Reply to: Interesting response from recruiter

[BigDataPro]

I didn't take it that way

It was more that I thought you raised a good point and I wanted to clarify that a network can mean just a few people rather than a rolodex full of names.

Thank you! Happy to know that you took it for what it meant!

[ladymuck]

No, No, No I wasn't referring your comments. It's just that I felt like saying probably like you did. (I am really not sure if it will be thought of as sarcastic. But that wasn't the intention)

I didn't take it that way

It was more that I thought you raised a good point and I wanted to clarify that a network can mean just a few people rather than a rolodex full of names.

[BigDataPro]

When I say network I'm not talking about a little black book crammed full of names, it's about three or four people. You don't need to know a lot of people, just a few. They're the ones I clicked with at different places and keep in touch with because they've become friends.

I think it probably is harder for an immigrant. I have worked with a wonderful Polish woman who is great to spend time with yet some of her mannerisms and manner of speaking comes across as blunt and harsh sometimes. I have to remember there's other clues than the ones I'm used to that will tell me if I'm about to get decked or hugged .

No, No, No I wasn't referring your comments. It's just that I felt like saying probably like you did. (I am really not sure if it will be thought of as sarcastic. But that wasn't the intention)

[ladymuck]

Well, let me tell you something honestly. I am an immigrant. Living in this country legally for over 15+ years. My command over english and my ability to understand different accents is far lower than native speakers. I try my best to socialise, talk to every one in my team without any judgement. Every day in this forum I learn native ways (words, phrases, idioms etc) of expressing something. My (people) network is not that strong probably either because I don't have command over the language or because I am an introvert. I am not complaining about people its just that my skills to fit-in is not working.

Almost all the roles for the past 15+ years I have found are through my CV.

P.S I do watch the skillset trend and equip myself through certifications and fib about my experience in that skillset that I have already have a certification for.

When I say network I'm not talking about a little black book crammed full of names, it's about three or four people. You don't need to know a lot of people, just a few. They're the ones I clicked with at different places and keep in touch with because they've become friends.

I think it probably is harder for an immigrant. I have worked with a wonderful Polish woman who is great to spend time with yet some of her mannerisms and manner of speaking comes across as blunt and harsh sometimes. I have to remember there's other clues than the ones I'm used to that will tell me if I'm about to get decked or hugged .

[BigDataPro]

Well, let me tell you something honestly. I am an immigrant. Living in this country legally for over 15+ years. My command over english and my ability to understand different accents is far lower than native speakers. I try my best to socialise, talk to every one in my team without any judgement. Every day in this forum I learn native ways (words, phrases, idioms etc) of expressing something. My (people) network is not that strong probably either because I don't have command over the language or because I am an introvert. I am not complaining about people its just that my skills to fit-in is not working.

Almost all the roles for the past 15+ years I have found are through my CV.

P.S I do watch the skillset trend and equip myself through certifications and fib about my experience in that skillset that I have already have a certification for.

[ladymuck]

I still blindly respond to vacancies but it seems that my network sorts me out more often than not.

It's nice to see if I'm hirable to people that don't know me (possibly not, it would seem )

[jayn200]

I’m not convinced these days that blindly responding to vacancies is worth it.

All my contract roles have come from knowing agents and/or from prior contacts via LinkedIn.

The more agency competition you have the more likely your valid experience can be drowned out by blag.

Yeah I don't know. I think it depends a lot on your CV and your network. Which is stronger? For you it's probably your network. For me, it's my CV. I have multiple relevant degrees/certificates and a strong set of technical skills and good projects ive worked on but have only worked in London for 3 years so don't have a strong network here. I do much better blindly responding to vacancies.

[fatJock]

I’m not convinced these days that blindly responding to vacancies is worth it.

All my contract roles have come from knowing agents and/or from prior contacts via LinkedIn.

The more agency competition you have the more likely your valid experience can be drowned out by blag.

[Eirikur]

Most don't even bother to reply unless they want to put you forward.
He's got over a hundred applications, but managed to squeeze in a response to you asking for CV.
I smell a rat.

For certain niche roles they can still receive over 500 applications and not have the right candidate

[zonkkk]

Most don't even bother to reply unless they want to put you forward.
He's got over a hundred applications, but managed to squeeze in a response to you asking for CV.
I smell a rat.

[Fraidycat]

I'm in a role currently so I did this just to enquire about rates for a role which looked a good fit, & came to me via JS email.

Rather than apply via JS I found the recruiter's email & asked him if the role was inside IR35, and what the expected rates were. He came back saying it was inside, & that he'd received >100 applications, but could I send my CV and my 'best rate' for 'inside roles'. I didn't respond.

But it made me wonder, are we now (as 'contractors') expected to enter a bidding war with agents for these inside IR35 scrapings, with the lowest bidder securing the slots?

I always thought of it as in in the boom times the clients set the rates, how much are they prepared to pay. Given the shortage of contractors, if they price too low they wont find anyone decent.

During the bust times, its contractors who set the rate, given the shortage of work, it often comes down to who will work for the least amount

[SteelyDan]

100 applicants is not a lot. Especially right now where people will be applying to everything. Probably like 5% of people who apply are actually qualified.

It was > (more than) 100 applicants according to the recruiter, and I got a notification of the role pretty sharpish via RSS feed. Guess loads of applicants were up & about before me so got their applications in before I'd even found the guy's email address. I think what got me was his email response, 'all I need is your CV...over to you'.

[jayn200]

100 applicants is not a lot. Especially right now where people will be applying to everything. Probably like 5% of people who apply are actually qualified.

[NotAllThere]

You should have strung him along a bit. Get up his nose.

[SteelyDan]

In any case it's normal for a contractor to quote a rate, but in a seller's market an agency will often offer a good rate to get contractors in short supply. You always need to be prepared to know what rate you want. I've almost always been asked to quote a rate. Only once in good times did the agency suggest he could get a better rate than the one I asked for and on another occasion the client offered a non-negotiable rate on a fixed margin.

To my mind he should have advised that the role was Inside, & included rate parameters, in the advert.
He clearly chose not to do this. I put it down to a CV fishing expedition, so it (& him) got up my nose somewhat.