noobs elusive 1st contract

[lukemg]

So to sum up:
1 - You have to get on the agent list first - tailor your CV to job advert and do it quickly before he closes the list and stops reading email replies to the advert.
2 - You need to be 80%+ match or dont bother and you need to back that up at interview, no matter what they ask you have an example of when you have done it.
3 - Completely disregard any feedback from the agent, not specialised, someone who worked there before got it, job requirement has changed blah blah, they are just fob offs to get you off the phone without complaining. It's a no, move on.

[Cirrus]

Was made redundant from my permie PM job during the financial crisis, just before Christmas so no chance to find something immediately. Found first contract in about 8 weeks, in Finance

Out of the frying pan...into the frying pan

[elpato]

Hi all - been reading the forums for a while and here seemed as good as any to jump in and share my experience.

Former Big 4 consultant (Finance/PM), took the decision to go contracting around August and took the leap at the end of the year as it worked out nicely with a holiday I had planned - realistically with a 3 month notice period I wasn't going to be able to find somewhere beforehand.

Between handing in notice (October/November) and starting looking (February) the availability of roles seem to drop off a cliff - luckily I'd built up a bit of a war chest to see me through. After a couple of interviews where it was clear I was going for the wrong role (thanks recruiter) and one where I just plain stuffed up the interview, I landed a role mid-April, 12 weeks after I started looking. Lower rate than I was looking for but the client is great, the rate's increasing and it's a lot more income than I was getting sitting around at home

[LadyPenelope]

Oddly, reads like a Radiohead lyric

Haha! I'm hearing a Phil Daniels Parklife voice.

[rjoe]

Hi all - been reading the forums for a while and here seemed as good as any to jump in and share my experience.

Former Big 4 consultant (Finance/PM), took the decision to go contracting around August and took the leap at the end of the year as it worked out nicely with a holiday I had planned - realistically with a 3 month notice period I wasn't going to be able to find somewhere beforehand.

Between handing in notice (October/November) and starting looking (February) the availability of roles seem to drop off a cliff - luckily I'd built up a bit of a war chest to see me through. After a couple of interviews where it was clear I was going for the wrong role (thanks recruiter) and one where I just plain stuffed up the interview, I landed a role mid-April, 12 weeks after I started looking. Lower rate than I was looking for but the client is great, the rate's increasing and it's a lot more income than I was getting sitting around at home

Congratulations!

[rjoe]

Out of interest has anyone here ever gone for a permie role, interviewed, client liked you and you successfully landed the gig on a contract basis?...
i.e. is it worth going for permie roles with likelihood of being offered contract?

[northernladuk]

Out of interest has anyone here ever gone for a permie role, interviewed, client liked you and you successfully landed the gig on a contract basis?...
i.e. is it worth going for permie roles with likelihood of being offered contract?

No. It's extremely rare and if you do your IR35 status is pretty much shot.

[rjoe]

No. It's extremely rare and if you do your IR35 status is pretty much shot.

Okay thanks, even if it was just for 3 months? Then you went o to work on another gig elsewhere?

[northernladuk]

Okay thanks, even if it was just for 3 months? Then you went o to work on another gig elsewhere?

What?? Are you just making up situations or is there some basis for this?

I wouldn't have even gone for the permie gig for a start... And would I take an inside gig but claim outside thinking I might get away with it? Absolutely not.