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

[Scrag Meister]

Off the bench.

Probably said before!! No time to read the whole thread.

Your CV (both presentation and content, 2 side max) is what gets you the interviews and I guess a little of the interpersonal skills with the agent to get them to think they aren't wasting there time picking anything for you.

GL to all on the bench , I know it sucks.

Had 3 months on the bench back in 2007 and nothing moved til I cut 2 pages OUT of my CV, too much detail, stuck in a mission statement, minimised waffle. Then it started, had 3 on the table when the decision was finally made in May 2007.

You need something that an agent/client can understand in 1 minute.

Then once you're in the sell seat, partly buy seat too mind you, go to it with the "how great you are for the role, great person, know my stuff".

Had 3 in the last month.
1. Was a complete F-up, nothing like specified by the agent.
2. Ended up going to the brother of an employee, nepotism for ya!!
3. Monday afternoon coming.

In the lucky position of being off the bench and with a further 6 month extension, from May, if I need it, but I need a change after nearly 3 years.

[MrHelpful]

Just had my interview for next week CANCELLED! Agent said client had pulled the role... super

I've cut my CV down to two pages... lets hope other leads pay off.

[northernladuk]

There was a very spirited thread on here awhile ago where the OP suggested his CV that was 10 pages and growing was god's gift to CV's and swore by it. Hilarious thread.

Might try that if you are really stuck

[BolshieBastard]

Well done! - Whats your secret Bolshie?! How long you typically spending looking for roles / ringing agents... I spend about 1-2hrs a day and then plan B and me time.

Spoke to an agent today - filled in a cover sheet for a prospective client but he couldn't discuss projects as under NDA. Sounded promising though... let see.

I just wish I had finance or insurance skills... appears agents are crying out for them! I just have telecoms and pharma and big 4 consultancy - typical!

The only thing I've been doing apart from some very minor tweaks to my cv like increased the font by one point, bolding and underlining the job titles, is applying for everything that resembles my skillset. And dont stop!

I set up a job alert on jobswerve and sent my cv off to any and every job in my preferred location (North of England) and a few outside that. I spend about 2 hours through the day looking on JS using the filters on there and, again, apply for anything matching my skillset.

That said, contacts via LinkedIn have told me about a few roles and the interview next week came from being told HBOS were looking for staff.

As I've said before, its a numbers game and making sure you are in the agent's mind when the role comes across their desk before they put it on JS.

CV is still being submitted for roles I think Im ideal for but not getting an interview for. Weird!

[BolshieBastard]

Just had my interview for next week CANCELLED! Agent said client had pulled the role... super

I've cut my CV down to two pages... lets hope other leads pay off.

My cv is just under 3 pages. There's no way I could get mine to 2 pages. I've always had the following format (though asked on here last week about it) of

Name
My Profile using bullet point single sentences
My skillset using bullet point single sentences
My experience on things like planning, analysis, defect management, test design, working relationships. These are each bullet pointed and in a max of 3 sentences.

Second page is my last job by project. This covers nearly 3.5 years so takes most of the page.

The two previous jobs are covered by 4 or 5 bullet point single sentences.

Third page is just a single bullet point sentence for all jobs prior to middle of 2005 ie company, from to and essential details.

Followed my skills competency. I'd like to have this on the first page but there isnt any room unless I seriously butcher the details already there.

Finally, my training history on the tools I use. Not certain if this serves any use tbh but it acts as a catch all for any software etc I used on jobs prior to 2005.

If a role needs skills you havent got, have you tried negotiating with the agent that you'll take a lower rate with the client to get on the job experience? It works better when the market is bouyant though.

I mentioned it to an agent recently and he seemed ok with it.

[EddieNambulous]

Probably said before!! No time to read the whole thread.

Your CV (both presentation and content, 2 side max) is what gets you the interviews and I guess a little of the interpersonal skills with the agent to get them to think they aren't wasting there time picking anything for you.

<snip>

Then once you're in the sell seat, partly buy seat too mind you, go to it with the "how great you are for the role, great person, know my stuff".

Well said.

If you systematize the process of applying (i.e. make it a step by step flowchart-type process), it makes it much easier to know where you are going wrong.

For example.

If agents call you but don't call back, look at the way you interact with them and how you sell yourself to them.
If you are not getting interviews/interest, look at your CV.
If you are getting interviews but not offers, look at your interview/sales technique.
If you are getting offers but low ones, look at your negotiation skills.

...and so on

[MrHelpful]

Well I've put that into action in the last 3 weeks and I realise it must be the CV... therefore I got this professionally done - however this has not yielded any results but its just been a week.

The agents I have chatted to did say I had a strong CV prior to that but I rather put my mind at ease and got it re-done. I'll just persevere.

[JimBobTwoTeeth]

Man-o-man this market is driving me to despair.

First - no interest from agents at all.

Solution - complete re-vamp of cv, reduced to two pages

Second - Calls from agents but concern from them that I didn't have the exact tools etc.

1st Solution - Remained honest. Didn't get me anywhere.
2nd Solution - Bent the truth quite a lot. CV's now making it to the client.

Third (& current problem) - No interviews forthcoming.

Potential Solution #1 - Remain semi-honest & hope.
Potential Solution #2 - Go all out in the deceit.

Yes I KNOW it's dishonest & I hate lying but what the hell do I do when I'm jobless & my 10 year career seems to count for nothing. Is there any value in being the only honest man in the poor house?

[MrP]

Man-o-man this market is driving me to despair.

First - no interest from agents at all.

Solution - complete re-vamp of cv, reduced to two pages

Second - Calls from agents but concern from them that I didn't have the exact tools etc.

1st Solution - Remained honest. Didn't get me anywhere.
2nd Solution - Bent the truth quite a lot. CV's now making it to the client.

Third (& current problem) - No interviews forthcoming.

Potential Solution #1 - Remain semi-honest & hope.
Potential Solution #2 - Go all out in the deceit.

Yes I KNOW it's dishonest & I hate lying but what the hell do I do when I'm jobless & my 10 year career seems to count for nothing. Is there any value in being the only honest man in the poor house?

I am in exactly the same boat. Been on the bench for a year now and it sucks big time. Got 12 years experience in two blue chip companies and had just two interviews! My CV according to agents is strong and well laid out and has been passed down to clients BUT wasn't getting the interviews. Spoke to a couple of mates that are senior programme managers and they helped me tweak it to a level that remained within my ethical remit of honesty but pushed the boundary to the point at which I just remained comfortable. That has got me the two interviews (one turned out to be a joke of a role and the other I got to the final two in a 2nd interview but didn't get it ).

Now both my mates have agreed that I need to take my CV to another level i.e. out of my comfort zone. They both said that the current market requires me to push the CV not outside the realms of possibility i.e. stating something I can do when clearly I can't but simply to really expand on what I can achieve although I don't necessarily have oodles of experience. I just need to give myself a fighting chance of getting interviews. It will be up to the interviewer to find out if I'm just a blagger* or someone who not only talks a good deal but can deliver too. Whilst it is not ethical and like you I am not comfortable with it BUT after a year I need to fight for my life now or find another career!

*They both told me that they have interviewed loads of PM's that have had very impressive CV's but in the interview they have struggled to string a sentence together and clear were BS'ers. Likewise others have done well in an interview but failed to deliver and were promptly shown the door. So whilst stretching the truth is not ideal you still have to prove yourself or face the consequences.

[BolshieBastard]

In this market, its almost like the lottery getting an interview and the job. There are so many candidates and clients can pick and choose.

Frankly, Im sick and tired of people who post on these boards 'oh i get loads of inteviews and am successful in every one, never having failed and get to pick which roles I want.' Well, imho, that stretches incredulity or that person has very niche skills so isnt representative of how a lot (many?) contractors are finding the market.

I've been contracting for over 13 years. I've a very good range of work experience (sectors, tools etc), a very strong cv plus I've normally only been out of work through choice or in the 2002 downturn.

I was able to stay in work during the current downturn and it was only the client not renewing all contractors that I left just before Christmas. I was at my last client for 3.5 years.

Being that time of year, I didnt start looking positively until beginning of Jan. I fully expected to have secured a role by now. To date I've had 2 interviews, didnt get one and am waiting for result of the other (expected this coming week). Another interview is arranged for early next week with another client. But to get these, I've had to work hard building contacts, regularly reviewing jobswerve and sending my cv off for any that touches my skillset.

They both told me that they have interviewed loads of PM's that have had very impressive CV's but in the interview they have struggled to string a sentence together and clear were BS'ers. Likewise others have done well in an interview but failed to deliver and were promptly shown the door.

These sentences show me what's wrong in the present circumstances. The people who are being honest on their cv arent getting the interviews because those who've lied or bulltulipted on theirs are being selected.

Its only when these charlatans get to interview or get the roles are they found out.