What the hell is up with the market (or is it just me)

[SteelyDan]

I already tested this out; I saw a job ad, changed the job title on my CV (for every single role) to what the ad said it was looking for, and low and behold the agent called me back, emailed me and was basically hunting me down.

Yes, generic CVs or simply cover lettes / pages, are not enough to cut it in the current PM contract market.

P

Just confirms what we all thought and knew then - they're just a bunch of idle, dumb feckers. Probably best to make it easy for them each time you apply.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Anybody else been posted a Yorkshire ETL specialist position about 100 times and seen it a 1000 times on jobserve under 1000 different agencies? How specialist is that one, it's asking for specialist SAP knowledge combined with SSIS/ETL knowledge and the rate aint even that great!

[stek]

Anybody else been posted a Yorkshire ETL specialist position about 100 times and seen it a 1000 times on jobserve under 1000 different agencies? How specialist is that one, it's asking for specialist SAP knowledge combined with SSIS/ETL knowledge and the rate aint even that great!

I've applied for one in Stockholm, not the cheapest place, I'd normally look at the 800 a day mark 'i Sverige', but this is with a Bob agency that sounds like Advance but isn't, waiting for a call, 200 a day I reckon....

[Bluenose]

Been lurking for a while (2 years) thought I would post as I am in the market.

Plenty of jobs but too many candidates per job is what I would say.

I am a candidate who usually operates in the £550-750pd range, can do a variety of roles. Current rate is £650pd, 9 month contract ends in April.

10-15 applications on Jobserve, 4 call-backs, 2 CV submittals (1 Interview, 1 Pending). All applications followed up with a phone-call and email, without exception.

Agents not returning calls, emails, not looking a first page of CVs, experience etc etc as they are swamped with candidates.

One Senior contract role (a real one) last week had 200 applications and the entry requirements were set sky high - no chance of getting through to agent, never mind CV review.

[Bluenose]

Not a PM but...

Been lurking for a while (2 years) thought I would post as I am in the market.

Plenty of jobs but too many candidates per job is what I would say.

I am a candidate who usually operates in the £550-750pd range, can do a variety of roles. Current rate is £650pd, 9 month contract ends in April.

10-15 applications on Jobserve, 4 call-backs, 2 CV submittals (1 Interview, 1 Pending). All applications followed up with a phone-call and email, without exception.

Agents not returning calls, emails, not looking a first page of CVs, experience etc etc as they are swamped with candidates.

I know of one Senior PM contract role (a real one) last week had 200 applications and the entry requirements were set sky high - no chance of getting through to agent, never mind CV review.

[Barley]

Cant believe the apparent lethagy of some with regard to tailoring CV's. In my opinion this is essential, as are the follow up calls to agents to ensure your name is in their head, initial relationship building etc.

As is a follow up call a day later to confirm youre being put forward and a further follow up around the time shortlisting is expected.

Sometime you can be lucky but the above increases your changes significantly in my opinion.

I also think the effort required for is fairly little when you put it into the perspective that youre pitching to sell services in the region of say £100,000 for a 12 month role.

[bobspud]

A cheap rate beats any CV in this market. Even if you tailor it.

[SteelyDan]

Cant believe the apparent lethagy of some with regard to tailoring CV's. In my opinion this is essential, as are the follow up calls to agents to ensure your name is in their head, initial relationship building etc.

As is a follow up call a day later to confirm youre being put forward and a further follow up around the time shortlisting is expected.

Sometime you can be lucky but the above increases your changes significantly in my opinion.

I also think the effort required for is fairly little when you put it into the perspective that youre pitching to sell services in the region of say £100,000 for a 12 month role.

OK, yes you can spend time on tailoring etc etc, but some roles don't even have rates indicated on the adverts, so it's difficult to gauge what's on offer, or whether it would be worth spending time 'tailoring'. Seems to be another CV capturing tactic.

Classic this morning, Roc wants an 'all singing and dancing' PM asap (as ever); spec looked interesting so thought I'd drop my CV across. Gets the call, yes role definitely do-able. What rates are we talking about? £160/day. What? For a PM? If I hadn't been sat down I would have fell over laughing. He then tells me he does have PMs who are very interested. I told him to crack on with putting them forward then.

Made me wonder though if this is an indication of a shift in the market where clients are now taking the pi55 as well as agents.

[Harmonic]

OK, yes you can spend time on tailoring etc etc, but some roles don't even have rates indicated on the adverts, so it's difficult to gauge what's on offer, or whether it would be worth spending time 'tailoring'. Seems to be another CV capturing tactic.

Classic this morning, Roc wants an 'all singing and dancing' PM asap (as ever); spec looked interesting so thought I'd drop my CV across. Gets the call, yes role definitely do-able. What rates are we talking about? £160/day. What? For a PM? If I hadn't been sat down I would have fell over laughing. He then tells me he does have PMs who are very interested. I told him to crack on with putting them forward then.

Made me wonder though if this is an indication of a shift in the market where clients are now taking the pi55 as well as agents.

I had exactly the same with an agency looking for a TOGAF certified Enterprise Architect working in sunny Macclesfield. I told them I'd be looking for a higher rate to cover the oxygen tank I'd need for working that far North and what was the best they could offer. The conversation finished pretty quickly after they said £350/day.

Are things so dodgy that people dropping their trousers on price to that degree? Or is it just greedy agencies that fancy making consultancy levels of markup?

[SteelyDan]

Are things so dodgy that people dropping their trousers on price to that degree? Or is it just greedy agencies that fancy making consultancy levels of markup?

I suspect this is probably skill-set & sector dependent, but I saw this a couple of years ago, pi55-poor rates which some desperate souls saw fit to pursue. Could be the thin end of the wedge; a mix of agents and clients market exploitation, dunno.