finding a contract without an agency?

[hgllgh]

current gig is coming to an end soon..

for my next contract I would rather not just spray gun my cv on all the usual sites and get bombarded with endless calls from agents...
anyone know of any websites, ways or means of securing contracts without doing this? would prefer direct contracts as it eliminates the whole upper contract IR35 issue. also maybe something a bit more unusual that the bog standard development contract that you always seem to get through agencies?

[TheBigYinJames]

current gig is coming to an end soon..
for my next contract I would rather not just spray gun my cv on all the usual sites and get bombarded with endless calls from agents

I have an "Agency Information" section at the top of my CV, which states clearly, what, when, where and how much. It doesn't cut out all of the wasted calls (since some agents call off old versions of the CV) but it does cut them down drastically.

I do say in mine that I am not considering central London, or anywhere directly west or south west of it, so no Readings or Basingstokes, please. Just had a call from someone with a job in Farnborough, so it does rely on agents actually knowing where places are, obviously.

The number of calls goes down (which can be a bit scary) but at least the calls you do get are usually more suitable.

[Dow Jones]

Not easy

Clients may consider taking direct a contractor that they previously know he can deliver within time and budget, who is reliable and also trustworthy. Failing that a recommendation from such a person for a colleague. If you don't have any contacts and the knowledge/experience from years of contracting, then you will have to go through the usual agency route. Some people have attempted in the past to setup websites for direct hires, but none were successful, as there were no takers.
As far as specifying work within a close distance from home, that could be interpreted as inflexible and be counter-productive in the long-run.
I've heard permies saying that they couldn't work somewhere that would take them more than half an hour to commute, so they wouldn't look at anything in S. London if they lived in N. London and vice-versa. Never heard a contractor saying anything like that.

[Integrity]

current gig is coming to an end soon..

for my next contract I would rather not just spray gun my cv on all the usual sites and get bombarded with endless calls from agents...
anyone know of any websites, ways or means of securing contracts without doing this? would prefer direct contracts as it eliminates the whole upper contract IR35 issue. also maybe something a bit more unusual that the bog standard development contract that you always seem to get through agencies?

http://www.supply2.gov.uk/

[TheBigYinJames]

As far as specifying work within a close distance from home, that could be interpreted as inflexible and be counter-productive in the long-run.
I've heard permies saying that they couldn't work somewhere that would take them more than half an hour to commute, so they wouldn't look at anything in S. London if they lived in N. London and vice-versa. Never heard a contractor saying anything like that.

Well I say it all the time. If an agent phones me up and says "Will you work in Bristol?" And I say "No, it's too far", then we've wasted both our time. Far better to save them the call, and me the aggro or getting my hopes up and then dashed. Obviously my geographical area isn't as restrictive as half an hour (currently doing a 90 minute - 90 mile commute) but there are places I just can't get to - like south west london - in a reasonable, stress-free way, I've tried, and I won't do it again, so best not waste people's time.

So I agree that specifying a 'close' distance is inflexible, but if you can't do (say) London, and 90% of your calls are for London jobs, then it's sensible to save everybody's time and energy by specifying this up front.

[Integrity]

Well I say it all the time. If an agent phones me up and says "Will you work in Bristol?" And I say "No, it's too far", then we've wasted both our time. Far better to save them the call, and me the aggro or getting my hopes up and then dashed. Obviously my geographical area isn't as restrictive as half an hour (currently doing a 90 minute - 90 mile commute) but there are places I just can't get to - like south west london - in a reasonable, stress-free way, I've tried, and I won't do it again, so best not waste people's time.

So I agree that specifying a 'close' distance is inflexible, but if you can't do (say) London, and 90% of your calls are for London jobs, then it's sensible to save everybody's time and energy by specifying this up front.

The problem is really about economic viability of the project. If you live in London, and considering a project in Newcastle, it will be hard to complete on a level playing field with a business that is based in the Newcastle area. A client will use the local price as the baseline for comparison.

[TheBigYinJames]

The problem is really about economic viability of the project. If you live in London, and considering a project in Newcastle, it will be hard to complete on a level playing field with a business that is based in the Newcastle area. A client will use the local price as the baseline for comparison.

That's dead right. Sure I *could* do Bristol, if I don't mind the 5 hour weekly commute and the costs of staying away. So unless it's going to be a fabulous rate, or I'm desperate after a longish sabbatical, then it's not going to fly.

I've only started putting on the 'Agency' panel in the last couple of years, and the response I've had from Agents has been positive - I'm sure they cannot be arsed phoning people up who are not interested, just as much as we cannot stand being bothered by irrelevant contracts (and permie roles).

Agents are simple creatures on the whole, they just want to match Job A with Worker B, and the number of points of correlation is how they do that. if I can make their life easier by knocking myself out of the list and not taking up their time, the happier they generally are - also the ones who DO call are often excited that they've got the PERFECT contract for me - they already know it's in my rate band, in my geographical area.

I don't see the point in pretending to be more flexible than you actually are.

[hgllgh]

http://www.supply2.gov.uk/

thanks will look into that one!

i looked into this before my current contract and the following sites seemed like best bets ... has anyone used any of the following ....

http://www.cv-library.co.uk/

http://www.itjobspost.com/

http://www.noagenciesplease.com/

http://www.skillsite.co.uk/main/main.php

Can anyone recommend any job board sites advertising contracts?

[thunderlizard]

If you want to supply direct you'll have to give up any hope that a website will do your sales job for you. Make a list of companies you want to do work for and build up relationships by phoning or whatever it takes.

[hgllgh]

If you want to supply direct you'll have to give up any hope that a website will do your sales job for you. Make a list of companies you want to do work for and build up relationships by phoning or whatever it takes.

so you have tried this route?

i know other contractors on here who have secured contracts through the PCG forums...