advice for beginner

[avgjoe]

Hi all

Was hoping to pick everyone's brains here.. I have just returned to the UK after spending time in South Africa. I worked in the UK for 5 years prior to that. I made the transition from developer to project manager in that time - and worked in various PM roles in South Africa.

However since coming back here, I seemed to have no luck at all whatsoever! So I was wondering if someone could crit my CV. PM me and I will send it over.

Thanks

[northernladuk]

Lets assume your CV is ok'ish I would also assume you don't have reams of work in high profile companies, especially ones known over here....

Everything is tight as you can probably see from the posts here. Rates down, lots of people on bench, contractor budgets cut. My advice to you would be to look for anything (within reason) in you area of expertise and take it Fulltime, permie, good rate, crap rate. Even junior or PMO roles

Your on the back foot for a number of reasons and need to start whittling them down. You don't have the 10's of years alot of guys contract have, you won't have the client familiarity UK guys have (we don't know SA companies) etc. You have been out of the country so doing checks etc is gonna be a nightmare so you will be passed over. You are indeed starting as a relatively junior/new PM.

I would seriously consider looking out of the contract market right now as your up against some pretty stiff competition and broaden your horizons to permie as well. You gotta get some work to start addressing your negatives. Get a footing in the UK, get experience with a UK company, get more years on your CV. Any of these will be a great help. When the market picks up in the next year then you can start looking at what you would LIKE to do.

Hope that makes a bit of sense.

[Zippy]

I doubt it is your CV as the PM market is on the floor over here. northernladuk has given some good advice there.
Do you have any ex-clients or colleagues (from the UK) you could approach?

[EddieNambulous]

However since coming back here, I seemed to have no luck at all whatsoever!

You've been given some useful advice already.

One thing I would add is not to take the current market situation personally, like I see alot of people doing. By that, I mean don't fall into the trap of starting to get paranoid if agents don't call or interviews don't materialize or offers don't come etc etc.

It's not you, it's just the nature of the market cycle right now and the market isn't out to get you - it is what it is and you just have to deal with it as best you can.

I believe the opportunities are still out there if you keep positive, keep your skills sharp (especially interview skills) and keep alert for the work possibilities when they arise.

[Rewind]

Great advice Eddie, I have been taking the market situation very personally lately but your advice makes things seem much clearer. Thanks

[weemster]

You've been given some useful advice already.

One thing I would add is not to take the current market situation personally, like I see alot of people doing. By that, I mean don't fall into the trap of starting to get paranoid if agents don't call or interviews don't materialize or offers don't come etc etc.

It's not you, it's just the nature of the market cycle right now and the market isn't out to get you - it is what it is and you just have to deal with it as best you can.

I believe the opportunities are still out there if you keep positive, keep your skills sharp (especially interview skills) and keep alert for the work possibilities when they arise.

This is indeed good advice........not just in the current situation either but generally imo.

[Captain Lockheed]

You've been given some useful advice already.

One thing I would add is not to take the current market situation personally, like I see alot of people doing. By that, I mean don't fall into the trap of starting to get paranoid if agents don't call or interviews don't materialize or offers don't come etc etc.

It's not you, it's just the nature of the market cycle right now and the market isn't out to get you - it is what it is and you just have to deal with it as best you can.

I believe the opportunities are still out there if you keep positive, keep your skills sharp (especially interview skills) and keep alert for the work possibilities when they arise.

Couldn't agree more - the market is as worse as I've ever seen it and as a result the balance has shifted massively in the agents favour, but it's a temporary thing and getting paranoid isn't going to change anything.

[RichardCranium]

getting paranoid isn't going to change anything.

Yes it does. It means that instead of lying awake at night worrying, you can sleep soundly, safe in the knowledge that it IS you.