Reply to: Need some tips to get an interview

[MyUserName]

For those have asking I'm working in IT Mainframe technology, so COBOL, CICS, DB2...etc.

Are these the types of roles you are applying for now?

I don't know of many mainframe contracts going but the main frame guys I work with are seriously top level. If that is standard for mainframe work then you are competing with some top level opponents.

If you are going for different types of roles then this might be why no one is getting back to you?

[TheFaQQer]

After reading your comments I'm sure now that the problem is my CV, is asking to much if any of you can share privately with me (after deleting the confidential information) his tested CV? I would like to change it completely.

I don't think you're going to get many people offer to spend their time editing their CV to send to you, so you can do something with yours.

You might get a better response if you ask people that are successful contractors / agents if they would mind looking over yours and suggesting improvements though.

[malvolio]

Thanks all for your advise, I do have UK address and UK mobile number, I'm actually working at UK so all that is sorted

For those have asking I'm working in IT Mainframe technology, so COBOL, CICS, DB2...etc.

After reading your comments I'm sure now that the problem is my CV, is asking to much if any of you can share privately with me (after deleting the confidential information) his tested CV? I would like to change it completely.

Regards

Read the link I posted earlier...

[rumomo50]

Thanks all for your advise, I do have UK address and UK mobile number, I'm actually working at UK so all that is sorted

For those have asking I'm working in IT Mainframe technology, so COBOL, CICS, DB2...etc.

After reading your comments I'm sure now that the problem is my CV, is asking to much if any of you can share privately with me (after deleting the confidential information) his tested CV? I would like to change it completely.

Regards

[SueEllen]

I have a 'very clearly' Eastern European name, has never caused me any issues (apart from when I was at school LOL). My mate is a Serbian with an equally odd and hard to pronounce name, he gets calls from pimps all the time.

What's the difference between a white and a black name? I know many blacks with names such as Paul, Lee, Dave, Steve etc.

In the UK it's not so obvious however in the US people from different social and ethnic backgrounds have more distinct ways of naming their children.

So in the US very wealthy White people give their children weird as in non-standard names like very poor Black people. However the White folks go to private schools together and use their family connections to get jobs, there as the Black folks are unable to do this.

[Roger Mellie]

There have been numerous studies done in America where identical CVs were sent out but where on one they put a 'black' name and the other they put a 'white' name. Predictably the 'white' CVs got a much higher response rate. Its disgusting that we still live in a world like this but if you have a name which is very clearly Eastern European you can bet that some recruiters will think twice before replying.
If you're really desperate to get a role then maybe anglocizing your name may be a way of getting an extra edge, if it doesn't make you want to throw up and scream out the window.

I have a 'very clearly' Eastern European name, has never caused me any issues (apart from when I was at school LOL). My mate is a Serbian with an equally odd and hard to pronounce name, he gets calls from pimps all the time.

What's the difference between a white and a black name? I know many blacks with names such as Paul, Lee, Dave, Steve etc.

[Roger Mellie]

is using jobserve.com or similar sending my cv to different offers.

I only ever seem to get a result from Jobsite. When on the bench, I delete and re upload my CV daily (Mon - Fri) to keep the CV and profile up-to-date when pimps do their search. Also, when updating your CV daily, pimps know you're actively looking as opposed to a CV updated weeks ago.

With regards to the contracts advertised, I've found all to be nothing more than a CV harvesting exercise. Those who have got back to me have always requested "copy of your passport and 2 references before we can put you forward", in reality they're after leads and there is in fact no contract to be had.

All the gigs I've got have never been advertised. Pimps found my CV on Jobsite, called me direct, usually dispensed with the small talk and get down to the business of discussing skills required, the rate and availability for an interview. When there is money to be made, pimps are pretty much all over you like a rash with calls, voice mails and emails.

[MattZani]

To be more specific, what are your core skills?

And we also need 2 references before we can give you any other advice

[uk contractor]

UK has no shortage of UK born IT contractors in virtually any area

Your lack of job ad response is because UK has way too many candidates already you need to have niche skills to even get considered what can you possibly offer over & above what other stronger candidates can to even secure an interview??

Try Dublin or Western European instead I heard they are way less selective Poland in particular has a booming IT industry <mod snip> ........stolen ......... sorry I meant outsourced from other better paying regions

[Boo]

I can't see what it would serve, perhaps only whether the CV is working...

Yep, that was the rationale, it would tell the OP whether the CV is the issue or his nationality/location.

I was not suggesting it as a general recourse

Boo2

[FatLazyContractor]

As someone already said, it all depends on your skillset. If your skills are niche, then your name/gender/race don't really matter (provided you excel at what you do).

To be more specific, what are your core skills?

[gigahoe]

If this is the issue then you could try putting a made-up English name and address in the CV and sending that out to see what happens. I think that the chances of a recruitment agency phoning someone abroad about a UK based role are small in the current market, so I am assuming you have a UK phone number, right ?

Boo

There have been numerous studies done in America where identical CVs were sent out but where on one they put a 'black' name and the other they put a 'white' name. Predictably the 'white' CVs got a much higher response rate. Its disgusting that we still live in a world like this but if you have a name which is very clearly Eastern European you can bet that some recruiters will think twice before replying.
If you're really desperate to get a role then maybe anglocizing your name may be a way of getting an extra edge, if it doesn't make you want to throw up and scream out the window.

[Antman]

If this is the issue then you could try putting a made-up English name and address in the CV and sending that out to see what happens. I think that the chances of a recruitment agency phoning someone abroad about a UK based role are small in the current market, so I am assuming you have a UK phone number, right ?

Boo

I can't see what it would serve, perhaps only whether the CV is working but it's a waste of time in every other way, wasting the agent's and client's time. Any interest generated would be null and void since the company want to interview Andrew Johnson not Andrei Ioanscu.

The UK address is a must though, if you don't have that there's no way the agent is going to be calling you.

[ujjain]

I think your CV is basically the most important things to getting interviews. They don't know anything else about you, except for your CV. It's the only piece of paper they can decide the fact if they should invite you for an interview or not on.

[Boo]

3. I’m not English, but coming from the EU, so maybe I’m discarded because of my English level?

If this is the issue then you could try putting a made-up English name and address in the CV and sending that out to see what happens. I think that the chances of a recruitment agency phoning someone abroad about a UK based role are small in the current market, so I am assuming you have a UK phone number, right ?

Boo