Searching for SQL Server\ASP.NET Developer Contracts

[quackhandle]

thank you all for your replies, based on your inputs worked on these points

1) Improved cover letter, CV (may be not a killer CV that says I am magic or giant developer can do everything but I am sure it meets applied job requirements)

You need to make it a killer CV, otherwise your wasting everyone's time and time is £$£$£$£$£$£

2) Called up consultant as soon as application sent, No luck most of the cases consultants were busy I was told to leave phone number, name but no response afterwards

That's because they've looked at your CV and, sorry to break this to you, realised it ain't good enough.

3) applied for only most suitable jobs Are you sure you've applied for the correct roles? See 2) sounds like you havebn't. Have you considered junior roles?

it's fours week now so far no interviews lined up, nothing in hand. There's a reason for that.

Good luck.

ps - try and stick to one handle.

qh

[northernladuk]

Good luck.

ps - try and stick to one handle.

qh

Like a quack one or is that taken?

[quackhandle]

Like a quack one or is that taken?

Taken.

qh

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

thank you all for your replies, based on your inputs worked on these points

1) Improved cover letter, CV (may be not a killer CV that says I am magic or giant developer can do everything but I am sure it meets applied job requirements)

2) Called up consultant as soon as application sent, No luck most of the cases consultants were busy I was told to leave phone number, name but no response afterwards

3) applied for only most suitable jobs

it's fours week now so far no interviews lined up, nothing in hand.

Are there .NET, SQL Developers who are in job market? what's your thoughts ?
How are you finding market? any specific job sites, agencies for SQL Server, .NET technologies?

Thanks
crazydatacop

Regarding 2) - I personally never call up agents after I have applied unless I already know them from previous contracts or interviews. Agents smell desperation , the calmer you play it the more they want to put you forwards. I often don't answer and see if they leave a message as that tells you how genuine the role is.

[wurzel]

Hi,

Past 8 years worked with different clients, IT consulting companies performed different roles finally decided to go for contract job on SQL Server, .NET 3.5 Web Forms.

It's four weeks now applied for 80 jobs and made CV visible to everyone so far no success. no response at all from recruitment agencies, keep following different job boards, forums, linkedingroup really need advice from someone who has similar experience in past.

Altered CV few times
called back recruitment consultants for feedback ( Got replies xyz is missing though small bits only missing, when I apply for SQL developer they say profile is strong for .NET development and vice versa, Not enough banking experience etc)

appreciate your thoughts and help.

Thanks
Crazydatacop

I'm sure there's plenty of stuff still out there but I haven't done any webforms for a few years now. They don't lend themselves very well to the test driven methodologies that are all the rage these days.

In fact, on that note, try and big up your CV to include any experience you may have of Agile, TDD, mocking frameworks etc....

[firsttimecontractor]

Good luck.

ps - try and stick to one handle.

qh

again thanks to all for all your replies

1) Looks like I need help of professional cv writers to prepare killer CV any recommendations (of course economical)

2) while speaking to agents yes I am trying my best to explain skill set, similar kind of work done in past , tried to marry up different things may be accent issue

3) applied for most suitable jobs, junior roles (2 years exp in SQL Server, .NET application support) as I am not too concerned about rate\role initially just want to crack it

4) one of agency negotiated £200 per day I agreed for it but some reason they didn't turn up


Thanks
Firsttimecontractor

[northernladuk]

again thanks to all for all your replies

1) Looks like I need help of professional cv writers to prepare killer CV any recommendations (of course economical)

Use the search as described in the Welcome/FAQ section. You will find this isn't a good idea.

2) while speaking to agents yes I am trying my best to explain skill set, similar kind of work done in past , tried to marry up different things may be accent issue

Most likely lack of skills and not being the killer guy for the role. If you are looking at £200 a day roles they will expect you to have an accent.

4) one of agency negotiated £200 per day I agreed for it but some reason they didn't turn up

What do you mean didn't turn up?

[DimPrawn]

Probably the fact you are advertising yourself as a .NET/SQL developer is letting you down.... Most jobs are advertised as a .NET specialist or SQL specialist with solid experience in the other technology.

Your CV should scream out to the company "HIRE ME YOU FOOL". If it doesn't then you are marketing yourself as a permie, so stick to permie.

^This.

The MS Dev world has become very specialised, especially the contract market.

You are either deep .NET/MVC/JQuery/LINQ/EF type of guy, or a deep SQL Server/SSIS/SSAS/SSRS/DBA type of guy.

There's not much call for inbetweeners anymore.

[KentPhilip]

Regarding 2) - I personally never call up agents after I have applied unless I already know them from previous contracts or interviews. Agents smell desperation , the calmer you play it the more they want to put you forwards.

While it is, I guess, a matter of opinion, I don't agree with this.
I follow up jobs with a phone call despite being not desperate, and I think it does come across as enthusiastic rather than desparate.
Indeed I find if I am genuinely not that interested in a role and don't follow it up with a call, agents don't get back to me. I think they are psychic in this way...

[xing]

.NET 3.5 Web Forms is at least 3 years outdated. I don't know if anybody still doing it, or even if they do, they'll advertise for ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET WebApi.

If you've done more 8 years in this industry, you're expected to specialize in at least two other programming languages / platforms as well, know about continuous integration, automated testing and practice BDD / TDD / pair programming and other things that a senior developer do.

Hi,

Past 8 years worked with different clients, IT consulting companies performed different roles finally decided to go for contract job on SQL Server, .NET 3.5 Web Forms.

It's four weeks now applied for 80 jobs and made CV visible to everyone so far no success. no response at all from recruitment agencies, keep following different job boards, forums, linkedingroup really need advice from someone who has similar experience in past.

Altered CV few times
called back recruitment consultants for feedback ( Got replies xyz is missing though small bits only missing, when I apply for SQL developer they say profile is strong for .NET development and vice versa, Not enough banking experience etc)

appreciate your thoughts and help.

Thanks
Crazydatacop