Reply to: Struggling To Get Contract Role

[ContractorHardman]

I am on the Bench at the moment but only been here for 3 weeks.

Some things to consider

1) Those pesky kids - School Holidays have a knock on effect for sign offs on roles as most senior people have kids.
2) As those have said "Revise your CV" and even ask for feedback from recruiters. 9 out of 10 will not do it but there are some good ones. I have a few agents I work with who will gladly tell me what they think and I adjust. Remember, you are a Business and they help you get revenue so they are usually best placed to advise.
3) As a Business - you have products... Data Analyst, Business Analyst, Project Manager, VBA Developer, MI Reporting Analyst. Your CV's are your brochure to your product offering. If you have just thought I have used CVs as a plural by mistake, you are wrong. I have a few CVs that highlight relevant experience.
4) What is your unique selling point? "I am an enthusiastic Project Manager with 10 years experience" is the same as about 100 other applicants. Tell them what you have done, achievements and how you will make an impact. You are not there to grow in to the role or to set up charity events. You are there because they are in trouble and they need you to get it sorted quickly.

Best of luck on your search!

[WTFH]

Livin' the dream...

Of course the key question is: what are the car parking arrangements?

No idea, I just landed on the big H and left my chopper there all day. You could say it was the Lynx effect.

[northernladyuk]

I've been on the bench for 10 months now. It's starting to get really depressing now. I've also started looking at perm roles, but I can't even get any of those roles because of the gap in my CV and the fact that I have a contract background, they think I might jump ship half way through a role, but I wouldn't. This is the longest I've been on the bench, and I feel like I'm starting to forget a lot of the work I did.

That's what I said when I went perm. Handed in my notice after four months and went contracting, stealing their client. Mind you, I was working for a nasty piece of work.

[northernladyuk]

That's where working with the client rather than just for them comes into it.
Monday mornings I don't mind leaving early to avoid the traffic - e.g. leave at 5am. The rest of the week I'd go into the client around 8am and leave around 6pm Tuesday to Thursday, and leave by 2pm on a Friday.
It's not necessarily something you can do on week 1, but if you build up a good relationship with them, I've found most have been agreeable to that.

I've had a couple of clients who had a great rule - never leave home before 7am on a Monday and never get back home after 7pm on a Friday. They'd fly me to Europe on a 10-11am flight and back on a 3pm.

Livin' the dream...

Of course the key question is: what are the car parking arrangements?

[uk contractor]

I've been on the bench for 10 months now. It's starting to get really depressing now. I've also started looking at perm roles, but I can't even get any of those roles because of the gap in my CV and the fact that I have a contract background, they think I might jump ship half way through a role, but I wouldn't. This is the longest I've been on the bench, and I feel like I'm starting to forget a lot of the work I did.

This is the way it is now so many people looking, less roles overall & rate is everything to many clients they do not care if the contractor gets £100 a day & the agent gets £150 a day! You can either lie on your CV to cover the gap & try to get a short term contract or keep plugging away its either that or give up altogether on IT! Globalisation has recently had a very negative effect on many UK based contractors.

[MarcusD]

I've been on the bench for 10 months now. It's starting to get really depressing now. I've also started looking at perm roles, but I can't even get any of those roles because of the gap in my CV and the fact that I have a contract background, they think I might jump ship half way through a role, but I wouldn't. This is the longest I've been on the bench, and I feel like I'm starting to forget a lot of the work I did.

[tarbera]

perhaps

Okay here it goes, I left my permanent job last year October through redudancy and took a bit of a break and started to look for work again in January.

A brief background, I worked for Lloyds Bank for 10 years the last 6 of which were in project delivery, namely Implementation Management/Project Management and PMO.

It has been difficult and frustrating to say the least, if I apply for 10 roles I hear back from 1 maybe to say sorry the role has been filled or some other form of rejection.

Is it just me, the market, the nature of contracting or all 3? My warchest wont last forever and am seeking advise from the professionals on here, whether it be agencies, people, organisation or even to rip apart my CV.

Any suggestions more than welcome

Thanks

perhaps you have been blacklisted - Its all the rage I hear

[SueEllen]

This is a very good point. However I'd add that if possible try and limit the commute to 200 miles or less. Driving 200 miles on a Friday afternoon and then doing the same thing on a Monday morning at the crack of dawn becomes a big bind. The UK might be small but to drive around 200 miles in 1 hit can take a lot longer than you think with the current state of roads and congestion.

You can always take the train. Though you need to ensure the client co is on a reasonable train route from you, plus you need to book ahead and make sure your tickets are refundable apart from the admin fee.

[SillyPerson]

Agree 100%. In fact, working away is for me one of the many joys of contracting.

Of the last 5 contracts over 8 years I've been able to negotiate 2 days at home. Currently I leave home on Sunday afternoon, stay in a rented flat and go in 0700 to 1500 Mon to Wed then bounce home 1300 Wednesday and WFH Thu and Fri. (So zero traffic on the 160 mile trip). Works well - and I like staying in nice places all over the UK and abroad. I always find a decent local boozer and make a few friends in the first month or so and then I've got a fun week, every week.

Only proviso is it's got to be a really nice place to stay (and I negotiate with the owner after using Booking.com to find a decent place but they’re usually around £90 a night). And it's got to be a flat so I can cook and take a PS4 etc and make the place my own to an extent.

(One point on working away - if you're a biker then when they changed the car tax laws they left bikes out of it so you can get the VAT back on a new bike (or an ex-police bike as it changes tax cycle class) and there's fewer concerns about traffic. You can have your Harley and eat it.)

[SillyPerson]

That's where working with the client rather than just for them comes into it.
Monday mornings I don't mind leaving early to avoid the traffic - e.g. leave at 5am. The rest of the week I'd go into the client around 8am and leave around 6pm Tuesday to Thursday, and leave by 2pm on a Friday.
It's not necessarily something you can do on week 1, but if you build up a good relationship with them, I've found most have been agreeable to that.

I've had a couple of clients who had a great rule - never leave home before 7am on a Monday and never get back home after 7pm on a Friday. They'd fly me to Europe on a 10-11am flight and back on a 3pm.

Agree 100%. In fact, working away is for me one of the many joys of contracting.

Of the last 5 contracts over 8 years I've been able to negotiate 2 days at home. Currently I leave home on Sunday afternoon, stay in a rented flat and go in 0700 to 1500 Mon to Wed then bounce home 1300 Wednesday and WFH Thu and Fri. (So zero traffic on the 160 mile trip). Works well - and I like staying in nice places all over the UK and abroad. I always find a decent local boozer and make a few friends in the first month or so and then I've got a fun week, every week.

Only proviso is it's got to be a really nice place to stay (and I negotiate with the owner after using Booking.com to find a decent place but they’re usually around £90 a night). And it's got to be a flat so I can cook and take a PS4 etc and make the place my own to an extent.

[WTFH]

This is a very good point. However I'd add that if possible try and limit the commute to 200 miles or less. Driving 200 miles on a Friday afternoon and then doing the same thing on a Monday morning at the crack of dawn becomes a big bind. The UK might be small but to drive around 200 miles in 1 hit can take a lot longer than you think with the current state of roads and congestion.

That's where working with the client rather than just for them comes into it.
Monday mornings I don't mind leaving early to avoid the traffic - e.g. leave at 5am. The rest of the week I'd go into the client around 8am and leave around 6pm Tuesday to Thursday, and leave by 2pm on a Friday.
It's not necessarily something you can do on week 1, but if you build up a good relationship with them, I've found most have been agreeable to that.

I've had a couple of clients who had a great rule - never leave home before 7am on a Monday and never get back home after 7pm on a Friday. They'd fly me to Europe on a 10-11am flight and back on a 3pm.

[MattFromEarth]

It’s also possible as a contractor to work away from home!

This is a very good point. However I'd add that if possible try and limit the commute to 200 miles or less. Driving 200 miles on a Friday afternoon and then doing the same thing on a Monday morning at the crack of dawn becomes a big bind. The UK might be small but to drive around 200 miles in 1 hit can take a lot longer than you think with the current state of roads and congestion.

[WTFH]

Some parts of Surrey and West Sussex aren't doable from East London but Kent and East Sussex plus Essex are. This is why I said it depends where exactly in London the OP. I know some people in NW and SE London who have struggled to get to parts of Surrey let alone West Sussex.

It’s also possible as a contractor to work away from home!

[SueEllen]

Yes Sue. OP is in East London so is doable for them.

Some parts of Surrey and West Sussex aren't doable from East London but Kent and East Sussex plus Essex are. This is why I said it depends where exactly in London the OP. I know some people in NW and SE London who have struggled to get to parts of Surrey let alone West Sussex.

[HugeWhale]

Advice for the OP.

First off, decide what you are.
Your prior experience probably covers many realms: you are a skilled project manager, service manager, implementation manager...whatever. In the contracting world your CV can look muddled. Yes you have many skills, but companies are looking for, say, an expert in testing. Your cv needs to shout out that you are an expert in this realm.

Secondly, the UK is a small place. Take any role, irrespective of geography.

Thirdly, be willing to lower your sights massively. If previously you have worked as a senior manager, be willing to take a role as maternity cover for a shopfloor worker. The day rate is what it is and it gets you in the door.

Fourthly, never forget that you are a business. Revenue is king. Lack of revenue is death. Do what is needed to bring money in and if you have an ego, leave it at the door.

Good luck.