Jobserve Best Method for banking PM jobs ?

[Arun V]

Hi,
I am a permie who is about to go contracting. I'd like to know the following:

1) Do all agencies put up jobs on Jobserve as soon as they get it ? So does it make sense to also register with as many agencies as possible if we also see the same jobs arrive by Jobserve ?

2) I am looking for PM work in the banking side and I notice that jobs for companies like JPMorgan, ABMN Amro, Barclays Capital do arrive via Jobserve. However, over the past 3-4 weeks I still havent seen any jobs for Merrill Lynch, Deutche, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers etc on Jobserve. It could be that these jobs did arrive by Jobserve but because I didn't have the specialist skills they wanted I didnt enquire as to which bank was the job for. If they those jobs are not arriving by Jobserve, how else are these banks doing their recruiting ?

[malvolio]

Agencies will post on Jobserve if (a) they haven't already got someone suitable on their books or (b) they're too inefficient to search their own data for suitable candidates. So in effect, if you see something on Jobserve that's suitable, apply for it.

A lot of companies don't put their names on Jobserve, else what would be the point of using an agency - plus if you put your name up, 300 agents will phone you up offering their services.

You're a PM wanting to be a contractor. Don't know (or care) how good or experienced you are right now, but you don't have a history of contracting, so do not limit yourself overmuch; the objective is to get the first contract under your belt.

Also, make sure you read the first timer guides here and on the PCG website, and you might look up a recent thread here http://forums.contractoruk.com/thread3890.html on the whole matter of starting to freelance as a PM. I'd really hate to have to write it all out again!

Good luck, BTW

[ratewhore]

Bear in mind the following about Jobserve:

1) Not all the contracts are real.
2) Jobserve may state there are 28000+ jobs on there but in reality, due to multiple postings there is usually about, erm, 4 or so :-)

[Arun V]

Jobserve

malvolio,

I understand about companies not putting their names on Jobserve. Its only when I see a job that I am interested in and phone the agency that I find out who its with. It could be that the companies I mentioned could be in amongst the ones i dont call the agencies about.

I just wanted to make sure that registering with agencies and getting the Jobserve emails is enough. As my other half is pressuring me to find a contract quickly I just wondered if there is anything else that I could do.

Thanks.

[Xenophon]

As my other half is pressuring me to find a contract quickly I just wondered if there is anything else that I could do.

Maybe put on a sandwich board saying 'Project manager seeking contract' and go wander about the City?

[voron]

Log your CV on JobServe and make it searchable. Lots of agents will call you regarding a role as soon as it arrives.
I would advise you to exercise a little caution about your first contract, as it's all too easy to become sector locked. But hey, what do I know

Above all, remember the golden rule: Never trust an agent. They are not your friend and have no interest in helping your career to develop. They simply want to make money by putting someone into a contract with a client, and they will use whatever means necessary to do that. Lots of contractors seem to have trouble grasping this.

Good luck!

[malvolio]

In reality, it is more likely that the "missing" companies have got outsourced resourcing teams in place so you wouldn't necessarily see the connection between job and end client anyway. Also, PMs are quite key people and in the square mile a lot of that sort of recruitment goes on by word of mouth.

I repeat - look for a PM role first, worry about who the client is next. You're a freelancer, you don't care who pays the bills as long as they're paid. Chase everything you see on Jobserve that you can do - put it this way, its not all that long ago I applied for 63 roles before I got an interview, and I've got a pretty solid freelance CV.

[Underscore2]

try sending your

CV to Lorien. RBS are still recruiting heavily for PMs. You can be based in London or Edinburgh. £400 to £600 depend on exp. oh and 75% of the ones I've met have been hopeless.

[Arun V]

Thanks

CV to Lorien. RBS are still recruiting heavily for PMs. You can be based in London or Edinburgh. £400 to £600 depend on exp. oh and 75% of the ones I've met have been hopeless.

Thanks Underscore2,
I contacted them and was told that they've sent all the CVs to RBS and that if I send in my CV to her she'll look our for any new vacancies for me.

[Underscore2]

who?

did you speak to? Johanna is very helpfull.