Reply to: Jobs from Email or Jobsites?

[Mallam]

Let's play a role-playing game.

You are an agent. You've just been given a requirement to find a Java telecoms developer. You have access to an online CV database, and an advertising site. Which of the following options lets you do your job most effectively and get down the Spearmint Rhino in time for the early evening shift change:

(1) Put up an advert, and get your ear bent by 10,000 chancers while hoping a Java telcoms developer sees it eventually.

(2) Do a search for available Java telcoms developers, knock up a longlist of 20, and give them a call or drop them a group email.

?

Makes a lot of sense.

Thanks

[thunderlizard]

When I search for contract jobs on the sites (Monster, CWJobs, Jobsite etc). I get very little back for my search criteria (I always enter Wiltshire as location).

But once I have uploaded my CV, I get quite a lot of interest via email from agencys. So is the best answer to let the agencys find you via uploading CV to the big job sites or trawl them yourselves?

Let's play a role-playing game.

You are an agent. You've just been given a requirement to find a Java telecoms developer. You have access to an online CV database, and an advertising site. Which of the following options lets you do your job most effectively and get down the Spearmint Rhino in time for the early evening shift change:

(1) Put up an advert, and get your ear bent by 10,000 chancers while hoping a Java telcoms developer sees it eventually.

(2) Do a search for available Java telcoms developers, knock up a longlist of 20, and give them a call or drop them a group email.

?

[mikeyboy]

Make sure your CV is concise and laid out in a pimp-friendly manner. There are loads of CV guides on the net. Stick your phone number on there and they'll start ringing. Monster, Jobsite, Jobserve and Clearedjobs are where I get all my calls from.

Try something like "Support AND Windows AND clearance" as your search string in Jobserve. Substitute Windows for your given field obviously.

Make sure you've got a good few grand saved up before you jump from permie to contracting. I try and keep a £10k float to cover the dry spells.

If it's work that requires security clearance you're after then a lot of big players are in the Basingstoke/Bracknell area. This is not exclusive though. I've had calls in recent weeks about SC jobs in Newcastle, London, Uxbridge and Afghanistan! (how much mileage money for driving there?)

When you start travelling further afield you've either got LONG commutes or the expense and hassle of staying away from home during the week.

Good Luck

[Gonzo]

Not really admired for their high intelligence, are they?
(DP possibly being the only exception I know of)

Oi! I resent that.

Still, I moved to London to work because there was nothing but low paid stuff round where I am from. Contractors need to be flexible if they don't want to spend a lot of time out of work.

[Jaws]

Set it to your location + 100 miles and be prepared to travel! Pretty sure that jobserve will filter by distance so it'll tell you how many are within 25 miles etc. I noticed after about 2 days of having my cv on jobserve the phone never stopped ringing until I had a contract.

[basshead]

I have a number of different searches designed to cover the usual skills and areas i'm looking at plus the usual mistakes that get made in adverts e.g. labelling it permanent instead of contract. The IT Job Board's search I find gives best results. YMMV

[Dow Jones]

Wiltshire folk

Not really admired for their high intelligence, are they?
(DP possibly being the only exception I know of)
Seriously though, you can't rely on websites to get work, even if you start, I would say more so if you are new to contracting. Use your contacts with permies/contractors/friends/CUK/etc to find out what there is. After a while, you may start getting personalised emails with specific tailor-made jobs (as opposed to generic ones) and even later you'll start getting phone calls which means that someone has bothered to read your CV and may have something suitable. It takes time, doesn't happen overnight as a lot of wannabies think. Best of luck.

[jonny7_2002]

Haha

Your street is obviously too short.

I tried my house number but got no results!! there was even nothing on "Near my House" either????

[Tensai]

...But once I have uploaded my CV, I get quite a lot of interest via email from agencys....

agencies

Interesting that the pimps only emailed you, I'm assuming you left your phone number out? My one previous experience of uploading and "activating" my CV on a jobsite involved getting ridiculous numbers of calls from pimps fishing for "references."

[Mallam]

The best answer is to be more flexible with your location. Realistically how much work is there out that way?

Thanks, I am hoping that there is enough work in this area, as I am not willing to re-locate away.

Theres a lot of defense companys down here in Bath and surrounding. The few agencys that I have spoken to have re-iterated this to me.

Mike

[Mallam]

Quick tips before posting-
1. If you post questions that clearly show you have done no research you will get the answers you deserve.
2. Do some research about contracting. For example there is a first timers guide on the CUK Navigation panel, as well as on a few accountants websites i.e. SDJ, and on the PCG website.
3. Also this website has a search function. Put in a word and if it brings back no results put in a different combination of words.

With respect SueEllen, I had searched and I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me as to where my particular question had been raised before.
I have also read the first timers guide from SDJ.

Mike

[Ardesco]

If you're expecting to find a constant stream of contracts in one place you are in for a big shock

[SueEllen]

I entered my streetname once. Couldn't find any contracts though

Your street is obviously too short.

[b0redom]

The best answer is to be more flexible with your location. Realistically how much work is there out that way?

[miffy]

It is surprising as I heard Wiltshire was booming full of contracts

I entered my streetname once. Couldn't find any contracts though