I just need to get two references ...

[quackhandle]

Got a call from an agency that I never heard of before. Young guy offers ne a very senior role...intersting. Little and generic info in the job, he mentions the client name.

I am rather puzzled and googled the client. Look what: the client publishes the same role on the web and provides a junior hr contact. Agent says he is a "provider" for the client.

Looks all monkey business to me, but perhaps the agent is genuine...maybe sometimes relationship compensate for doing what is otherwise illogic? Dunno

There's a pimp from one of the S3 group Real something and every few weeks (made the mistake of sending me CV to him) he'll ring me about a "perfect role" never any spec and vague on rate. I say get me a spec but he never gets back. I go to company website (as I get time to tell me the name of sai client) and lo and behold it's on there (usually permy and also no agencies please!). As NLUK says it's a game and you have to play it better than them.

qh

[Eirikur]

As I have a 92 mile commute I was happily surprised ROC search called me during my commute going home to help me through my boredom on the M40.
Of course they had this excellent opportunity for me that was a very good match. I said ok tell me more. Some generic bulltulip and not really relevant, but anyway, so where are you now eirikur?. I said xyzclientco, oh in Bristol? No (they don't even have an office in Bristol) We do a lot of work with xyzclientco are you working for <random made up name by the pimp> by any chance.
Me: yes.
pimp: Ah ok, so to put you forward for this role I will need two more references
me: yes that's fine
pimp: Can I have them please
Me: Sorry the connection is getting bad,
pimp: can I have the references please?
Me: oh yes ofcourse B..... hang up

Pimp tries to call me three more times, not answering, blocked the number when I got out of the car and I can see they tried to call me 2 more times the next morning.

[The Janner Miss Tanner]

Just to even the score a bit, there are agencies with whom I've had dealings that have left me with an overall positive impression.

The agency at the top of that list for me, based on recent dealings, is Jenrick IT. A pleasure dealing with them.

Would have been even more of a pleasure if I'd actually got a gig from them but that was my fault for flunking the interview

[clearedforlanding]

Email for pie in the sky role ending:

1. Availability date?
2. Specialist skills/role sought?
3. Nationality?
4. Daily rate/salary?
5. Preferred locations?
6. Languages spoken?
7. Are you able to provide 2 referees for previous employment?

Best regards,

Patrick Donovan
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Spring Technology

[seanraaron]

Email for pie in the sky role ending:

1. Availability date?
2. Specialist skills/role sought?
3. Nationality?
4. Daily rate/salary?
5. Preferred locations?
6. Languages spoken?
7. Are you able to provide 2 referees for previous employment?

Best regards,

Patrick Donovan
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Spring Technology

Wow that sounds like a great job. I assume the actual role was described on the basis of random picks from a bag filled with paper scraps with blue-chip company names written on them and a "tech speak" Boggle game?

[TheFaQQer]

Email for pie in the sky role ending:

1. Availability date?
2. Specialist skills/role sought?
3. Nationality?
4. Daily rate/salary?
5. Preferred locations?
6. Languages spoken?
7. Are you able to provide 2 referees for previous employment?

Best regards,

Patrick Donovan
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Spring Technology

Surely as a permie CIO with 1200 downstream reports, you shouldn't be getting bothered with emails like this?

[clearedforlanding]

Surely as a permie CIO with 1200 downstream reports, you shouldn't be getting bothered with emails like this?

Consider private email accounts. Consider scatter gun emails from agents.

[clearedforlanding]

Wow that sounds like a great job. I assume the actual role was described on the basis of random picks from a bag filled with paper scraps with blue-chip company names written on them and a "tech speak" Boggle game?

Judge for yourself.

Dear CFL

I hope you are well.

Our client based in Switzerland are currently recruiting for an experienced PMO to come on board for an initial 12-18month period.

Role: Project Management Officer
Reporting to: Head of PMO
Duration: 12-18 months
Location: Switzerland (candidates based in Switzerland is desirable)
Start: ASAP

Job Purpose:

- Supports the Rollout Manager by ensuring an efficient and effective program governance according to the PMO Framework and in alignment with the Global PMO function.
- In collaboration with the Rollout Manager and Project Managers maintains the Rollout plan, associated Financials and Business Case.
- Create & Maintain regular Reports in alignment with all relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure an oversight of the purpose and status of the Rollout helping the Rollout manager to take the right decisions in spending / assigning resources and helping projects to achieve their goals.
- Ensure transparent and factual reporting to Senior Management on Everest Program status, progress, risks, opportunities
- Engage with IM Finance to ensure proper approval of project budget and communication of project forecasts and actuals.
- Facilitate the prioritization and approval of new business cases and proposals within Switzerland IM portfolio (validation of new proposal data, verification of proposals with IM key contacts, prioritization of proposals against other competing initiatives)
- Evaluate labor and financial constraints, and facilitate discussions to remove barriers
- Maintain the overall ideas and initiatives roadmap across all portfolios, including the prioritization of the project pipeline within and across portfolios
- Report to the functional and/or steering body the current status of projects and programs, new proposal requests and recommendations for conflict resolution
- Report and review benefits as stated in the Business Case (data provided from all IM)
- Analyze portfolio performance across all lines of business on a regular basis and create reports that clearly (transparently) reveal status and identify improvement areas
- In collaboration with the Country IM Business Partner, manage Switzerland Portfolio Management
- Project Management support to Switzerland local IM community
- Supporting the Switzerland Country IM Business partner in additional activities (e.g. contract admin, IM reporting)

Main Accountabilities/Measured On:

- Quality of Project Management
- Timely and accuracy of Program Financials (actuals and forecast) reporting
- Timely and quality of steering reporting
- Clarity timeliness and accuracy on program report
- Consistency and integration of Program Plan

Main Tasks & Responsibilities:

- Ensure alignment among the Program Workstreams, for planning, financials and scope management.
- Ensure program financials in Clarity are under control and in alignment with IM Finance.
- Manage the integrated Program Plan obtained collecting each of the PM project plan.
- Define and implement effective risk and resource management methodology and tools. And ensure continuous transparency on resource usage and availability.
- Ensure proper management and assignment of project resources.
- Enforce project management methodology to Project Managers, who report into the Solution Delivery Management organization as well as global project managers reporting directly into the Program Management team.
- Ensure an efficient and effective collaboration between local and global PMO roles, to fulfill their joint PMO-mission.
- Coordinate with the IM Business Partners to understand and plan project demand into the delivery organization (Solution Delivery Management and IM Production).
- Oversee the coordination of budget estimates and ensure that these are holistic and complete across the IM groups.
- Ensure transparency on status of all projects in the project landscape and issues and ensure their clear and accurate reporting and communication.
- Ensure regular and effective steering for the Rollout in scope. Initiate project reviews and correcting actions, if required.
- Manage escalations.
- Ensure that the team develops requisite level of customer and technical knowledge to effectively manage relations with internal customers
- Prepare and distribute program reports, manage overall Program communication
- Support the Rollout Manager and IM Business Partner in the preparation and execution of Steering Committees, Management Working Sessions, and other similar events.
- Define and maintain the Program Calendar according to the key Business dates and with the IM Calendar.

Personal Attributes:

- Strong team player
- Ability to build pro-active, co-operative working relationships with customers, peers and key Stakeholders based on respect and team work
- Management level person with good ability to convince
- Experience with and sensitivity for different cultures
- Ability to act under strong pressure and to manage efficiently crisis situations
- Able to evaluate information, identify key issues and formulate conclusions based on sound, practical judgment, experience and common sense
- Good in leadership, developing team members by inspiring, encouraging and providing constructive criticism to help improve performance

Professional & Leadership Experience:

- Experienced Project Manager with proven success
- Experienced in communicating at a Top Management level


Minimum Requirements:

 Ability and willingness to travel, potentially to up 20%.
 Excellent command of English and ideally French
 Any additional language is an advantage especially German and Italian

[seanraaron]

That's worse than a ten-page CV! Couldn't they just have said "project manager?"

[LondonManc]

So, they want a PM for PMO rates?