Reply to: Born again contractor

[SueEllen]

I

By the way if we're doing CV reviews, I'd be interested...

Post a new thread if you want help otherwise it gets confusing.

[SueEllen]

Is signing up to email notifications as good as RSS, or is there a significant lag there?

By the way if we're doing CV reviews, I'd be interested...

I found there is a longer lag between emails than an RSS.

The quickest method is actually doing a search on the website.

[TykeMerc]

I refuse all attempts by agents to join my LinkedIn network, all they're after is contact names and profiles for leads without even having to phone you.

[TheFaQQer]

when an agent you've only ever spoken to on the phone once maybe twice asks you to 'be a contact' do you accept?

Never. I use linkedin to connect to people that I know and like. Some agents are connected to me, but it's only a select few.

If you dont accept are you stopping them from keeping up to date with important information?

Possibly, but there are other channels for me to find work through. I'd rather maintain my network than connect to loads of people I don't know - that's what Facebook is for.

[pmeswani]

Robwg,

thanks for the advice. I have done something along those lines, without the generic overview. I split it into different projects detailing each project with a header saying who the client was, but may need to break down a little more.
Still had no luck so far though, and there seems to be alot less roles out there, or is it just me. It really seems to have gone downhill in 1-2 weeks.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. Next week will probably be my last week (have had enough... need to have a change in routine, etc). Have applied for roles all over the place, but with little success.

[Bill]

Robwg,

thanks for the advice. I have done something along those lines, without the generic overview. I split it into different projects detailing each project with a header saying who the client was, but may need to break down a little more.
Still had no luck so far though, and there seems to be alot less roles out there, or is it just me. It really seems to have gone downhill in 1-2 weeks.

[Robwg]

Bill - I haven't seen your CV (can't access it at work) - btu I too worked for Cap Gemini and had the same issues I presume you are now having in that I had worked there a while, but had actually worked for several different clients and projects during that time.

I structured my CV so in the work history part, when I came to CGEY I had an initial paragraph stating:

Cap Gemini 1999 - 2003
Blah be blah blah (small overview paragraph). During this time worked on following cleint projects:

Client Y (actually name the client) 2000 - 2003
Project Name:
Role: Y
A couple of sentences showing what role entailed then bullet points showing responsibilities, deliverables and achievemennts.

Client X. 1999 - 2000
Project Name:
Role: X
Repeat format.


This masks the '8 years at one firm when really you will have done a lot of different projects' factor of only having worked at one company' that could occur if you just have one section for Cap Gemini. I also put the various company logos for the client - which hits it home that you are delivering for many different firms, not just one (at the end of the day - you are becoming a one man version of CGEY so I don't see anything wrong with this tactic).

Other than that - excellent advice on this thread (almost all of which I have already done - but good to see everyone thinks alight). I haven't been out of work in 5 years as a contractor - so I presume the above tactic works ok :-)

[Saj]

just got another promising lead via linkedin.com.

......

i really do recommend setting up your profile on that site. well worth it.

As a newbie Id first like to thank everyone for this thread as its been very helpful for keeping me sane whilst agencies are being helpful with lots of different information! I too am getting agents contacting me through linkedin which I have had set up for a while and have amended to show Im contracting but Ive a question for you:

when an agent you've only ever spoken to on the phone once maybe twice asks you to 'be a contact' do you accept? If you dont accept are you stopping them from keeping up to date with important information?
Previously my policy has always been only to accept contacts who I know the quality of their work as I see it as a reflection of my work too.. and I do have agents who have recruited for me in the past who are on my contact list but Im wondering if I should amend this now Im trying to get a contract?

... So much to learn!

[rephlex]

just got another promising lead via linkedin.com.

i'm on the bench, resting - and i'm not even looking for contracts (taking time off)...

but i'm still getting agents mailing me via my linkedin.com profile.
(so the roles are coming to me, rather than me looking for roles - which is quite nice...)

i really do recommend setting up your profile on that site. well worth it.

[d000hg]

Is signing up to email notifications as good as RSS, or is there a significant lag there?

By the way if we're doing CV reviews, I'd be interested...

[TheBigYinJames]

what do agents do first thing in the morning when they get into the office?

Pot noodle and a wink.

[rephlex]

"As others have said - search early in the day for roles. I also used to look for those that came in over night, and applied late at night so that they were in the agent in box first thing in the morning."

thats a superb tip. and logical when you think about it.

what do agents do first thing in the morning when they get into the office?

they check their email of course!

[TheFaQQer]

OK - my review for Bill....

Profile section - why is "blue chip" capitalized? Same for the rest of the sentence - "local government", "private sector". I would put the last paragraph first, so that it begins "A flexible professional who can demonstrate a strong ability to manage projects from conception through to successful completion. With a hands on and logical approach to challenges and the ability to perform effectively within a fast paced working environment." Actually, I;d merge the two bits:

A flexible, PRINCE2 and ITIL qualified professional who can demonstrate a strong ability to manage projects from conception through to successful completion. With over ten years experience of project management etc. etc.

"Skills and Qualifications" rather than "Professional Skills and Qualifications" - unless you are planning on project managing in the Olympics and are holding out for those Amateur qualifications...

Again, I'd consider the capitalization - "Strong people management skills" rather than "People Management Skills". I would also say "Third" instead of "3rd".

Key Achievments - I would put the contract value in the first sentence, e.g. "Delivered a £2.5m project from feasibility study through to service delivery."

I would NOT refer to them as "contracts" in this section, since you only have to have one person ask "but you aren't a contractor?" and it falls apart. Refer to them as separate projects (which is probably / hopefully enough to fool an agent) by all means, but they weren't contracts.

I would also have the date on the left hand side rather than the right for the career history, so that it's a touch easier to work out when you were there / how long the role lasted. You may be better off putting the name of the end client rather than the permie employer (which is what I did when I left Oracle - my CV refers to the clients I was working with, rather than the employer I was working for).

As others have said - search early in the day for roles. I also used to look for those that came in over night, and applied late at night so that they were in the agent in box first thing in the morning.

Best of luck with it all,

FaQ

[Bill]

sue, pmeswani, nickfitz et al,

thank you so much for all your help. I think its time to dive back into the water. I will see how many allow me to set up rss feeds and keep my eyes open (nothing else to do anyway, even watching tv gets boring)
and as for getting up in the morning, I'm up that time anyway to get my son ready for school.
I will keep you all updated................watch this space...............

[SueEllen]

Bill you CV content is much better.

As the others have stated you really need to be applying for roles as soon as you see them using RSS feeds. Aim to look around 3 times a day - morning, afternoon and evening.

Also be prepared to be phoned up for roles you have applied for in the evening early the next morning. I've received calls as early as 7.45am. You either have to be awake or learn how to sound like you where awake for a while.