Getting off the Bench

[The Coal Man]

Been on the bench since April 08, though not desperate (as I have voluntarily decided to take some time off to pursue other things etc), I am now actively looking and am getting a little concerned how quiet things are out there.

Is it the time of year, July / August are normally quiet months anyway because of the holiday season – right?

Things will pick once the holiday season is over – September?

Or is it just a sign of the economic times we are in?

What I have done so far to get off the bench is the following:

• Set up jobs by email for my required skill set through the following – Jobserve, CWjobs, Computing, Jobsite, Reed and check these sites daily, as well as noagenciesplease.com, theitjobboard.
  
  
• Registered my CV on Jobserve, CWjob and Reed (though I have been careful and left out my contact details with the exception of an email address as I have got pi****d off with d****heads cold calling me for leads and jobs that do not exist etc)
  
  
• Applied directly to local companies in my area (East Midlands - Leics, Notts) that I know have previously taken on my skill set in the past, have received replies along the lines of “Thanks for your CV – will keep it on file etc etc”, all to no avail.
  
  
• Have also registered on people4business.com and LinkedIn.com and have created my own limited company website which I am in the process of getting into Google’s search rankings.

Even considering registering on odesk.com and taking up the pauper rates that are on offer there.

Anything else I could do that I may be missing out on - any other IT Job Sites I have missed to check out, anything I am doing wrong, any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers.

[scooterscot]

Is it the time of year, July / August are normally quiet months anyway because of the holiday season – right?

Completely - clients, candidates, agents - all three are not in the office at the same time during this time of year, I'm having the same problem winning new work, it will all change come September.

[voodooflux]

It's not a great time of year to be looking, although there are one or two things about they may take time to progress at the moment. As scooter says, things will pick up around September time.

What sort of role are you after?

[KentPhilip]

Try monster.co.uk

I bagged a nice two-weeker overseas late last year that way.

[The Coal Man]

It's not a great time of year to be looking, although there are one or two things about they may take time to progress at the moment. As scooter says, things will pick up around September time.

What sort of role are you after?

I'm after a role as a test analyst (have 10 years experience) using either automated (Rational / TestComplete / VB.NET) or manual methods.
I've been close on a couple of occasions, but I have found that the agents / clients are really being very particular about the 'profile' of the person they have in mind, ie. if you dont tick all the boxes you dont get a look in, whereby 12 / 18 months ago this was not the case.

I even had an interview a couple of weeks ago for a permy role, not bad salary for this area of the land, but did not get it and in hindsight glad I didnt as I felt it was a backwards step and would have regretted it a few months down the line......cant be ar***d to go back to the permy land of office politics and appraisals....arghhhh.
I've got to preserve my dignity

Thanks for your replies guys, think I'll hold out until September time like you say should hopefully pick up then.

PS: If anyone knows of such a role in the Leics / Notts / Cov area please feel free to PM me.

[fitzy73]

Any other resources that people use?

[BolshieBastard]

Just been reading the thread where people are claiming they have agents phoning indroves about work and some offerring £100 - £150pd MORE than a previous agent.

But none of this takes into account the area they work in or the locality. I think some parts of the country always hold up well when jobs are in short supply ie SE.

A colleague of mine who left the project Im still working on has been out for 8 weeks although has now got a start date.

In short, Id say te market is patchy. And if you get an agent offering £100 - £150pd more than another for the same role, assume the second agent isnt on the PSL!

[oracleslave]

Any other resources that people use?

The OP shows about double the amount of initiative than what I use although the only thing I don't think was mentioned was use of his own contacts, previous project team members etc etc. Got my last 4 contracts just by networking woth people I have worked with previously. No agencies

[fitzy73]

I'm beginning to think that there are no real jobs on Jobserve these days, just pimps looking for leads. Just off the phone with another fackwit and his "two references".

[kanulondon]

I'm beginning to think that there are no real jobs on Jobserve these days, just pimps looking for leads. Just off the phone with another fackwit and his "two references".

Add it to the name and shame thread!