The Bench - Blog! How do some of you cope and bag an Interview?!

[MrHelpful]

Back in the UK and I am now back on the hunt! Spoke to a few agents and waiting to hear back from clients (usual story) but for some reason this time I think they are genuine roles and I may even get that mythical interview.

Also looking at perm opportunities as I am not on the breadline but I am getting bored! Back to being a "city boy" and getting a bobby charlton hair style before 30! eeek

[northernrampage]

If you leave it too long before claiming JSA, then you won't have paid enough NI to be able to claim it any more.

They put you onto another type of JSA... but think you have to have less than 6k in the bank.

MrHelpful....I'd always apply for JSA etc in an attempt to get whatever benefits you can. It's not as if you won't be paying loads of tax back soon. There's all the other things like getting your interview travel paid... which was good for me as I travelled between a northern city and London a lot. Suppose it's whether you can hack the job centre, it was depressing me a fair bit.

[xux42]

Update every profile, every day.

In RC's thread about job hunting, there are some tips that he picked up from the job centre. Many agents will automatically filter on CVs updated in the last few days - make sure yours is one of them.

You could even try stuffing the margins of your CV word document with key words in white so they don't show up when printed, but so show up when automatically filtered. I have not done this, so have no idea whether it helps / hinders the search.

I'm looking to jump from a fun permie support role that doesn't quite pay the bills into a contract so find the tips on here interesting.

Bit worried by the ones like 'bluff' keywords in white though. I just apply to jobs that I can do without any fancy tricks.
I worry that other candidates are lying or exaggerating to get interviews and that agents will think my honest cv is exaggerated.
How can I get interviews while maintaining my integrity?

[gingerjedi]

Bit worried by the ones like 'bluff' keywords in white though. I just apply to jobs that I can do without any fancy tricks.
I worry that other candidates are lying or exaggerating to get interviews and that agents will think my honest cv is exaggerated.
How can I get interviews while maintaining my integrity?

All you're doing is getting the CV in front of the agent, they search for MCSE's for 1st line support roles FFS! Have you not seen the ads recently?

The client wont see it and ultimately it's their decision to interview or not.

[SueEllen]

I'm looking to jump from a fun permie support role that doesn't quite pay the bills into a contract so find the tips on here interesting.

Don't know what sort of support you are doing but it's a good idea to a search on the problems people who are doing support have in the current climate.

Bit worried by the ones like 'bluff' keywords in white though. I just apply to jobs that I can do without any fancy tricks.

Never used it.

I worry that other candidates are lying or exaggerating to get interviews and that agents will think my honest cv is exaggerated.
How can I get interviews while maintaining my integrity?

No need to lie you just need to ensure you CV is in a good format and agents know you.

[xux42]

Don't know what sort of support you are doing but it's a good idea to a search on the problems people who are doing support have in the current climate.

No need to lie you just need to ensure you CV is in a good format and agents know you.

Thanks for the responses!
Sorry my post gave the wrong impression.
I'm an experienced Financial Services Programmer/Analyst (contract & permanent), temporarily doing some general IT support for an SME arranged via a contact.
Keeping me busy and at least bringing in a bit of cash in while I look for proper money as a dev. or similar contracting back in corporate land.

Maybe I shouldn't have intruded on this PM thread.

What I will say though, the lower paid world of SMEs has much more variety, and the folks (IT and non-IT) are much more cheerful than the political, cynical, disillusioned people in corporates. Quite an eye-opener.

[gingerjedi]

Don't know what sort of support you are doing but it's a good idea to a search on the problems people who are doing support have in the current climate.

You'd have be absolutely fecking bonkers to leave a perm job and head out into this shark infested nightmare no mater what the money difference is, my last 3 month contract lasted 2 weeks through no fault of my own.

[gingerjedi]

Thanks for the responses!
Sorry my post gave the wrong impression.
I'm an experienced Financial Services Programmer/Analyst (contract & permanent), temporarily doing some general IT support for an SME arranged via a contact.
Keeping me busy and at least bringing in a bit of cash in while I look for proper money as a dev. or similar contracting back in corporate land.

Maybe I shouldn't have intruded on this PM thread.

What I will say though, the lower paid world of SMEs has much more variety, and the folks (IT and non-IT) are much more cheerful than the political, cynical, disillusioned people in corporates. Quite an eye-opener.

Now I see, yes move on and give a career techy his job back.

[SueEllen]

Thanks for the responses!
Sorry my post gave the wrong impression.
I'm an experienced Financial Services Programmer/Analyst (contract & permanent), temporarily doing some general IT support for an SME arranged via a contact.

This month is a good time to be looking for a proper contract role.

Keeping me busy and at least bringing in a bit of cash in while I look for proper money as a dev. or similar contracting back in corporate land.

Maybe I shouldn't have intruded on this PM thread.

Yep should have started your own thread or left the support and PM types to it.

What I will say though, the lower paid world of SMEs has much more variety, and the folks (IT and non-IT) are much more cheerful than the political, cynical, disillusioned people in corporates. Quite an eye-opener.

I know. It's nice to work with those who call a spade a spade.

[xux42]

Now I see, yes move on and give a career techy his job back.

He left with nothing to go to