Reply to: How effective is online contract (IT) job searches?

[Earl Purple]

Yes, I think the system is dated and flawed.

Many of the agencies on the job boards do "apply by numbers". They send large numbers of CVs into portals and hope for the best something will come out of it. They don't run through the CVs to check for their quality. They have no contact with the actual personnel at the company to where they are applying.

If you are not getting any interviews, either you are applying to the wrong jobs or your CV is flawed. It is very typical to hear no response whatsoever after applying for a job.

It is also the case that most agencies are clueless. We have more knowledge than they do about what the employer might want, as we have worked hands-on in these very companies and they only have experience of being an agency.

It is in their interests to just place as many candidates as they can, and take the cash whilst the candidates do all the work.

I have no idea why companies continue to use them, to be honest.

From your own perspective though, you probably want to amend the CV. I did so several times on one occasion.

[SueEllen]

If you have had only one employer for the past 6 years you need to split your role into projects on your CV.

If you have not done different projects over the past 6 years then you are a bit stuffed.

[Scruff]

If you have been with the same employer for 6 years, I would suggest that your CV should not be more than 1 to 1/5 pages long.

Your CV is your "door opening mechanism" and it needs to stand out from the others and is your advertisement. Only use 1 font. Only use black print. Stick to a font which doesn't have serifs (arial and coruier for example). Put your qualifications in your headline next to your name. Use bullet points only highlighting your skills. Leave off any school related "qualifications", since you are not a school leaver. (If your name is Tombisana, consider shortening it to something like Tombi on your CV, unless your friends and colleagues (PWC?) only call you Tombisana).

When replying on this forum, grammar and spelling mistakes are sloppy and they will be picked up by the Spelling and Grammar Police. If you are in such a hurry, consider that those replying to you have taken time from surfing the internet (erm, working), Ebay challenges etc to reply to you, using better English. If English isn't your first language, put your replies through a word processor, and provided you have the dictionary set to UK English, it should highlight glaring spelling and grammar mistakes.

If you wish, PM me your details and I will make the effort to assist you with a constructive review of your CV?

[BolshieBastard]

6 years in 1 job makes you a permie not a contractor. Few agencies will take a risk with you.

I know one contractor who has been with one client for over 10 years through an umbrella. Another I know was at one client 6 years via his limited co..

[Tombisana]

Four sides? Or four pages?

Answers are yes and no. *

(And even when yes, they'll lose interest after the second side.)

I thought so. I will try to cut it short to one page.

[Tombisana]

Are the agents putting you forward to the client or are you failing to get past the first hurdle (the agent) as it were? What types of roles are you applying for?

Most of the agents I have spoken with, says that they are sending my CV to the employers. But I guess, It's getting rejected at employer's end.

I am looking for both developer as well as solution architect role.

[northernladuk]

I am sorry if you felt that I was abusing anybody. I didn't realise that using winker will offend some posters.

I doubt it offends but there are rules in the professional forums. General is fine. Say hello in there, they will love you.

[Tombisana]

If I was someone constantly mentioning jobs and vacancies I wouldn't be throwing the winker icon around. If you want a contract then call it a contract and understand all the terminology and the way you work. If you turn speak to an agent about jobs and vacancies and show little understanding about how you will be working you are going to hit the bin pretty quick. Maybe you should look a bit closer to home for your problems rather than abusing posters that make fair comments.

I am sorry if you felt that I was abusing anybody. I didn't realise that using winker will offend some posters.

[northernladuk]

Agreed.

If I was someone constantly mentioning jobs and vacancies I wouldn't be throwing the winker icon around. If you want a contract then call it a contract and understand all the terminology and the way you work. If you turn speak to an agent about jobs and vacancies and show little understanding about how you will be working you are going to hit the bin pretty quick. Maybe you should look a bit closer to home for your problems rather than abusing posters that make fair comments.

[northernladuk]

Everyone has got to start somewhere eek :-)

They do but eek's point stands. It will be harder getting a contract with that history than it would if you had a history of end to end contracts.

[Tombisana]

Everyone has got to start somewhere eek :-)

Agreed.

[kal]

6 years in 1 job makes you a permie not a contractor. Few agencies will take a risk with you.

Everyone has got to start somewhere eek :-)

[eek]

6 years in 1 job makes you a permie not a contractor. Few agencies will take a risk with you.

[Tombisana]

I stand by my earlier comment.

Thanks for your comment. I wasn't paying much attention as I was in a hurry.

But nonetheless, I will be more careful while applying for jobs.

Apart from that, I would also request you guys to let me know if there is anything that I am missing. I genuinely could use some suggestions.

This is what I am doing.
1 I search for jobs almost every alternate day.
2 I apply for almost every suitable roles/vacancies. For example, I applied for 20+ vacancies today morning.
3 Answer to recruiters' call, speak with them about my background and job specification of the current vacancy. Like, I have already spoken with 4 recruiters today.
4 then I would follow up with the recruiters via email or phone and inquire about my application. Most of the time, they would say that they have not heard back from the employers.

I am looking for job after 6 years (i am with my current firm for 6 years). I am sure the process I am following is kinda outdated.

[kevpuk]

<snip>
I have pretty good experience and still I have not got any interview yet.

<snip>

<snip> But not much interviews <snip>

So, go on then, have you had any or none?