Born again contractor

[Saj]

just got another promising lead via linkedin.com.

......

i really do recommend setting up your profile on that site. well worth it.

As a newbie Id first like to thank everyone for this thread as its been very helpful for keeping me sane whilst agencies are being helpful with lots of different information! I too am getting agents contacting me through linkedin which I have had set up for a while and have amended to show Im contracting but Ive a question for you:

when an agent you've only ever spoken to on the phone once maybe twice asks you to 'be a contact' do you accept? If you dont accept are you stopping them from keeping up to date with important information?
Previously my policy has always been only to accept contacts who I know the quality of their work as I see it as a reflection of my work too.. and I do have agents who have recruited for me in the past who are on my contact list but Im wondering if I should amend this now Im trying to get a contract?

... So much to learn!

[Robwg]

Bill - I haven't seen your CV (can't access it at work) - btu I too worked for Cap Gemini and had the same issues I presume you are now having in that I had worked there a while, but had actually worked for several different clients and projects during that time.

I structured my CV so in the work history part, when I came to CGEY I had an initial paragraph stating:

Cap Gemini 1999 - 2003
Blah be blah blah (small overview paragraph). During this time worked on following cleint projects:

Client Y (actually name the client) 2000 - 2003
Project Name:
Role: Y
A couple of sentences showing what role entailed then bullet points showing responsibilities, deliverables and achievemennts.

Client X. 1999 - 2000
Project Name:
Role: X
Repeat format.


This masks the '8 years at one firm when really you will have done a lot of different projects' factor of only having worked at one company' that could occur if you just have one section for Cap Gemini. I also put the various company logos for the client - which hits it home that you are delivering for many different firms, not just one (at the end of the day - you are becoming a one man version of CGEY so I don't see anything wrong with this tactic).

Other than that - excellent advice on this thread (almost all of which I have already done - but good to see everyone thinks alight). I haven't been out of work in 5 years as a contractor - so I presume the above tactic works ok :-)

[Bill]

Robwg,

thanks for the advice. I have done something along those lines, without the generic overview. I split it into different projects detailing each project with a header saying who the client was, but may need to break down a little more.
Still had no luck so far though, and there seems to be alot less roles out there, or is it just me. It really seems to have gone downhill in 1-2 weeks.

[pmeswani]

Robwg,

thanks for the advice. I have done something along those lines, without the generic overview. I split it into different projects detailing each project with a header saying who the client was, but may need to break down a little more.
Still had no luck so far though, and there seems to be alot less roles out there, or is it just me. It really seems to have gone downhill in 1-2 weeks.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. Next week will probably be my last week (have had enough... need to have a change in routine, etc). Have applied for roles all over the place, but with little success.

[TheFaQQer]

when an agent you've only ever spoken to on the phone once maybe twice asks you to 'be a contact' do you accept?

Never. I use linkedin to connect to people that I know and like. Some agents are connected to me, but it's only a select few.

If you dont accept are you stopping them from keeping up to date with important information?

Possibly, but there are other channels for me to find work through. I'd rather maintain my network than connect to loads of people I don't know - that's what Facebook is for.

[TykeMerc]

I refuse all attempts by agents to join my LinkedIn network, all they're after is contact names and profiles for leads without even having to phone you.

[SueEllen]

Is signing up to email notifications as good as RSS, or is there a significant lag there?

By the way if we're doing CV reviews, I'd be interested...

I found there is a longer lag between emails than an RSS.

The quickest method is actually doing a search on the website.

[SueEllen]

I

By the way if we're doing CV reviews, I'd be interested...

Post a new thread if you want help otherwise it gets confusing.