First time contractor - How long to hear from an agency???

**Denny** · 17 January 2008, 15:58

Originally posted by bracken View Post

Hi all - From Jan this year (after 22 years with the same employer) I've finally taken the bull by the horns, resigned and gone self-employed as a contractor (I'm a Prince2 Project Manager specialising in Procurement / contracts / off shoring etc).

I posted my CV to 20 or so agencies and the main aggregators (Jobsite, Jobserve, CW Jobs, Monster etc) last Monday 7th Jan and heard nothing all that week (probably too soon after Xmas). This week (Monday) I saw 6 jobs that fitted the bill and applied for them using Jobserve's 'Apply Feature'. One of them was a very good fit so I also rung up the agent to tell him that I was definitely his person (I had to leave a message on his answer phone - he never rang back!). Anyway, I've heard nothing back on any of my applications(it's been 4 days now) and I don't know whether I'm still in the running or whether I've been thrown out with the trash so, my questions are:

1) Is this normal?
2) Do agents tell you when they put your CV forward?
3) Do they tell you that you've been unsuccessful? (I think I know the answer to this one (!)
4) Am I still in with a shout on these applications?
5) Do you pro-actively apply for jobs or do you rely on the agents contacting you through your uploaded CV?

Cheers

B

The best approach is to ring the EB direct and ask for the named consultant on the ad to speak to about the job. After discussion on suitability, job, rate and so on, then send your CV directly to the recruiter using their personal e-mail addy. Then follow up with another phone call a bit later asking if they've received and read your CV and what they think. Normally they will call it up on their system and this will save the EB time trawling through the mass applicant CVs who have taken your newbie passive 'stare at the phone and think of England' approach and you are more likely to be represented, if you fit the bill. Plus it gives the recruiter a chance to get to know you and how your personality comes across, marking you out as a person they can visualise working for their client.

The automated jobsite application process will guarantee that the CV will merely be put on the EBs database with less chance of follow up, unless the more resourceful candidates who have done what I have suggested above are not suitable.

**BrowneIssue** · 17 January 2008, 16:00

From a PRINCE2 Project Manager's experience (i.e. me):

1) Yes.
2) Usually.
3) Never.
4) Unlikely.
5) Pro-active.

Without a phone call, a Jobserve application is very unlikely to go anywhere.

Having spoken to the pimp (which can be impossible), I get told I will be put forward about 1 time in 6. (In reality: unknown).

**BlasterBates** · 17 January 2008, 16:35

Doesn't look too good bracken, by now you should have a few hot leads. I'd start looking permie again by now. The market may be turning, to be honest unfortunately you haven't picked a good time. We're in potentially the worst banking crisis since 1929, and in those days business men regularly jumped off tall buildings.

However good luck.

**Joe1978** · 17 January 2008, 16:48

I'd say keep chasing the agents, dont rely on just applying through the job web sites follow up, phone em.
I depends its where your skills are and what the demnand is at the time since putting my cv out a couple of weeks ago i have had a few calls a day from the pimps

**Troll** · 17 January 2008, 16:53

Originally posted by bracken View Post

(I'm a Prince2 Project Manager specialising in Procurement / contracts / off shoring etc).

Splitter!

**Bear** · 17 January 2008, 17:47

This is my approach:

Look at Jobserve ads
Find suitable role
Tailor my cv to emphasise the skills the role needs - no lying!
Apply button
If agent likes it - they phone within a day
Agree with them details (likely rate, location, client etc ) tell them to send cv
Wait for interview
If sucessful at interview I usually hear from agent with offer within the hour or at least next day.

I never phone them - let them do the legwork

**bracken** · 17 January 2008, 17:56

Thanks for the advice guys and gals - I called up the agent for the role that I was interested in and he said 'CVs through Jobserve go into a black hole, send it to me direct' (which I did). He then called me back within 5 mins to and told me (and I believed him!) that my CV was 'flawless for the role' and when could I go for an interview with the Investment Bank. We then 'talked turkey', couldn't agree the rate so we went our separate ways...

At least I've got a bit of confidence back following following 'BlasterBates' tales of doom and gloom...

Cheers

B

**dork** · 17 January 2008, 19:40

Its a numbers game... get relevant searches emailed by the job sites. Apply for all the ones you think are good. Agencies get about 200 applications for each role, so do it first thing in the morning or even very late at night.. that way you might be in the first 40 or so that the agent will actually read.

So maybe you will get a 1 in 5 chance of actually being read, maybe you will be picked for 50-75% of those to be put forward by the agent depending how relevant your skills are to the role.. essentially a 1 to 10 ratio of initial applications to phone calls.

Then you may have a 1 in 3 chance of being picked by a client for interview .. again depends if you have made a big effort to doctor your CV to match the client requirements. Personally, I find this a waste of time, due to the relatively low chance of being plucked out of the bag at the initial stage... I'd rather spend the time playing the numbers game. And anyway, it seems a lot of roles advertised are non-existent.. they are there to collect CVs for future roles.

So, depending on the number if relevant roles you apply for, there are a lot of hurdles to go through and it can take some time.

Oh, and I never bother to phone the number unless it is a role to die for.. you rarely get through and you can waste a lot of time and effort.

The upside of doing this is that your CV will now be stored in the databases of all the agencies. From then on, your CV will then be searched for numerous times on all the databases and you will get a constant stream of calls all the time, whether you applied for a role or not.

I found the problem was getting the first contract... after a couple of contracts, you are on so many lists, it becomes a lot easier and quicker...market permitting of course.

Now, it appears there is a bit of a downturn due to the credit crunch and the financial boys will be baying for work and taking what they can get lower down the food chain.

Good luck ...

**bracken** · 17 January 2008, 22:30

All

Following your advice, I rang the agent again for the role that I thought was a good-fit for and he said 'Applications through Jobserve just disappear into a black hole'!!. I talked him through why I thought I was a good fit and he asked me to send him my CV direct (which I did). He called me back a few min's later saying (and I believed him!) that 'my CV was flawless for the role and he'd like to speak to the client to arrange an interview'. However, we then 'talked turkey', amicably agreed to disagree and went our separate ways...

However, the exercise has proved that your collective advice was right and I've now got some confidence back following the 'BlasterBates' tale of doom and gloom...

Thanks to you all

Cheers

B

First time contractor - How long to hear from an agency???