New Contractor - Advice on Agencies Please

[jamesbrown]

I have a thick skin Been in bands for many years and and as the only girl you have to!

But for me it is very much about delveoping my experience and skills. I have been in Dorset for 5 years on the same projects, I will get out to work with other people. I will learn how to work with a PMO - we dont have one! I will work with new organisations. Thats all about developing experience.

I learn stuff every day though life - you cant say that I wont develop from the whole experience?

Fair enough I'm not saying that you won't develop in some broader, hippy, sense Just be aware that clients don't look at contractors in the same way as permies; in general, you won't be given the latitude to develop into a role. You'll need to bring the skillset and execute. So, if your goal is to develop new technical skills, as opposed to general life experience, a permie position is probably your best bet. Anyway, I'm not trying to put you off. If you can hack contracting, there's nothing better in terms of the freedom and variety it offers, but the ability to learn on the job isn't one of those things (in general).

[southerngal]

Fair enough I'm not saying that you won't develop in some broader, hippy, sense Just be aware that clients don't look at contractors in the same way as permies; in general, you won't be given the latitude to develop into a role. You'll need to bring the skillset and execute. So, if your goal is to develop new technical skills, as opposed to general life experience, a permie position is probably your best bet. Anyway, I'm not trying to put you off. If you can hack contracting, there's nothing better in terms of the freedom and variety it offers, but the ability to learn on the job isn't one of those things (in general).

Ahh ok gotcha - thank you no at the moment I have all the learning and qualifications I want. This is more about working with different teams, different systems, different cultures, different organisation.

[SueEllen]

Change your address on your CV to that of the address in Stanstead a lot of agencies arent going to want to touch you if you have a dorset address when they will have access to other people of similar experience as you already living in the London area.

I don't have any address on my CV.

I just put an email address and a mobile number.

I also lie about my exact location on job boards simply as it doesn't matter exactly where I live in London. Plus some job boards have been hacked.

I do tell the truth when talking to agents on the phone though if they sound like they have commonsense. I did discover one agent lived a few doors down from me and yes I got the role......

[SueEllen]

Ahh ok gotcha - thank you no at the moment I have all the learning and qualifications I want. This is more about working with different teams, different systems, different cultures, different organisation.

If you worked in the NHS for years you are going to find it hard to find contracts outside the NHS and public sector.

It can be done if you are willing to network with both other contractors, agents and companies in person but being in Dorset is going to make it very hard to do this.

Also I do not know any company who would be happy to have a worker they aren't making redundant especially a temp who is always on their phone making/receiving voice calls. (In fact I know contractors chucked of projects for doing it and permanent staff who have been disciplined for doing so.)
Agents will call you at the most inconvenient times and not all will leave messages this includes those with actual live roles.

[northernladuk]

I don't have any address on my CV.

I just put an email address and a mobile number.

I also lie about my exact location on job boards simply as it doesn't matter exactly where I live in London. Plus some job boards have been hacked.

I do tell the truth when talking to agents on the phone though if they sound like they have commonsense. I did discover one agent lived a few doors down from me and yes I got the role......

Did he get fringe benefits???

[southerngal]

If you worked in the NHS for years you are going to find it hard to find contracts outside the NHS and public sector.

It can be done if you are willing to network with both other contractors, agents and companies in person but being in Dorset is going to make it very hard to do this.

Also I do not know any company who would be happy to have a worker they aren't making redundant especially a temp who is always on their phone making/receiving voice calls. (In fact I know contractors chucked of projects for doing it and permanent staff who have been disciplined for doing so.)
Agents will call you at the most inconvenient times and not all will leave messages this includes those with actual live roles.

I get I am likely to have to stay in Healthcare. That's what I know..

So, are you saying it too much of a risk for me?

[tarbera]

No there isnt - only that I really like my boss and want to leave on the very best terms. I dont wan't to leave because I hate it there, I just need to go out and get some different experience. I think (and probably know) that if I do find something that meant that I would have to leave earlier then he would release me.

Apologies did not realise you were doing the naughty together

[mrv]

Thank you that has made me feel a little better. I always knew the 3 months would be difficult - it was just a way of working things through. I havent actively looked during this period but have responded to enquiries. I had one agency who lied to the client - or to me - I dont know which - but it was very promising. The trust encouraged me (actually told me to call them when I am free) and said that I wouldn't have a problem getting work. But that was January and I gather things have changed since then. Also, that's easy to say when you are employing

I have actually timed my notice period in with the end of my project and stayed on longer because of the project.

It is true that those few times that I, being out of contract for a while, called an agent myself and asked about possibly getting a role, the agent always was very cheerful, promising and reassuring they will get me one asap. It is also true they have never called me back on that. When dealing with them, their actions do all the talking, and their mouths do all the BSing. I would not give two toughts about the role until they got me an interview. I would not start any planning until I have received an offer.

You talk about hoping and jumps like 22 years old straight from university, who has read too many motivational posters. You are right, some of us, myself included, may paint the whole picture in too dark colors, yet when it comes to personal finances I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't know much about you, except you being 46 yo with no savings and a mortgage. I'm sure you have developed quite a few pretty expensive habits, which is absolutely normal, given your age and the fact you were in a stable job for the last decade, but this combination is very dangerous. Can you sustain your current life for 3 months without any income? 6 months between (or before the first) contracts is not unheard of. True, some people make it big from get go, also true some people lose everything. Would you rather be overprepared or underprepared? The call is yours.

[southerngal]

What part of that sentence would suggest that we 'are doing naughty'?

Just because I have respect for someone I have worked for a while.... hahahahahha....

[SueEllen]

I get I am likely to have to stay in Healthcare. That's what I know..

So, are you saying it too much of a risk for me?

I'm saying save some money up so you can live for some months without receiving an income, put down your London address for everything where you need an address while contact searching, negotiate your notice period down to 4 weeks or less, resign and start looking.

There is also nothing wrong with telling agents you are on holiday/visiting relations so they need to give you 48 hours to go to an interview as there are some who will want you to interview that afternoon in person or the next morning.

Oh and only you can decide if it's too big of a risk for you.

I would advise looking though older posts in the forum. Most of the questions you asked and statements you made have been asked many times before. There are also questions you should ask but haven't thought about.