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

[northernladuk]

How are peeps getting on... I am getting more and more miffed with being buffed by various agencys... im moving into month 5 on being on the bench. Heck I have tried applying for all sorts of roles recently ranging from a BA, Snr BA, Tech Arch, PMO, Snr Manager. I have a consultancy background and with this being so "hybrid" I can't seem to fit into any one pigeon hole.

I never thought it would be this difficult... I am 29 and already feel like a mid life crisis looms.

Don't want to be rude (but often end up being it!) but to me all the answers are in your own post and there has just been an argument between other posters which also pertains to your position.

There is nothing in the market for average jack of all trades. That is a permie trait. You are a contractor because you are (supposed to be) one of the best and industry skilled at what you do. Being a man that can is pointless to them.

I also very much doubt the quality of your skills in any and the roles you mentioned. You are 29. You did Uni i guess so have a good 7 - 8 years work experience, you mention at least 5 roles. Lets say 6 months to get used to each role to learn the basics, thats 2.5 years gone. At best that gives you 5 years or so experience across 5 different roles. 1 year solid exp in each. That's just rubbish and hardly surprising you can't get anywhere.

I would seriously go back permie, skill up and then come back. I mean, why are you waiting 5 months for a contractor role now? You are going to earn less than a permie for awhile to come no so get back in.

Thrashing a dead horse is not plan B!

[Spacecadet]

How are peeps getting on... I am getting more and more miffed with being buffed by various agencys... im moving into month 5 on being on the bench. Heck I have tried applying for all sorts of roles recently ranging from a BA, Snr BA, Tech Arch, PMO, Snr Manager. I have a consultancy background and with this being so "hybrid" I can't seem to fit into any one pigeon hole.

I never thought it would be this difficult... I am 29 and already feel like a mid life crisis looms.

Looking at all the different contracts you've been applying for the problem might not be agencies unwilling to pidgeon hole you, but more about you not being willing to pigeon hole yourself. Your CV will be bouncing round everywhere and until agencies think that you are sure about what you want to do then they can't be sure either.

If you apply for a senior role the agencies will see that you are also going for less senior roles and think that you're applying out of your depth on the off chance of landing a well paid contract.
Conversely when you apply for basic BA roles agents might be concerned that you'll leave them in the lurch for a better paying senior position.

Limit yourself to BA/snr BA, re draft your CV to reflect this (updating it on the various jobsites I trust you've registered with) don't ignore the tech aspects, just change the tone of the CV to highlight your BA work, and get reapplying.

As long as you aren't too picky about client/location/rate there is plenty of work about

[MrHelpful]

Don't want to be rude (but often end up being it!) but to me all the answers are in your own post and there has just been an argument between other posters which also pertains to your position.

There is nothing in the market for average jack of all trades. That is a permie trait. You are a contractor because you are (supposed to be) one of the best and industry skilled at what you do. Being a man that can is pointless to them.

I also very much doubt the quality of your skills in any and the roles you mentioned. You are 29. You did Uni i guess so have a good 7 - 8 years work experience, you mention at least 5 roles. Lets say 6 months to get used to each role to learn the basics, thats 2.5 years gone. At best that gives you 5 years or so experience across 5 different roles. 1 year solid exp in each. That's just rubbish and hardly surprising you can't get anywhere.

I would seriously go back permie, skill up and then come back. I mean, why are you waiting 5 months for a contractor role now? You are going to earn less than a permie for awhile to come no so get back in.

Thrashing a dead horse is not plan B!

When you say skill up? What do you mean - I have only worked for 2 clients in the last 9 years. I am always skilling up and I usually end up teaching others when on-site... I am looking at a perm job next week but i know I am a strong contractor but not securing a interview not to forget a role. Been applying for perms but they're not proving successful either... i've never earned less then 40k a year and it is worrying I may have to go where I started.... 9 years investment for just 50k?

[MrHelpful]

Looking at all the different contracts you've been applying for the problem might not be agencies unwilling to pidgeon hole you, but more about you not being willing to pigeon hole yourself. Your CV will be bouncing round everywhere and until agencies think that you are sure about what you want to do then they can't be sure either.

If you apply for a senior role the agencies will see that you are also going for less senior roles and think that you're applying out of your depth on the off chance of landing a well paid contract.
Conversely when you apply for basic BA roles agents might be concerned that you'll leave them in the lurch for a better paying senior position.

Limit yourself to BA/snr BA, re draft your CV to reflect this (updating it on the various jobsites I trust you've registered with) don't ignore the tech aspects, just change the tone of the CV to highlight your BA work, and get reapplying.

As long as you aren't too picky about client/location/rate there is plenty of work about

Do agencys see which application have been sent and for whom? I didnt want to limit myself to one role with the market being so crap. My CV feedback is consultant/designer what does that mean... i'll start re-applying heeding the advice. I am not fussed about client/location/rate! just give me a role

[Spacecadet]

Do agencys see which application have been sent and for whom? I didnt want to limit myself to one role with the market being so crap. My CV feedback is consultant/designer what does that mean... i'll start re-applying heeding the advice. I am not fussed about client/location/rate! just give me a role

Once you've been hunting for a while the same agents keep popping up... and contrary to popular belief some of them have brains

The market isn't that bad at the moment, granted its not brilliant but there is work around.
A quick search for BA jobs on cwjobs, limited to the past 2 days gives me 106 contract roles.

[northernladuk]

When you say skill up? What do you mean - I have only worked for 2 clients in the last 9 years. I am always skilling up and I usually end up teaching others when on-site... I am looking at a perm job next week but i know I am a strong contractor but not securing a interview not to forget a role. Been applying for perms but they're not proving successful either... i've never earned less then 40k a year and it is worrying I may have to go where I started.... 9 years investment for just 50k?

You say you have worked for 2 clients in 9 years yet you list at least 5 jobs. You are NOT a strong contractor. You don't have years in dedicated roles, and I mean years here. You are up against people that have 10 - 15 years + doing the same job. They have seen it all. Your 18 months per role just doesn't stand up to that. Thats what I am saying. If I had a Ferrari who would I want to service it a guy that has serviced Fords, Kia's and the odd Ferrari or do I want someone that specialises in them and has been doing them for years? Get my point.... I would certainly be including permie as a perfectly good alternative especially if you get in to the role and mould it to make sure you are ready to go contracting in a year or two. A good investment IMHO.

I also have to add the bit about your 9 years for just 50k makes you sound like a right twunt. You are 29 and you have the ability to earn 50K? I think maybe you need to get your head out of your own arse and take stock. 50K wage puts you in the top few percent earners, especially at 29. There are many people that have 20 years in the industry and earn £50k and are happy. I am wondering maybe the main thing holding you back is your full of it attitude??
I don't see you earning 40k a year right now... in fact my cat earns about what you do at present so maybe bit of humble pie might not go amiss.

[MrHelpful]

I was merely making the point but touche. I come from a very humble background and really do value each penny. I get what you are saying re experience however you then say get 1 or 2 perm years under the belt and then go back into contract. Am I only 1 or 2 perm years away.... I rather do contracting whilst I have few commitment. Anyways advice taken re salary but I was just putting some numbers around the background on how hard I have worked so far.... didn't mean it to come out the wrong way.

[nomadd]

I don't see you earning 40k a year right now... in fact my cat earns about what you do at present so maybe bit of humble pie might not go amiss.

Your cat should re-skill. Plenty of contracts for the right cats.

[Scrag Meister]

@MrHelpful
Just as an addition to back up previous recent comments from others.

I have been programming, various flavours of Basic, from Quickbasic and PDS under DOS to VB3-6, a little .NET and VBA for 23 years. Never unemployed except 3 months by choice. 20 perm, 3 contract!!!! Should have done it earlier, thats another story.

It may not be the flavour of the month, (c#, java seem to be moving in there) but thats what I do and I do it well, IMHO And more importantly I actually enjoy it, and there is demand out there for it. Just about to start my second contract 10th May.

Find what you are good at, that there is demand for, and enjoy, learn it thoroughly and do it.

Good luck

Are you getting interviews?
Is your CV up to scratch? Clear and concise, nobody reads war and peace cvs, except the writer.

If this has been covered, apologies as didn't fancy reading the whole thread.

[The Agents View]

Do agencys see which application have been sent and for whom? I didnt want to limit myself to one role with the market being so crap. My CV feedback is consultant/designer what does that mean... i'll start re-applying heeding the advice. I am not fussed about client/location/rate! just give me a role

Yup.

Industry standard tool is a product called Broadbean. When you apply through a job board, you go into the pile, and we get a summary of each candidate when we look at the list of applicants. On that summary is the last 3 roles you've applied for, and how they were flagged (red, amber, green).

So - if you're an IT PM, and you apply for a construction job, but also an IT job - I am immediately put off. If you're a specialist IT PM and the job titles are close, and you've been green flagged for that role, I'm far more likely to deep read your details.

HTH
TAV