expectations compare to market average? The fact that you have very limited experience of working in UK does not help IMO.

Regarding phone calls - my experience is that sometimes agents call just to chat or fish for information (how do you find the market? are you busy at the moment? have anything lined up? I have a few leads that will hopefully get approved next week, will definitely call you, etc. etc), or they have a role in mind and then discussion is much more goal-oriented. Which ones do you get? Also, I have found there is no point in calling agents yourself asking about the roles you were promised or spoke about. If there are any news, they will call you, if they don't - there is nothing to talk about.

IMO stay in your current role for at least 2 years, by then you will have a much better understanding about british working culture etc, will have more contacts, more experience and will be able to tell much better where you stand in terms of contracting. It would help if your company was hiring contractors like yourself, then you could talk to them, gain knowlegde, best practises, what works and sells, and what does not. GL

**sal** · 2 March 2015, 17:34

Originally posted by smarcjanski View Post

... Over 10 years experience IMHO should allow me to find something. I did a lot of contracing in Poland for many years, here in UK I was permanently employed for couple of months, but I think I am doing best on contracts.
Yes I have received tens of phone calls but I still ended up with no interviews.
My cv is almost on every job site, I try to apply for only few jobs per day.

My profile can be found here
Linked In
...

Obviously you thought wrong.

Top issues:
- Lack of UK experience
- Lack of UK contractor experience
- Haven't decided what you are, according to LinkedIn profile (with link for the polish version of the website...) you have a history of Developer, DB Architect, Developer, SysAdmin, Developer, pick a career path and stick to it
- I would go out on a limb here and say that your CV is as poor as your LinkedIn profile

Basically there is nothing in you that would make an agent pick you from the huge pile of applications they get for each role.

**unixman** · 2 March 2015, 18:35

Where you have been in a contract that was renewed, mention the renewal on your CV/linkedin.

Beginner's question: What am I doing wrong?