New (ish) contractor, any advice on the search / or leads

[istvan]

Be prepared for months on the bench in this climate rather than weeks.

Experienced contractors are.

I have searched for two months now. I am on: jobserve, totaljobs, monster, cwjobs, cv-library, and a few miscellaneous boards. Of course, LinkedIn is a leading spot to be on, for ERs or agents to look at your profile. I keep updating my CV on jobserve and am active on LinkedIn. This gives you exposure if you do so as well.

It is hard to wait not being in control, especially being a PM, but that's all we can do. Networking with people you know and people on LinkedIn is a must of course. I also contact ex employers and prospective clients with whom I indirectly worked in the past. Anyway, this is a good time to brush up on your skills while waiting. Take a short course, self learning, etc.

There will be days when you get a bunch of calls, but then there will be some days quite quiet ... Some calls will be only fishing for contacts from your ex employers. It takes time to learn the ropes, but it is worth it. Contracting is being in business for yourself, selling your skills not your soul. "Where is your corporate loyalty" - I was asked once. I told them "where the money is" and I quit.

Anyway, I am digressing. Good luck and keep up the search.

[istvan]

Oh ye, I almost forgot. Be active here, it is a place to learn from other contractors, but beware, before you ask any questions, search the site. Perhaps that subject has been beat to death already. If you don't northernladuk will jump on you like ... Well, I told you.

[zorgi]

Its not that I am happy to hear others have trouble finding contract at the moment but it does make me feel less worried.

I stopped updating my CV on job boards because I think all I get from it is loads of phone calls from agents who are fishing for leads. Every time new job comes on the market there is 10 agents calling me about that one job. Not very good sign when they are all fighting about one single job. I also noticed that over 80% of phone calls I get is regarding perm roles. It feels like real shortage of people who are looking for perm position. On the other hand there is also real shortage of contracts at the moment.

I can sit still couple of months more while getting out of the way things I wanted or have meant to do for a while now.

[northernladyuk]

Oh ye, I almost forgot. Be active here, it is a place to learn from other contractors, but beware, before you ask any questions, search the site. Perhaps that subject has been beat to death already. If you don't northernladuk will jump on you like ... Well, I told you.

Don't worry about him dear. Ignore him. He won't shut up but soon enough his chatter starts to resemble a faint electric hum - like trying to sleep in bed with an aging tranny turned on downstairs.

[northernladuk]

Don't worry about him dear. Ignore him. He won't shut up but soon enough his chatter starts to resemble a faint electric hum - like trying to sleep in bed with an aging tranny turned on downstairs.

Only one aging tranny in our house and it doesn't sleep downstairs

[bobspud]

Anyone else having trouble building a war chest with the current rates?

While the warchest is the most important point within contracting. The type of rates that you need in order to get a warchest up and runing don't seem to be available anymore.

With rates greatly reduced (had a good increase with my current contract but still down 200 from my best rates)

I have spent most of my warchest last year thanks to a few bench stints followed by short contracts on much reduced rates I am starting to think its not worth contracting if you have to effectively halve your rate then spend three months on the bench only to then struggle to get your warchest back to then repeat the whole sorry cycle...

[kal]

LinkedIn is a good resource, especially as it lets you connect directly with end client resoursers bypassing the whole recruitment agent bull, its how I found my current role

[zorgi]

LinkedIn is a good resource, especially as it lets you connect directly with end client resoursers bypassing the whole recruitment agent bull, its how I found my current role

I have LinkedIn account but am not very good at using it. Did they find you or you found them? I would love to be able to skip agents. I don't care if I don't get more money for skipping middle man I simply don't like dealing with most of them.

[kal]

I have LinkedIn account but am not very good at using it. Did they find you or you found them? I would love to be able to skip agents. I don't care if I don't get more money for skipping middle man I simply don't like dealing with most of them.

I originally applied for the role via an agency and didn't even make the first cut (agent came out with some tulip about my skills/background not being a match), luckily for me I managed to get the end clients name and approached HR direct, one tech test, telephone interview and a face to face and I got offered the role

[zorgi]

... (agent came out with some tulip about my skills/background not being a match)...

Puzzles me why do they do that. Are they just trying to get you out of the competition so their client has better chances or what is actually behind that?