Old School and Recommended IT Contractor Agencies ?

[mickboyle]

Hi Guys,

After a long period in Canada I have just returned to the UK and need to find a short term contract position while I look for full time work.
I've been supporting businesses of different sizes from less than 10 to more than 4000 users for many years, am ITIL Certified, and a good team player. In Canada - as well as running my own IT Consultancy I worked for Dell, and iStockphoto/Getty Images.

Years ago an Agency would look at your skillset, cross reference the jobs they had at hand and put you forward for suitable vacancies.
You were essentially a commodity to them and they would try and place you with one of their clients before another agency did.

Are there any of those old school Agencies still out there they you could recommend ? I'm in the North East btw ...

I know about some of the big online players over here such as Indeed, Monster, Reed etc .. but would appreciate other recommendations also.

Thanks in advance from a guy that is still trying to find his feet in blighty.

Mick

[Lance]

Stick your CV on JobServe. The agencies all look on there so it’s far less effort than fruitlessly trying to ring them.

[northernladuk]

Not sure how long a go but the agency model has been changing for a long time and now they appear to have an average age of around 22 with an IQ around the same. Like everything else in the world tools have appeared where you are given the information so have to do most of the work. Agents don't have time to look on your behalf anymore.

What you need to do is get on jobserve, find gigs that match your skill set perfectly, apply and forget. Rinse and repeat until a gig is secured.

If you've been a contractor you'll know about the gigs matching your skill set as clients aren't looking for good guys, they want people that can do the exact work they are looking for. If you apply to every gig you might be able to do, could give it a go, could learn on the job, then you'll be in for a long and very depressing gig search.

If you are looking for a single gig to tide you over then you are probably better getting yourself an umbrella to get paid. Speak to Lucy any Contractor Umbrella to get you set up ready.

[mickboyle]

Thanks for the info guys ... will look into jobserve

[Scruff]

Get your CV into a UK format - the North America formatting can include irrelevant details (I have seen too many with Photos / Biographies / Star Signs / Religion etc).

Upload your CV to Jobsite.

Find 1000s of UK Jobs. Start your job search with Jobsite UK

Agents, for what they are, subscribe and trawl the latest CVs, add them to their CRM and match your advertised skills / qualifications to their available jobs and/or contracts.

Good luck with your search!

[uk contractor]

@ OP good luck buddy but its not going to be easy its all about rate & age. If your early 20s to mid 30s it will be easier as they will lowball you rate wise if your late 30s or into your 40s its going to be a lot harder if your older than that its going to be a massive uphill battle!

[Old Greg]

@ OP good luck buddy but its not going to be easy its all about rate & age. If your early 20s to mid 30s it will be easier as they will lowball you rate wise if your late 30s or into your 40s its going to be a lot harder if your older than that its going to be a massive uphill battle!

+1. Any chance you can work remotely for a Canadian client you know, or leverage some kind of network contacts in the UK?

[Lance]

@ OP good luck buddy but its not going to be easy its all about rate & age. If your early 20s to mid 30s it will be easier as they will lowball you rate wise if your late 30s or into your 40s its going to be a lot harder if your older than that its going to be a massive uphill battle!

why?
What does age have anything to do where demand is driven by lack of skills?
If age did count for much it's a positive as there's no sick pay for contractors.

[cojak]

Hi Guys,

After a long period in Canada I have just returned to the UK and need to find a short term contract position while I look for full time work.
I've been supporting businesses of different sizes from less than 10 to more than 4000 users for many years, am ITIL Certified, and a good team player. In Canada - as well as running my own IT Consultancy I worked for Dell, and iStockphoto/Getty Images.

Years ago an Agency would look at your skillset, cross reference the jobs they had at hand and put you forward for suitable vacancies.
You were essentially a commodity to them and they would try and place you with one of their clients before another agency did.

Are there any of those old school Agencies still out there they you could recommend ? I'm in the North East btw ...

I know about some of the big online players over here such as Indeed, Monster, Reed etc .. but would appreciate other recommendations also.

Thanks in advance from a guy that is still trying to find his feet in blighty.

Mick

But what do you do?


Project Manager?

Service Delivery Manager?

Business Analyst?

Or something other than ITSM?

[northernladuk]

But what do you do?
Project Manager?

Service Delivery Manager?

Business Analyst?

Or something other than ITSM?

I've been supporting businesses of different sizes from less than 10 to more than 4000 users for many years, am ITIL Certified, and a good team player.

I'd guess if they are his qualifications he's first line. PC's gonna be worried. Coming over here and stealing his job.