Advice on Securing Contract PM Role

[Alan09]

Hi all,
This is my first post so please bear with me.
I've been looking for a new contract role in the Manchester/North West for the last few months without any joy. I've done a variety of roles, including IT PM, Business change PM roles, and I also managed an IT support team (despite not being particularly technical).
I'd really like to get back into pure project delivery but recruiting agents are telling me I'm at a disadvantage because I haven't specialised - can anyone provide advice/suggestions on the best way to go about securing my next contract?
Thanks

[Scrag Meister]

1. Keep applying for contracts.
2. Tailor your CV for each role to bring the required skills to the fore.
3. Keep applying for contracts
4. Keep in contact with the agent so your name is in his mind for certain types of role.
5. and did I say keep applying for contracts.

GL in your search.

[nomadd]

I've been looking for a new contract role in the Manchester/North West for the last few months without any joy.

- can anyone provide advice/suggestions on the best way to go about securing my next contract?
Thanks

Are you prepared to work away from home?

Those of us from the NW spend most of our contracting lives working outside the region, as the roles are few and far between there - as you are finding.

If you aren't prepared to cast a wide net in the current market, you may be looking for a contract in vain.

[kaiser78]

Hi all,
This is my first post so please bear with me.
I've been looking for a new contract role in the Manchester/North West for the last few months without any joy. I've done a variety of roles, including IT PM, Business change PM roles, and I also managed an IT support team (despite not being particularly technical).
I'd really like to get back into pure project delivery but recruiting agents are telling me I'm at a disadvantage because I haven't specialised - can anyone provide advice/suggestions on the best way to go about securing my next contract?
Thanks

As a PM your specialisation is, well, project management. As long as you can demonstrate this strongly on your CV it doesn't matter if this is spread across sectors, more so, it can demonstrate flexibility in the use of your specialisation which is a good thing.

Other comments are valid, especially being willing to travel and apply, apply, apply. Best of luck.

[redgiant]

As a PM your specialisation is, well, project management. As long as you can demonstrate this strongly on your CV it doesn't matter if this is spread across sectors, more so, it can demonstrate flexibility in the use of your specialisation which is a good thing.

Other comments are valid, especially being willing to travel and apply, apply, apply. Best of luck.

Whilst I agree with what Kaiser says about PM being a specialism however clients will go with a PM who has experience delivering the change they want already be it a desktop refresh, e-commerce application development, datacentre migration and a company merger. Why would they want to risk their project on someone who hasn't been there before and can guide them through any project specific difficulties they may encounter?

I've managed many different projects (all that I mentioned above) but as a consultant rather than as a contractor. The contacts i've obtained in the last year have been for projects that I have experience delivering already. I have had interviews though for projects that I don't have direct interview experience with so It's not impossible. However you will need to work on the CV to highlight any points that you have managing those projects that will be important to the one being advertised e.g. stakeholder management, supplier management, Agile experience, management of risks etc.

[Alan09]

Thanks for your replies. I am finding that clients are demanding specific experience of the project the roles are related to.

I'll take on the advice re:applying, applying, applying and really tailoring my cv to highlight the skills needed for each role.

Thanks again

[TraceRacing]

As a PM specialising in infrastructure and data centres, I don't even bother applying for development PM roles, even though I started out as a programmer....

Good luck with the hunt...and if you want a role (mainly WFH) and have good infrastructure skills, send me a message

[cojak]

I've sent a request to Admin asking for PM rights for Alan09.

[quackhandle]

Those of us from the NW spend most of our contracting lives working outside the region, as the roles are few and far between there - as you are finding.

This. I've found IT contract roles (in my field anyway) in the NW come like the proverbial buses, nowt for months and months, then one comes along. But it's broken down (ie poor pay) but once in a blue moon a decent one comes up.

IMHO the Shangri-La for all contractors is decent location / pay / agency / client / contract / working conditions / some eye candy to oogle at

if you can tick at least two of those your doing well.

Keep trying.

qh

[SunnyInHades]

some eye candy to oogle at
qh

Not seen ANY in last contracts .. just mainly ugly blokes over 30 !

Other than a couple of admin gals over 55 who popped in to see the perms once in a blue moon literally zip

C'est la vie techy contracting