Life on the bench: in my dressing gown

[Sysman]

That was a good, productive weekend. The home office is now workable.

The home LAN is back up and I've two PCs on my desk and the printer and phone set up. I'm good to go gig-getting in earnest...

Although a visit to the Job Centre to see what I can claim may be the best way to spend the day.

Going back to student days here, but I used to budget at least 2 days to do the Job Centre and Social Security bit.

[RichardCranium]

What is this? National Don't Phone Back Day?

I feel like I have spent half the day phoning agents and getting blocked and leaving messages. None have been returned.

The most recent one even did such a poor job of pretending his colleague wasn't there and then pretending to take a message that it was contemptible.

Why don't they just set up an answerphone?

"If you are recruiting, press 1 to get a human being.
If you are wanting to speak to an agent about a role, just f*** off.
Thank you."

[BrilloPad]

press 1 to get a human being.

I dont think they have any do they?

[suityou01]

What is this? National Don't Phone Back Day?

Every day is NDPBD.

Now I'm going to assume you already do the following :

Posted you CV on monster. Most calls for me are generated from this site, despite there being very few actual gigs on it.

Posted CV on PlanetRecruit. This also generates a lot of calls, as some pimps use a service called hotonline, which is sfw.

Update you cv on jobserve, monster, planetrecruit et al every day or so, even if just to move a semi colon. This generates activity on your profiles and the pimps will be all over this.

These pimps that don't return calls most likely posted a ghost contract to get in CVs. In this market, they call you, even before the gig is advertised.

Now get your paddle out for the whipper-snapper teaching granny to suck eggs.

[George Parr]

What is this? National Don't Phone Back Day?

I feel like I have spent half the day phoning agents and getting blocked and leaving messages. None have been returned.

The most recent one even did such a poor job of pretending his colleague wasn't there and then pretending to take a message that it was contemptible.

Why don't they just set up an answerphone?

"If you are recruiting, press 1 to get a human being.
If you are wanting to speak to an agent about a role, just f*** off.
Thank you."

year

[MonzaMike]

i have plenty of cash in the bank, right now im not really looking to save anything, i'm moving to the states in a few months and I just want to have some good, recent experience in 3rd level support to give me the best chance of finding something over there. is there some way i can tell agents that i'm a bargain basement analyst more than happy to be underpaid?

Try speaking with an indian accent

[SantaClaus]

Try speaking with an indian accent

Alternatively, lower your rate from £500 a day to a bowl of rice and a glass of water

[Stan.goodvibes]

*bump*

[RichardCranium]

Can't sleep.

Been lying in bed awake since 02:30 worrying about no job, no money, etc.

I've been working very hard this week applying for gigs. Again I have not managed to speak to any agents. Their telephone 'gatekeepers' are all back from holiday and being super-efficient.

I have been responding quickly, writing covering letters and tailoring my CV for each role. No response.

I have uploaded my CV to just about every job site. No response.

I have been telephoning the land-line from my mobile at least once a day: it does work. But then I know it does from all the tele-sales calls and wrong number calls for Kim somebody-or-other.

[RichardCranium]

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

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.

I am assured I will hear on Monday whether I have an interview for this role. It does not seem likely; the agent says (by email, I can't get him on the telephone) he had an excellent response to the 'revised' job description.