Reply to: List of contracting houses.

[TheFaQQer]

Your chances of getting a contract by "registering" with an agency or "contracting house" (no such thing exists btw) is slim to none. Yes all the agencies are hoarding CVs and have massive databases with contractors, the problem is they are almost never used for anything more than mass e-mail spam based on keywords match by a script, without any consideration to actually match the job spec to actual experience.

That isn't correct for all agencies. At least one of the agencies in the list I posted work very much on a model of getting to know the client and the contractor and making effective matches rather than just looking for the quickest buck. Granted they are a rarity, but not all agencies are using a database just to send spam.

[quackhandle]

I might be coming out of left field here but have you gone to CWjobs or Jobserve and searched for "Oracle DBA"?

(presuming that's what you are?)

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

qh

[sal]

Ok, it would appear that I have asked a bit of an open ended question. Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the general tone, that is to say "no such thing as a free lunch". I guess being in the same role for the past 16 years has made it difficult for me to now try and sell myself. I am going have to develop a whole new set of soft skills.

You asked a newbie question and people giving you hard time is just the beginning. Not sure what made you look into the world of contracting in this uncertain times nonetheless, but looks like you have some high expectations that are about to be shot down in flames.

Your chances of getting a contract by "registering" with an agency or "contracting house" (no such thing exists btw) is slim to none. Yes all the agencies are hoarding CVs and have massive databases with contractors, the problem is they are almost never used for anything more than mass e-mail spam based on keywords match by a script, without any consideration to actually match the job spec to actual experience.

The best chance to secure a contract is to actually apply for roles advertised on the major job boards like jobserve, cw jobs, indeed.

Like NLUK said - take a look at the useful links for newbies to the right

[TheFaQQer]

Is that a good or bad thing?

Have a look at the posts and make your own judgment.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ermediary.html

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...e-service.html

[duploon]

thanks - much appreciated

[TheFaQQer]

Would appreciate if anyone could provide me with some agencies, or contract houses, that deal with IT contracting, specifically Oracle.

Vertex, Apps IT, Absolute Applications, Provanis, Ntrinsic, Claremont, Computer People, Ajilon, Square One, Sopra Steria, Parity, Badenoch and Clark, Octopus, Next Ventures, Whitehall Resources, Spring, Proactive, Progressive, Church International, Modis, Discoverer, TEK Systems, Tech Mahindra, RTC, ITHR, Amoria Bond, Skillsearch, RDF, Project People....

There are loads of them - some much worse than others (there's at least ten there that I would avoid if possible) - you need to look who has the jobs and work from there.

[northernladuk]

If anyone remembers Rory Dwyer's posts about opting out - he works for the company (CNL) that owns / runs Oracle Contractors.

Is that a good or bad thing?

[TheFaQQer]

tulip that is a real site

If anyone remembers Rory Dwyer's posts about opting out - he works for the company (CNL) that owns / runs Oracle Contractors.

[northernladuk]

Check the list of links to the right ---> tons of stuff to help newbies in there.

[SimonMac]

https://oraclecontractors.com/

tulip that is a real site

[SimonMac]

Hi all, I am new to the world of contracting so I apologise in advance for any 'doh' questions I ask.

Would appreciate if anyone could provide me with some agencies, or contract houses, that deal with IT contracting, specifically Oracle.

Thanks in advance.

Noel

https://oraclecontractors.com/

[VillageContractor]

Thanks @barrydidit. I have already tried some of the internet sites you suggest, but it is like throwing your details out into the dark and hoping it hits something. I want to find a company that I can deal with more directly or am I being a bit unrealistic?

You're being unrealistic and probably don't understand how the world of contracting works. Lots of very good first time guides on here, I suggest you read some.

We will help you (well, some of us) but we won't do your homework for you

[duploon]

Ok, it would appear that I have asked a bit of an open ended question. Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the general tone, that is to say "no such thing as a free lunch". I guess being in the same role for the past 16 years has made it difficult for me to now try and sell myself. I am going have to develop a whole new set of soft skills.

[northernladuk]

Thanks @barrydidit. I have already tried some of the internet sites you suggest, but it is like throwing your details out into the dark and hoping it hits something. I want to find a company that I can deal with more directly or am I being a bit unrealistic?

They are the pretty much go to sites where contracts are posted.

Agents resource roles for clients and deal with many contractors. They aren't like head hunters that look for roles for you. They are just (Sorry Andy Hallett) salesmen and women pimping roles out. You register you CV with them and IF a role comes up they MIGHT get in touch. Some will take the time and remember a good resource but they are more likey to either keyword match their database and spank it on jobserve.

You are going to get sent a whole host of roles that are probably nothing to do with your skill set as well.

At least on jobserve and the like you can see live roles that actually need filling (cough).

Once you've got a role on the screen for Oracle you've managed to do 0.9% of the work. The rest is up to you.

I've a feeling this is going to be a long thread

[barrydidit]

Thanks @barrydidit. I have already tried some of the internet sites you suggest, but it is like throwing your details out into the dark and hoping it hits something. I want to find a company that I can deal with more directly or am I being a bit unrealistic?

That's just what comes of networking. What organisations have you worked with previously - is there anyone there you can contact? The job boards are where agencies advertise so if you don't have a network to utilise then that's the best bet. Failing that, see what agencies are advertising on the boards and call them. It's the week before Christmas, so don't expect to land anything but this will at least get your name infront of the agencies, and stop the pimps getting bored which means they're less likely to call me to see 'how i'm finding the market'. 2 birds/1 stone.