Reply to: What am I doing wrong?

[Cowboy Bob]

I have put Spring on my blacklist after too many problems with their recruiters. You can sometimes suss out the bad ones at that outset.

You say that you have contacts on the inside. Inside of Spring or inside of client companies?

Client companies. The new Spring contract is absolutely not IR35 compliant (hence sussed contractors not touching it with a bargepole), even though they tried to spin me a yarn about it being PCG verified for IR35 compliance. They are also unwilling to change any of the clauses in the contract.

Bob

[JoetheCarioca]

Do not go with Spring if you want to stay outside of IR35. I did a 6 month contract for Best International before they were bought by Spring at a large financial. They wanted to renew, but there was no way I was signing the new "improved" Spring contract. I've got contacts on the inside (permies) and they say they are finding it almost impossible to get contractors now. Wonder why?

Bob

I have put Spring on my blacklist after too many problems with their recruiters. You can sometimes suss out the bad ones at that outset.

You say that you have contacts on the inside. Inside of Spring or inside of client companies?

[JoetheCarioca]

You're probably dealing with the wrong sort of agencies / agents.

This is actually the hardest thing to do in the contracting business: sorting the decent agents from the spivs.

For your kind of thing you need to find a few decent agents and develop relationships with them.

That being said, it may be easier to try finding work direct.

I had one email popped up last night, wanting a project manager to be able to start Monday. Now I ask you: what sort of management planning has occured to end up in that situation? Previous PM hit by a bus is the only realistic excuse I can think of.

Anyone with any sense at all has to really wonder about that. I would recommend that one go to the client's directors and tell them that there appears to be something very seriously wrong with the way the staff works!

After all, if a professional health care practitioner notices something amiss about you, would you not appreciate being told about it. Or would you wait for that lump to become malignant?

Of course, if the client really does not care about its fate, there is really nothing more you can do except short its shares.

[Cowboy Bob]

I'd recommend Lorian and Spring for PM work.

Do not go with Spring if you want to stay outside of IR35. I did a 6 month contract for Best International before they were bought by Spring at a large financial. They wanted to renew, but there was no way I was signing the new "improved" Spring contract. I've got contacts on the inside (permies) and they say they are finding it almost impossible to get contractors now. Wonder why?

Bob

Re: Notice Periods

Come on MF. You live in a pretty strange world if three weeks notice is too long. Yeh, there may be one or two jobs that "must start tomorrow", but most will wait.

All of my prospective clients will wait a reasonable period for the right person to start. You just don't find good people doing nothing, ready to start tomorrow. If someone is on the bench in a buoyant market, there is often a reason for it.

For my current job it was 12 weeks between initial interview and start date. The client's admin department piddled around for ages with the paperwork (and the experience of the other cons here is that this is normal). If I was ready to start tomorrow when interviewed, I wouldn't have started at all because I would have gone somewhere else.

And a friend was out of work at the beginning of the year for an extended break (he was on the bench for a reason!). When he eventually found a job he still negotiated a start in two weeks despite doing nothing more than sitting on the beach.

tim

Get alot more than £400 aday at RBS, more like £475 - £600 aday, not mentioning where I am

If you have Cards experiance I know for a fact that RBS are taking on PMs for this. £400 per day min. Based in Edin or London. Get your CV to Lorien.

Ask for feedback on your CV but, beware, not all agents are that experienced and therefore may not give you good advice.

I believe those on here who have been involved in hiring people will say the choice of "no" or "maybe" tray is based on a 10 to 30 second scan so the top half of the first page is probably the most important.

Thanks for everyone's comments, really, really, useful stuff particularly regarding availability and CV.

Thanks again, A

I experienced a similar thing when looking for my first contract as a PM.

I ended up with 3 or 4 CV's detailing varying experience. When applying for a role I would then tweak the most suitable CV.

After taking this approach the phone calls and interviews started coming in. Looking back on the first CV I used, it looks cr@p

Local Authorities may be a good place to start, I believe Toot Toot is the expression!

Castoff - I have been in testing for nearly 5 years. Most companies like you to have a few more years experience than 1 in testing as in my opinion it is a specialist area. Also most clients like you to have ISEB at least to Foundation level.

When you build up a reputation with some agencies you will find they get you the jobs. I forget the last time i looked at a job website for UK roles anyway.

Keep holding on and maybe look at your rate. Is it competetive for the role your going for ?? If you want the job so much keep phone the pimps every day asking for updates tell them your keeping track on all your options as your due to hear back from a couple in the next day or so. If the pimps really want you this will make them move things quicker as they will think your going to loose out to someone else

"3. My notice period is too long (3 weeks)"

Yeh this is too long(whoever said No it aint should be shot)

Agents sift on who is available now, you will go to the back of the pile. Chuck your job in and you will find that a contract will appear pretty quick otherwise forget it you like stability too much.

Credit Cards

what's the 'Card' Industry??? never heard of it .. is this cards as in poker playing cards, or cards as in greeting cards??? mind you how do wither of these related to IT?? and what kind of project would you manage for a 'Card' industry?? sit there and watch people playing poker??? or manage a team producing a teddy bear greeting card??

Landing the 1st contract is the hardest. You have no history and a lot of clients like to see lots of big name clients on your CV.

Focus on the CV - It's your No.1 tool for landing interviews.