Reply to: Newbie Advice

[Toasta]

Usually, it's harder to find because you don't actually need to find the first, you are safe in a permi job waiting for it to arrive. (Obviously this doesn't apply to absolutely everybody).

Whether the second one is hard to find will depend upon what you do. If you are a .Net or SAP expert I imagine you get to pick from a choice of 10 opportunities, all wanting a start tomorrow. If (as I am discussing elsewhere) your skill set is one which still hasn't recovered from the 2001-4 downturn you might wait 3-4 months for a suitable position (as I had to last summer, and might have to repeat this year).

tim

Yep, .Net. This is why I found it hard to fathom that the second contract is going to be more difficult when I had the pick of a handful for my first.

[Vito]

Hi All,

Ive been reading here a while an you guys offer some great advice but im really struggling to get my first contract at the moment,I have a years experience in a leading telecommns bluechip company, ive been lookin for about a month and a half, mainly jobserve, jobsite, monster, CW jobs and on here, any tips or do's or donts?

Also everyone told me from before that the first contract is the hardest to get?

Cheers

What is it you do? What part of the Telecomms company did you work in?

I have quite a few contacts in Telecomms both in the UK and overseas and would be happy to help if I can...with only a years experience you may well need a helping hand to land the first gig...

[Old Greg]

Usually, it's harder to find because you don't actually need to find the first, you are safe in a permi job waiting for it to arrive. (Obviously this doesn't apply to absolutely everybody).

Whether the second one is hard to find will depend upon what you do. If you are a .Net or SAP expert I imagine you get to pick from a choice of 10 opportunities, all wanting a start tomorrow. If (as I am discussing elsewhere) your skill set is one which still hasn't recovered from the 2001-4 downturn you might wait 3-4 months for a suitable position (as I had to last summer, and might have to repeat this year).

tim

That's what happened for me. I'm on my 1st contract, which I moved into opportunistically straight from a permie job - knew the end client well, they wanted me for the gig, no hassle at all. I expect the 2nd contract to be much more difficult, because I've never had to really look / apply for a contract before.

Still, just had my 1st renewal

[tim123]

Really? Why is that? I'm just about to come off my first, which I had no trouble getting, I wouldn't have thought I'd have any more problems than the first time around.

Usually, it's harder to find because you don't actually need to find the first, you are safe in a permi job waiting for it to arrive. (Obviously this doesn't apply to absolutely everybody).

Whether the second one is hard to find will depend upon what you do. If you are a .Net or SAP expert I imagine you get to pick from a choice of 10 opportunities, all wanting a start tomorrow. If (as I am discussing elsewhere) your skill set is one which still hasn't recovered from the 2001-4 downturn you might wait 3-4 months for a suitable position (as I had to last summer, and might have to repeat this year).

tim

[Toasta]

And the 2nd contract is always harder to get than the first...

Really? Why is that? I'm just about to come off my first, which I had no trouble getting, I wouldn't have thought I'd have any more problems than the first time around.

[brobi]

* say which role you are interested in
* state that you have sent your profile
* Ask them more information
* Who is it with (if you haven't already worked it out)
* ask for a detailed role description
* say that once they have sent you the detailed description you will provide an assessment on how suitable you feel you are for the role, highlighing skills they are looking for that you are particularly strong on.
* if you don't like the sound of it, explain that you do not feel you are what they are looking for, but has the agent got anything similar

I agree but you want to present your self as a professional and come across on the phone as a person who gets things done. Mention

you are good at networking
you are solution driven
You do what it takes to see projects through
you can work unsupervised
you have presentation skills (if you do)
YOu are a team player
You play well with others and are not a know it all but very resourceful
highlight any troubleshooting skills

These are some of the things that will have them calling you. You need to come across as the guru of your field!

Make them believe that they can place you if they just get you an interview.

[young veteran]

thanks orangutan,

there is hope an i will not go perm!

[Orangutan]

* say which role you are interested in
* state that you have sent your profile
* Ask them more information
* Who is it with (if you haven't already worked it out)
* ask for a detailed role description
* say that once they have sent you the detailed description you will provide an assessment on how suitable you feel you are for the role, highlighing skills they are looking for that you are particularly strong on.
* if you don't like the sound of it, explain that you do not feel you are what they are looking for, but has the agent got anything similar

[young veteran]

guys cheers for that one question though:

Everyone has mention chase the agents up. without sounding too stupid what exactly am i to say to them - hi did u get my cv.....awkward silence.......?

some guidance would be great an stop the agent talkin bout wat the they did on the weekend!!!

[brobi]

Get your CV done professionaly...it really helps. I use this guy

Excellent service and he has been doing mine for years...

A bit on the high side for prices. 1 cv would be a quarter of your membership for Complete Contractor.

I'll do your 1st cv for free and get you a contract now beat that price!

[Orangutan]

advice: its not a CV unless you are looking for a permi job - its a consultant profile

[angusglover]

Get your CV done professionaly...it really helps. I use this guy

Excellent service and he has been doing mine for years...

[brobi]

brobi, as I click through your site it seems to shift to the right.....why not outsource it to one of your contractors. First impressions count.
Also there is no validation on the register page.

How much is your service?

Yeah I know the first index screen is a little larger than the home.html page. Yes validation would be good on the register page and I am actually looking for website development.

I cut back on the price at 299 per year. It was either proper agent commission type charges, which I don't want to do. Or an outright charge which is easier to manage. I believe you get what yo pay for and quality speaks for itself.

[HankWangford]

Thanks! But then that was a pitch to find quality people who might look differently to different tax advantages.

brobi, as I click through your site it seems to shift to the right.....why not outsource it to one of your contractors. First impressions count.
Also there is no validation on the register page.

How much is your service?

[brobi]

At least your a funny spammer.

Thanks! But then that was a pitch to find quality people who might look differently to different tax advantages.