Life on the bench: in my dressing gown

[eliquant]

Hang on in there RC, also I've been getting more agents call me (and I aint even looking) so go search.

[RichardCranium]

I am weeding my application records and am sad at the number of applications where I have provided a heavily tweaked or rewritten CV as requested, and then heard nothing more.

Then I daydreamed a bit and I just had a little fantasy.

Somewhere off in the future, I die and go up to Heaven. Outside the gates are gangs of recruitment agents, all looking poorly and cross. They collar me and a bunch of other old and dead contractors saying:

"I had a seizure at my desk. I couldn't speak or move. I was sat there for days and days until I starved to death. Eventually the smell of my rotting body made the management have the cleaners throw my corpose in the bin outside. If only you had called me, I could have been rescued."

And we replied: "You said I wasn't to call you and that you'd call me if there was any news, but you never did..."

[SantaClaus]

"I had a seizure at my desk. I couldn't speak or move. I was sat there for days and days until I starved to death. Eventually the smell of my rotting body made the management have the cleaners throw my corpose in the bin outside. If only you had called me, I could have been rescued."

Uncanny...sounds like Citibank.

One bit of advice with the job hunting, try not to let the negativity that you are obviously feeling show in your job interviews. I know it's difficult, I was out of work for a year during my contracting career. But recruiters will pick up the negative vibes straight away.

Shoot me down in flames if I am talking tulip. I wish you the best of luck.

[OwlHoot]

I'm sure this doesn't apply to RC, but it's amazing how some people let themselves down fatally at interviews.

At clientco, a fellow contractor has been roped into hosting video interviews locally, with the staff in another country. Last week he mentioned one of the interviewees he was due to meet because this guy had been at a former client of mine whose name I had mentioned (although I hadn't met him there - It was a large client).

When I later asked him how the interview went, it turned out that technically he was fine ("strong" was the word used). But he had been bizarrely uncooperative; for example, he refused to sketch a simple model on a whiteboard, and insisted on explaining his reply verbally.

Apparently he also seemed strange mixture of shy aloofness at some points and long winded prolixity at others. In fact the interview overran by some time because towards the end they could barely interrupt him.

[RichardCranium]

Considering all these "green shoots" and "everything will be better in September", I must be on a different planet. I can see bugger all out there except those investment bank jobs.

[RichardCranium]

Last week I applied for a gig that uses my specialist skill set. I applied and got past the agent.

The agent phoned yesterday to say the client had only seen one CV that passed the sift - mine! Wahay! That was why I chose an obscure subject area: no competition.

... but ...

Apparently HR were not happy with the recruiting manager only interviewing one person: "No competition, contractor could dictate a rate".

The gig has been re-advertised today with the specialist skill as only a "Desirable" and now every generic project manager in the country can go for the role too.

[chris79]

Have you got to the stage where a 'perm' job may be a viable option?

[chris79]

The gig has been re-advertised today with the specialist skill as only a "Desirable" and now every generic project manager in the country can go for the role too.

That will be everyone with a PRINCE2 foundation certificate and a big gob / exaggerated CV.. plenty of those to pick from now.

[Zippy]

Last week I applied for a gig that uses my specialist skill set. I applied and got past the agent.

The agent phoned yesterday to say the client had only seen one CV that passed the sift - mine! Wahay! That was why I chose an obscure subject area: no competition.

... but ...

Apparently HR were not happy with the recruiting manager only interviewing one person: "No competition, contractor could dictate a rate".

The gig has been re-advertised today with the specialist skill as only a "Desirable" and now every generic project manager in the country can go for the role too.

But you still have that specialist skill set so a good chance of being put forward.

If the agent has a brain (what am I saying? ), he'll sell you to the client and it'll be a no-brainer for the recruiting manager.

Hi btw. Are you now fully wired up to the info superhighway?

[sleepyweasel]

just starting my 2nd month on the bench. skillset is 3rd level server support (banking exp), exchange, AD, that sort of stuff.

when I moved back to london last month i was aiming to get a contract paying 25-30/hr, as i've had no luck i decided today to apply for anything paying 15/hr and up (actually maybe i'd take less than 15).

what annoys me is that I see 1st line helpdesk jobs, call logging, where little experience is necessary, and they're offering 15-18/hr.

i dont understand why im not finding anything. i refuse to go back to 1st line support. or even 2nd.