Oh bother

[suityou01]

You don't. You can't make up stuff you don't know, you'll get busted in no time.

I think what people are talking about when they say blagging is embellishing what's already on your CV to emphasise the parts that relate to the role you're going for. Expand certain aspects of previous gigs to change the weighting so a half dev/ half BA contract becomes more like 25%/75% in favour of the desired skill.

And investment banks aren't the only companies hiring at the moment. They may be the only ones paying a rate you're prepared to work for, but that's a separate issue.

You're quite right. Retail banks, asset management houses, insurers, reinsurers are hiring also. But they won't look outside their market place for talent so I'm equally stuffed.

[MarillionFan]

So are we repping him up or down then?

Down of course.

[MaryPoppins]

Quite heartening to read this thread and not just see the p1ss being taken out of SY all over the place.

The lack of industry experience aside (perhaps not much you can do about that given lots have the required experience), it definitely sounds like a good idea to sharpen the CV and tailor it more towards one skill set.

I specialise in one area (not IT stuff) and although I've restricted myself, it ensures that when 'my' roles come up (rare), I get seen.

[original PM]

just keep grinding fella - something will come along..


it is just like sales - the more calls you make the more sales you will make...

[OwlHoot]

I'll be honest, for the first time in 16 years, I am cacking it.

It seems no matter how hard I try, how many quotes, ITT responses, jobserve applications I do, I'm just not getting anywhere.

Don't despair. At the risk of sounding corny, well OK _being_ corny, contracts are like buses. Nothing happens for a couple of weeks, and then all of a sudden there are two or three opportunities all at once. But that is for developer roles - Not sure if it is the same for PM positions.

[MarillionFan]

just keep grinding fella - something will come along..


it is just like sales - the more calls you make the more sales you will make...

Unless your selling signed photos of Jimmy Saville.

[OwlHoot]

Unless your selling signed photos of Jimmy Saville.

Signed Jimmy Saville photos?!

Hang onto them - They'll be worth a fortune soon, once everyone has ditched theirs in disgust.

[darmstadt]

It's not though. Why won't you just listen for a second? You are the one telling me I am being given good advice and how I should be listening? Yet I am the one who is consistently being knocked back for roles because I don't have the relevant industry experience.

How do I counter that? "But but but I have lots of experience relevant to the role, I've done this role countless times at xyz company" just doesn't cut it. Unless you have an RBS/London markets/PPI/Cards/Payments/Whatever the lofty skill I don't have is I am getting nowhere.

For the sake of the peace I will say thanks for all the advice, you've been a big help I will mull it all over.

If of course anyone has a bright idea how to stop getting knocked back, and this pertains to how to "blag" experience I don't have to pass the first sift then I would be most keen to hear it.

Change your name?

[MarillionFan]

Having recently perused around 200 resumes for business analysts I was looking for specific business focus. The vast majority were littered with technical jargon as opposed to how that BA understood the industry and specific skills around processes Im working on.

To be honest, after a while list of technical skills went in the bin.

[MaryPoppins]

Having recently perused around 200 resumes for business analysts I was looking for specific business focus. The vast majority were littered with technical jargon as opposed to how that BA understood the industry and specific skills around processes Im working on.

To be honest, after a while list of technical skills went in the bin.