Consultant/"Jack of all" going contract

[XLMonkey]

Thanks for the information.

Feeling slightly depressed though as all the advice is not to go contracting...

I don't think that's quite what people were saying.....

It's just that contractors are in quite a different market to the major IT service providers (even if the work you end up doing is similar). So, what works for one, doesn't work for the other.

To answer your earlier question -- tailored CVs are a must in my opinion. I get by with 4 standard ones, each written to emphasise my experience from a different perspective. Then I also tailor the CV if the opportunity looks interesting enough.

I wouldn't discourage you from going contracting, but from what you've said, it's not obvious that it's the best thing for you.... If you are relatively early in your career, and not planning to be a technical specialist, then you might be better off getting a few more years under your belt with a major company. In the contracting market it's difficult to get good PM or systems architects roles without more experience than you have -- conversely, you would need stronger technical skills to get the technical roles. You seem to be in a bit of a halfway house, skills-wise.

If you aren't happy with Accenture, then there are plenty more fish in the sea..... either way, best of luck

[monkey magix]

Thanks for first piece of helpful advice XLMonkey.

I am finding the same situation in Accidenture, being pulled in both directions by the project, management and techincal and falling between both... I want to use the term "jack of all" but know its a red rag to the contractor bulls.

btw, here is a list of my favourite bits of this thread.
"Unfortunately, mate, that's how it is."
"I find it hard to belive that you've worked for Accidenture for 2 years and don't know how to tailor your CV."
"Don't mean to be rude, but how does someone with 7 years experience (and on a grad programme ) get to believe they are a "jack of all"? Is this some new brainwashing technique?"

I can't wait until I can talk like this... And I thought people in Accidenture were arrogant :-)

Monkey Magix braces himself for the onslaught of insults and defensive remarks.

[XLMonkey]

...pleasure, we monkeys have to stick together. Here, have a banana

[MikeP]

Ho hum, been in that boat, found it doesn't work. Sorry to add to the 'negative' comments, but not meant to be discouraging.
Folks just aren't interested at the point of hiring what other skill you have - more so for a contract resource (remember that contractors are usually considered expendable and hired for a specific purpose).
You have to bite the bullet and pitch yourself at what the client is looking for. *Then*, when you have the gig you can demonstrate your other skills and hopefully get noticed and working on an area which you might want to specialize in (be that PM or a specific discipline) - the bottom line remains that you have to focus.
Cheers,
Mike

[DaveB]

Genralists dont make successfull contractors, generally. Clients hire us to do a specific job over a specific period of time and generally dont really care what else you can do.

If you have a wide range of skills on your CV then start knocking up different versions for each skill, that way you have one that matches when you want to apply for a job.

TBH you should be doing this anyway. See the job you want, then tailor your CV to match the requirements as closely as possible. Make it easy for the pimps to tick the boxes and get you in front of the client.

I frequently cut and paste sections of the job specs in the ad into my CV just to make sure the spotty herberts realise that my skill set does actually match the job requirements.