Contract only - CVs

[jmo21]

I had no less than six emails from the same agent for a junior PHP permie role last week. I'm not a junior, have never done PHP, and don't want a permie job.

I don't think it makes a great deal of difference what you say on your c.v.

I get similar, you're CV is a tenuous hit in their matching software, scattergun approach taken by most agencies, and very frustrating.

[configman]

Hi,

Like many contractors I have my CV posted on the major job sites and CV databases. Also, in order to avoid hundreds of pointless calls about permy work I always ensure I tick the "contract" related boxes and deselect any "permanent" ones in my account preferences.

However, this doesn't seem to work very well and I still receive > 50% perm calls rather than contract. Frustratingly I often forget to ask if the role is perm or contract at the start of the call, and only find out after a lengthy conversation with the agent

Has anyone tried going further and putting words like "Contract Only" on the top/front page of their CV?
If so, any success, or any other tactics?

CS

Few agents can read so it is pointless putting "contract only". I clearly state I live in Berkshire - they call me about 18K perm roles in Glasgow.

I often have to interrupt an agent who calls me then goes straight into the sales pitch - without asking if I'm looking for work. The first questions I need answerring are is it a contract, and where is it. I don't want to spend ages on the phone talking about the ideal permie job that requires moving home and the whole of the first years take home being spent on stamp duty - not ideal.

[The Agents View]

I had no less than six emails from the same agent for a junior PHP permie role last week. I'm not a junior, have never done PHP, and don't want a permie job.

I don't think it makes a great deal of difference what you say on your c.v.

In fairness to the agent, having never done PHP, you are in fact Junior in that market place

Clutching at straws??

[javadude]

I usually give a polite reply to irrelevant emails that are personally addressed as "Dear..." and say that I'm only interested in contracts, please correct your database, when my contract ends and what I'll be looking for then. Some then email/phone about contracts. Some consistently ignore the request to correct their database. How difficult can it be - just tick the contract box on your system!? Monarch Recruitment and PSR are the worst offenders. I get so much spam from them. They obviously have no regard for the requirements of the candidates.

[The Agents View]

I usually give a polite reply to irrelevant emails that are personally addressed as "Dear..." and say that I'm only interested in contracts, please correct your database, when my contract ends and what I'll be looking for then. Some then email/phone about contracts. Some consistently ignore the request to correct their database. How difficult can it be - just tick the contract box on your system!? Monarch Recruitment and PSR are the worst offenders. I get so much spam from them. They obviously have no regard for the requirements of the candidates.

What makes you think the systems have a "contract box"??

Usually you'll find that agencies will match the skills first, and worry about whether its perm or contract later - most sensible people will listen to worthwhile perm calls, as well as contract opportunities - If it's not right, just be grateful you're even getting the calls - there are plenty out there that aren't

[MarillionFan]

I don't have my CV's on the job boards as it leads to unsolicited calls.

I now have about 20 combinations of CV which I use to reply to roles I spot when I review my RSS Feeds.

I have six RSS feeds which I review when I am looking for contracts. I apply for no more than 1 or 2 roles per day when benched.

My last unsolicited call was last week and was actually from a LinkedIn Forum(which I got a contract from) from an old agency I have worked through before.

I believe in strictly targetting roles once they are advertised. This allows you to change your CV without being challenged because you have '1' on a job board.

Once I get an interview the contract is mine.Offer to interview ratio is now 32 out of 33 interviews over 13 years.

I do not believe in the scatter gun/numbers approach.

[nomadd]

Offer to interview ratio is now 32 out of 33 interviews over 13 years.

Yeah, but anyone can clean toilets...

[CheeseSlice]

In fairness to the agent, having never done PHP, you are in fact Junior in that market place

[CheeseSlice]

I usually give a polite reply to irrelevant emails that are personally addressed as "Dear..." and say that I'm only interested in contracts, please correct your database.

If only that worked. Every time I upload my CV to Jobserve, etc I get an auto-subscribe email from Evolution Recruitment saying...

"Evolution has jobs for you!"



These guys dont care if you're a contractor, have the right job title, or even in the right industry... so long as one technical skill matches your CV, thats good enough to receive every single 'Fantastic opportunity' job alert paying £20K in the middle of 'kin nowhere.

[configman]

What makes you think the systems have a "contract box"??

...because we are some of the people who wrote those systems. When you put your CV on any job board it asks if you are contract/temporary/perm.