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

[norrahe]

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.

Looks like we have to be good at the BS and good at our jobs to get anywhere.

[Worzel]

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.

My story is almost the same, Bolshie. 2001 - 2003 was bad but I've lost count of the number of applications I've made this time around. I'm convinced that if my job hunting was analysed by a non-IT professional they would almost certainly suggest I give up and do something else because the chances of success simply do not stack up right now! Question is how long to leave it before I do exactly that?! The weird thing is that there "seems" a slight increase in contracts out there right now yet if anything I'm getting less of a response than I was a few months ago.

Time to give that 2 page C.V. a go!

[MrP]

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.

Have to strongly agree with you BB and that's why I have got the point of if you can't beat them join them. Over the years I have come across so many people who have blagged roles and simply learnt on the job. Some have got away with it and others have, thankfully, got found out. The guy I know admitted he totally blagged his first PM role but said that he only did it as a) he needed a foot in the door and b) he knew he could do the job better than most of the PM's he had worked for. Since he has become a highly paid Programme Manager I guess he was right and that you can forgive him for his earlier sin!

Best of luck.

[northernrampage]

*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.

That would be me ;-)

I have been told that on paper I'm perfect, but in person I don't match-up.

I actually tell the truth on my CV (practically) but unfortunately when I want a job I get nervous. Am getting hypnotised tomorrow... it's made a lot worse as I have a big gap on my CV as had some time out, I then get this voice in my head at interview saying "who are you kidding, you're not good enough". I keep feeling pressure, that if I don't get a job it's the last interview I'll get.

There are at least 2 PMs I've worked with (one is a complete psychopath) who have similar experience (or less) that I know are managing to get good senior PM roles (one guy I know seems to leave within a year for each of the permanent roles though). So I do keep thinking, if they can do it, and my experience is the same, I need to sort it out. They obviously interview well.

And I do keep putting my big mouth in it. One guy asked me to describe myself.. I said "tenous" when I meant "tenacious". I realised my mistake v. quickly and he laughed.. but I think I had it at that point.

If I can't deliver at interview it's my own fault and no point getting bitter... got one this week so fingers crossed.

[The Wikir Man]

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.

WHS - the problem is how do you get your CV in front of the clients and make it stand out enough.

My last real role was end of August (started new contract today) - but agents were starting to ask what I had been doing. Inference was that there must have been something wrong with me, if I was still available. If you have a big gap on there, you need to think of something to explain what you have been doing with your time - "watching Trisha" is not a good gap-filler, it must be said.

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 once had a very good interview:job ratio, and expected to walk into a new role when the last one finished. Many of my friends thought the same - it was a real shock to all of us about how tough the market is out there at the moment. Even once you get the interview (if at all), there are so many good candidates to choose from - twice I lost out to two of my mates for the same roles, just because they were (marginally) better suited. Normally, it's rare that the three of us are available for work in the same area at the same time, so I wasn't used to the competition.

All you can do is keep plugging away - my CV is 4-5 pages (can't remember exactly). I highlight the key phrases in the descriptions as well, e.g. "Key Modules: CRM, HR, OM" so that if they don't want to read the whole thing, they can skim for the key words.

Good luck, all!

[BolshieBastard]

Feck me! Blagged another interview tomorrow! Same client organisation as the interview I had today, even same location.

No interviews for ages then 4 come along in just over 7 days. Havent got one so am waiting on two now then the one tomorrow the agent says they are looking to make a decision by COP Thursday.

Fingers crossed!

[MrHelpful]

How are u doing it??? When u apply for a role via jobserve and you call the agent. The agent says to me cv have been submitted usually! how does one get a role without being advertised... Constant calling of an agent??? I am finding it flippin ridiculously hard to get to a client. Luckily freelancing is bringing a revenue in but I want back in... And work with peeps. So much circuit training one can do

[The Wikir Man]

How are u doing it??? When u apply for a role via jobserve and you call the agent. The agent says to me cv have been submitted usually! how does one get a role without being advertised... Constant calling of an agent??? I am finding it flippin ridiculously hard to get to a client. Luckily freelancing is bringing a revenue in but I want back in... And work with peeps. So much circuit training one can do

You need to speak to agents and make sure that they have a copy of your latest / best CV. So either they remember who you are and contact you automatically, or do a search of their database and then call you. Only once they have trawled their network will they advertise the role on Jobserve - by which time they probably have all the CVs that they want.

[Worzel]

You need to speak to agents and make sure that they have a copy of your latest / best CV. So either they remember who you are and contact you automatically, or do a search of their database and then call you. Only once they have trawled their network will they advertise the role on Jobserve - by which time they probably have all the CVs that they want.

I reckon this was a lot easier to do many years ago before everything went on the job boards. Back then it seemed easier to make contacts within agencies because there wasn't really a centralized way of advertising anything. Less competition I suppose! Thesedays I think maintaining contact directly with clients is probably the best thing you can do.

[BolshieBastard]

How are u doing it??? When u apply for a role via jobserve and you call the agent. The agent says to me cv have been submitted usually! how does one get a role without being advertised... Constant calling of an agent??? I am finding it flippin ridiculously hard to get to a client. Luckily freelancing is bringing a revenue in but I want back in... And work with peeps. So much circuit training one can do

TBH, its just the way things have fallen. I've been sending my cv off for lots and lots of unrelated roles which came to absolutely nothing. One, a role just 8 miles from me with Axa came to nought and, I only got that feedback yesterday.

Im still sending my cv in for roles on JS and still get the usual no response or 'if you havent heard within 7 days assume you didnt make the cut' type of response.

I think the lead \ lag time is now kicking in which is why a few interviews have come along together.

All the interviews I've got (4, although I sent my cv off today for another 2 roles I can do following emails from agents asking if I was interested) have come from the agents contacting me. One did lead on from a LinkedIn contact who told me one client co was looking for people though.

I still insist in this market, that in the main, once a job is posted on jobswerve, its too late as the agent has already contacted the people they think best fit.

I know that its probably not the case 100% of the time but am convinced its that way for a good 80 - 85% of the time right now.

Although some on here dismiss LinkedIn even with agents, I'd suggest building up a network of them who are relevant to you. Once you have a job, you can unlink them if you want.

But the best advice I can give is make sure you submit your cv to at least 2 or 3 agencies a day even if the next day, you submit it to them again. If you're fresh in their minds, then you must stand a chance of being contacted before a suitable role hits JS.

Good luck!