Reply to: Have you ever got a gig from sending a spec CV direct?

[VectraMan]

This is what I was thinking of:

http://www.it-consultants-direct.co.uk/

Not as good as I remembered.

[ladymuck]

This?

http://www.freelancers.net/

That site is dire, came across it a couple of years ago. I'm not convinced that half the 'projects' posted up there are legit or maybe the posters just live in cloud cookoo land.

[threaded]

I've even had an email from a client asking me to come in for an interview and as a PS they asked me to send my CV again in another format as they couldn't read that version of word...

[VectraMan]

You mean the site that gets punters who want 30k lines of code for £77.27?

The Yanks have a wonderful site called "Rent A Coder" that does much the same sort of thing.

No not that, this was for proper UK contractors. I've seen those Rent a Coder types and usually they want 3 months work for $400.

[Chappo]

think like a business - sell your services not your CV

also works better for IR35 that way

[VectraMan]

There was a website somewhere that was promising to put clients directly in touch with contractors and cut out those evil middlemen (you know the ones). I'm sure this was promoted by Parasol, and looked quite professionally done (which doesn't mean anything I know).

Does anyone know what I'm talking about, because I can't find it again.

[threaded]

Nearly all my gigs since I stopped using agents have been from sending spec CVs, the rest are of the friend-of-a-friend recommended me types.

[tamper]

(Honestly, newbies )

I think my lack of response speaks less to forum newbieness and more to my complete unaccustom to getting PM's! Which in turn speaks to a general sadness I guess

Anyway, I've dropped you (and others who responded) a line. Sorry for the tardiness. Won't let it happen again.

t

[cojak]

Tamper are you still around?

I've left a message for you...

I'm thinking of putting business your way....

(Honestly, newbies )

[JohnnyLow]

I have an interview next week as a result of emailing my CV directly to a company. So it does work sometimes.

[tamper]

Yes, but by sending marketing information, not by sending a CV.

Think like a service provider, not a perma-temp.

Good point - actually I do that already, but since I'm in branding/creative/marketing (rather than development) people assume I'm a larger (i.e. expensive) agency. Sometimes I want that, but other times I want to be just me, working on-site and charging a daily rate rather than quoting for a project.

Hmmm...that gives me an idea though. Maybe I should approach Ltd contractor developers to produce their service provider literature/branding for them...

[DimPrawn]

Don't email. Too many spam filters.

Direct a "marketing brochure" (which in my case was background on my company and a consultant profile ie my cv rehashed) to Human Resources (spit) with a covering letter aimed at the IT development manager and send it to all the places you would like to work.

I got a couple of leads like this, so it can work.

[Francko]

Yes, but by sending marketing information, not by sending a CV.

Think like a service provider, not a perma-temp.

Well, it was my first contract. Not everyone is born as a contractor without the need to learn from mistakes like your respectable self.

[Lucifer Box]

Yes, but by sending marketing information, not by sending a CV.

Think like a service provider, not a perma-temp.

[Francko]

Anyway, has anyone had any luck approaching companies on spec? The cynic in me tends to think that in this cash-strapped, resource-conscious market nobody has the old school mentality of "this guy looks interesting - let's get him in" unless they have a specific vacancy available, but maybe it's not as bad as that...

I remember once I have sent my CV to a company X (quite small actually) in the hope for a contract as they were specialised in my sector. After 2 weeks I have applied to an agency. They have this contract for this fantastic company..... guess what? Yes, it was the same company and yes I got that contract. I still wonder what happen to my cv email....