How to snag a permie job after contracting for ages?

[cherhill]

Yup it's testing, problem is lots of companies think they don't need good quality testers so they opt for the cheaper option or for Bobs. Oh well as the saying goes "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.""

I am in Testing too. Have been contracting for 15 years and have to say I never seen it like this. Testing market has been slowly getting worse for sometime but there just aren't any decent roles around anymore. I was planning on going permie next year anyway but thinking of now bringing this forward. I don't think I will have problems convincing them anyway as have valid reasons as kids a bit older and wife hopefully can restart her career and other reasons. But we will see.

[Mich the Tester]

I am in Testing too. Have been contracting for 15 years and have to say I never seen it like this. Testing market has been slowly getting worse for sometime but there just aren't any decent roles around anymore. I was planning on going permie next year anyway but thinking of now bringing this forward. I don't think I will have problems convincing them anyway as have valid reasons as kids a bit older and wife hopefully can restart her career and other reasons. But we will see.

Try and get into testing industrial software instead; some skills like PLC and Scada can help. Engineering firms still believe in testing, happily. Or healthcare technology, aerospace, motor industry because they have legal requirements to meet regarding testing. As for the rest who are doing this loony thing of 100% test automation whch should actually be called 'automated checking', we'll just have to wait until they screw it all up. Which they will, believe me.

[pFennig]

Contractors don't know how to be Permies.

how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

Agencies contact me frequently about permie roles, although I don't have a year of permiedom... ever. About fifty percent of the times an agent approaches me - a contractor - it will be about a speculative permie role.

I suggest that you are asking your question to the wrong audience.

[pFennig]

You Cannot Win: "Why do you want to be a Permie?"

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

Some agencies have badgered me to "apply" for "high-salary" Permie roles.

I've occasionally agreed, just - I thought - for the interview insight and experience... No.

The same agent then proceeds to interrogate my reasons for "wanting" to go Perm.

"I don't want to go Perm.", you protest, "You just asked me to apply."

[BolshieBastard]

Some agencies have badgered me to "apply" for "high-salary" Permie roles.

I've occasionally agreed, just - I thought - for the interview insight and experience... No.

The same agent then proceeds to interrogate my reasons for "wanting" to go Perm.

"I don't want to go Perm.", you protest, "You just asked me to apply."

LOL! Yes, its like when they speak to you about a role you're 'ideal' for then you dont hear any more or, dont return you call when you ask for feedback etc.

I got some good advice from one of the permie recruiters recently so will put that into practice.

[norrahe]

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

All I did was put MyCo 2005 - present and then listed all the clients and what each role entailed.

First question in interview was "why do you want to go permie", I answered "career progression".

Got the gig despite being up against 2 people who had relevant industry experience.

Thing is in cloggers most permie roles are either 6 months or 1 year contracts, so not really any different, the contract was a lot simpler to read than all the nonsense you get with a contractor style one.