• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

Newbie Advice

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Newbie Advice

    Hi All,

    Ive been reading here a while an you guys offer some great advice but im really struggling to get my first contract at the moment,I have a years experience in a leading telecommns bluechip company, ive been lookin for about a month and a half, mainly jobserve, jobsite, monster, CW jobs and on here, any tips or do's or donts?

    Also everyone told me from before that the first contract is the hardest to get?

    Cheers

    #2
    just apply for everything you see that fits, calling the agent after sending the CV helps, keep ringing them and plugging away, good luck mate.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by young veteran
      Hi All,

      Ive been reading here a while an you guys offer some great advice but im really struggling to get my first contract at the moment,I have a years experience in a leading telecommns bluechip company, ive been lookin for about a month and a half, mainly jobserve, jobsite, monster, CW jobs and on here, any tips or do's or donts?

      Also everyone told me from before that the first contract is the hardest to get?

      Cheers
      a) Work hard on the presentation of your CV - something that's well presented, attractive is half the battle.

      b) Post your CV to the job boards every three days, even if it's replacing the CV with one that's unchanged. - agents looking to fill a contract usually only trawl the last 3 - 5 days of CVs they receive from the job boards, otherwise they would be completly overloaded (this advice I received from a good agent)

      Comment


        #4
        And the 2nd contract is always harder to get than the first...
        "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
        - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

        Comment


          #5
          What i had to do and with advice from the first agent i spoke to is apply for as many jobs as you can. ones that match your criteria and others that almost do but not quite.

          Keep a track of who you have sent your cv off to so that when they do phone you know which job your talking about. (very inportant)

          For those roles that you don't quite meet the criteria doesn't matter to much cause at least you have now got your CV on an agencies database.

          And KEEP ON THEIR BACKS i used to ring every day and if they told me a point when i was likely to hear something i would phone them at that point not giving them chance to phone me.

          p.s keep track of phone calls as you may be able to claim them on expenses.

          Hope this helps
          Thats the way the cookie crumbles

          Comment


            #6
            thanks guys at first i felt a bit rude ringin the agents to find stuff out, but sod them theyre as bad as estate agents so im gonna keep ringing.

            Cheers

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by cojak
              And the 2nd contract is always harder to get than the first...
              Exactly - everyone expects the first to be the hardest, it's the next one that is worst.
              Best Forum Advisor 2014
              Work in the public sector? You can read my FAQ here
              Click here to get 15% off your first year's IPSE membership

              Comment


                #8
                I've found the IT Job board to be a pretty decent job search for the roles I've gone for in the past:

                http://www.theitjobboard.com/

                Comment


                  #9
                  Example case

                  Originally posted by young veteran
                  Hi All,

                  Ive been reading here a while an you guys offer some great advice but im really struggling to get my first contract at the moment,I have a years experience in a leading telecommns bluechip company,
                  Cheers
                  Ok so what are your skills? pm me your cv and I will take a look.

                  I will get you a contract just as long as we can get your cv right. I can help and my experience goes over the last 10 years not having a gap of over 2 weeks in contracting except through choice. So I am quite confident i can get you something.

                  One final thing is the area, you need be specific and definite about the areas in where you will work location wise.

                  Don't waste too much time or your phone bill on ringing agencies. I never ring them and they always ring me not a brag just a fact. I agree a well presented cv will get you calls. The telecom industry experience is very much sought after especially if you are in the southeast.

                  So email me your cv and I will have a look.
                  Last edited by scotspine; 22 May 2007, 22:14.
                  Brobi
                  Promoting: Complete Contractor as they have helped me!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Getting a contract in the UK is even more difficult now with the influx of talented Europeans.
                    At least your a funny spammer.

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X