Need to get off the bench....

[MPwannadecentincome]

An agent just talked my rate up!

Hmm that means I should have asked for much more, never mind.

Well I figured out why they talked my rate up, got the job spec and it was at a more senior level than I had done. Means I don't quite match the job spec but agent says they are sending my CV across with a detailed covering letter anyway.

In meantime I have a result from Friday's phone interview - I have to go next week for a face to face

[SuPaStA]

Well I figured out why they talked my rate up, got the job spec and it was at a more senior level than I had done. Means I don't quite match the job spec but agent says they are sending my CV across with a detailed covering letter anyway.

In meantime I have a result from Friday's phone interview - I have to go next week for a face to face

Thanks for keeping this thread updated - always interesting seeing how people handle time on the bench.

[Bellona]

In meantime I have a result from Friday's phone interview - I have to go next week for a face to face

good luck ! Keep us posted

[MPwannadecentincome]

Well that's it now its almost Xmas

Time is flying - phone was ringing!

But still no offers. Since the last post I went for the face to face interview and it took until today for them to decide they did not want to offer the role to anyone even though I was led to believe I was the hot favourite candidate.

In the meantime have been to interviews at 2 other clients - the last of which was this afternoon.

Both went well - had feedback from one saying final interview in Jan. Hopefully will get same result for todays.

I signed up with a company to do a more professional CV designed for contractors having attended a webinar arranged through the PCG - so that is underway this week.

But now everyone has practically knocked off for Xmas / New Year so its going to take a week or 2 in Jan to actually start anything.

The phone has rung so much in the last two weeks I am confident that something will turn up in Jan just with invoice payment probably just as warchest depletes.

So good job I signed on for JSA beginning of last week - have to go to Job Center in the morning at 9am and take in Ltd Co registration certificate with me.

Merry Xmas to you all and if you are on the bench here's to 2014 clearing the bench quickly!

[SpontaneousOrder]

Time is flying - phone was ringing!

But still no offers. Since the last post I went for the face to face interview and it took until today for them to decide they did not want to offer the role to anyone even though I was led to believe I was the hot favourite candidate.

In the meantime have been to interviews at 2 other clients - the last of which was this afternoon.

Both went well - had feedback from one saying final interview in Jan. Hopefully will get same result for todays.

I signed up with a company to do a more professional CV designed for contractors having attended a webinar arranged through the PCG - so that is underway this week.

But now everyone has practically knocked off for Xmas / New Year so its going to take a week or 2 in Jan to actually start anything.

The phone has rung so much in the last two weeks I am confident that something will turn up in Jan just with invoice payment probably just as warchest depletes.

So good job I signed on for JSA beginning of last week - have to go to Job Center in the morning at 9am and take in Ltd Co registration certificate with me.

Merry Xmas to you all and if you are on the bench here's to 2014 clearing the bench quickly!

I had the phone ringing non-stop for a month or so, but I was surprised that everything moved so slowly. Just as I thought "oh crap, there's nothing in the pipeline", i got interviews at several places (irritatingly all at the same time) that i'd given up on.

Good luck.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Update

This week 2 pieces of bad news:

1. Interview for gig I was most hopeful about - they decided not to take anyone on
2. Interview on Monday for a different gig - they have a stronger candidate who will be interviewed by the business sponsor, which is fine tho' I'm sure they must have an alternative candidate they are keeping warm just in case so I'm disappointed I didn't make it into the top 2

Still 1 hot opportunity in the pipeline so hoping that will be a quick interview in Jan even though its £125 pd lower than my last gig and a 2 hour drive if I rent a car. A couple of other warm opportunities I think but I will have to chase the agents on Jan 2nd.

Xmas Eve I went to Job Center - had to attend 15 min presentation on how to use Universal JobMatch and they don't accept the written record of job search activities anymore it all has to be done online. Then was given the sign-on dates etc and had to fill in a special form the self employed and directors and told to take in business bank statements on 30 Dec.

Also did a linkedin status update on Xmas Eve, on the basis that no-one else would be giving an update so mine might get more noticed in their newsfeed. Has resulted in a phone call already from and old client today so a phone interview is setup for Monday - great end to the week!

[Damon]

There is a lot of positive in there and Jan will pick up too!

Make sure you get a short notice period in and keep your options open without pissing anyone off.

[quackhandle]

Most of the calls I got from pimps before Christmas seemed to be the "lets look busy before we knock off for the day" you know the ones, they usually that start with: "I'm looking to put together a shortlist for a client I'm working with in January. You look a perfect fit."



qh

[MPwannadecentincome]

Most of the calls I got from pimps before Christmas seemed to be the "lets look busy before we knock off for the day" you know the ones, they usually that start with: "I'm looking to put together a shortlist for a client I'm working with in January. You look a perfect fit."



qh

Yeah I had one of those calls - I figured it out when they would not name the client, funnily there was no attempt to phish any info out of me!

[quackhandle]

My response is you have my cv and my number. Call me when you get a spec.

Sorts the wheat from the chaff.

qh