Methods of locating contracts?

**ratewhore** · 31 January 2007, 10:27

sandwich board

next!!

**rootsnall** · 31 January 2007, 10:28

Originally posted by Lynseyt

Hi there, wonder if you can help me? I am fairly new to contracting and was wondering what the best methods are to secure new contracts? I am assuming that agencies are used widely, if so which ones are good / not so good? What about online job boards? I was thinking of monster, cwjobs, jobsite etc? Is it just a case of casting my net wide by posting CVs? Are there forums exchanging job opps etc? I have been to a couple of local agencies but very limited opps.

Any advice appreciated....

http://www.jobserve.com/, only send your CV to pretty good matches and follow with a phone call a few hours later to the agent and sell yourself. The other boards occasionally turn up a job in my skill area so may be worth a look. Once you've been around a bit you may get direct calls from agents pre them advertising.

**SandyDown** · 31 January 2007, 10:43

Originally posted by rootsnall

http://www.jobserve.com/, only send your CV to pretty good matches and follow with a phone call a few hours later to the agent and sell yourself. The other boards occasionally turn up a job in my skill area so may be worth a look. Once you've been around a bit you may get direct calls from agents pre them advertising.

I send my CV to any role that I think I can do, when I am looking for a contract I send hundreds of emails - I never call any agents first, I wait for them to call me - they do call back even if you are not a perfect fit for that role they may have other roles or may be they think they can sell you on to companies.

**Sockpuppet** · 31 January 2007, 10:44

I am threaded therefore all agents have to approve new roles with me before they are posted to job sites.

HTH

**rootsnall** · 31 January 2007, 10:51

Originally posted by SandyDown

I send my CV to any role that I think I can do, when I am looking for a contract I send hundreds of emails - I never call any agents first, I wait for them to call me - they do call back even if you are not a perfect fit for that role they may have other roles or may be they think they can sell you on to companies.

I have used the scatter gun approach when times are tough but if the market is OK then I reckon its a waste of time. I think CV follow up telephone calls are especially important if the agent doesn't already know you.

**lukemg** · 1 February 2007, 11:17

jobserve, followed by jobserve. virtually everything turns up on here and may be duplicated elsewhere. Tailor CV to the job to empasise areas they ask for -you need to be an exact match. Make it clear you are keen and available - vital for getting past the agent, last thing they want is to put you in then you pull out.

**BOBJ** · 1 February 2007, 19:57

Word of mouth. You have to have been in your game for a while to get the contacts but in the end there are always a few places to talk to first. You know, the one agent that isn't a complete

, your boss from the previous contract, some of your contracting chums who work in a similar area. That said, plan B is jobserve

**errorista** · 2 February 2007, 16:44

jobjock

and word of mouth is good too

Methods of locating contracts?