Reply to: How to snag a permie job after contracting for ages?

[norrahe]

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

All I did was put MyCo 2005 - present and then listed all the clients and what each role entailed.

First question in interview was "why do you want to go permie", I answered "career progression".

Got the gig despite being up against 2 people who had relevant industry experience.

Thing is in cloggers most permie roles are either 6 months or 1 year contracts, so not really any different, the contract was a lot simpler to read than all the nonsense you get with a contractor style one.

[BolshieBastard]

Some agencies have badgered me to "apply" for "high-salary" Permie roles.

I've occasionally agreed, just - I thought - for the interview insight and experience... No.

The same agent then proceeds to interrogate my reasons for "wanting" to go Perm.

"I don't want to go Perm.", you protest, "You just asked me to apply."

LOL! Yes, its like when they speak to you about a role you're 'ideal' for then you dont hear any more or, dont return you call when you ask for feedback etc.

I got some good advice from one of the permie recruiters recently so will put that into practice.

[pFennig]

You Cannot Win: "Why do you want to be a Permie?"

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

Some agencies have badgered me to "apply" for "high-salary" Permie roles.

I've occasionally agreed, just - I thought - for the interview insight and experience... No.

The same agent then proceeds to interrogate my reasons for "wanting" to go Perm.

"I don't want to go Perm.", you protest, "You just asked me to apply."

[pFennig]

Contractors don't know how to be Permies.

how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

Agencies contact me frequently about permie roles, although I don't have a year of permiedom... ever. About fifty percent of the times an agent approaches me - a contractor - it will be about a speculative permie role.

I suggest that you are asking your question to the wrong audience.

[Mich the Tester]

I am in Testing too. Have been contracting for 15 years and have to say I never seen it like this. Testing market has been slowly getting worse for sometime but there just aren't any decent roles around anymore. I was planning on going permie next year anyway but thinking of now bringing this forward. I don't think I will have problems convincing them anyway as have valid reasons as kids a bit older and wife hopefully can restart her career and other reasons. But we will see.

Try and get into testing industrial software instead; some skills like PLC and Scada can help. Engineering firms still believe in testing, happily. Or healthcare technology, aerospace, motor industry because they have legal requirements to meet regarding testing. As for the rest who are doing this loony thing of 100% test automation whch should actually be called 'automated checking', we'll just have to wait until they screw it all up. Which they will, believe me.

[cherhill]

Yup it's testing, problem is lots of companies think they don't need good quality testers so they opt for the cheaper option or for Bobs. Oh well as the saying goes "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.""

I am in Testing too. Have been contracting for 15 years and have to say I never seen it like this. Testing market has been slowly getting worse for sometime but there just aren't any decent roles around anymore. I was planning on going permie next year anyway but thinking of now bringing this forward. I don't think I will have problems convincing them anyway as have valid reasons as kids a bit older and wife hopefully can restart her career and other reasons. But we will see.

[BolshieBastard]

Have you got the recruiters on your side by telling them that you've been contracting but you want to return to the stability of permanent jobs? Their word should carry _some_ weight if the client employer has a relationship with the recruiter.

I've only pushed the willingness to take on permie jobs with a select few since I want to keep as many options open as possible.

[d000hg]

I dont know why people are bringing up the pitfalls of permie. Yes, we all know what it entails. Bottom line is, I want to get back to work but the opportunities are limited, some by choice and some not and the pros and cons of permie v contracting doesnt bring anything to the table.

As I have said, a lot of roles are being advertised as permie rather than contract. Im even seeing permie BA roles being advertised now. Hyphen (Adecco etc) are currently advertising for 6 BA at LTSB under their "Employed Consultant Model."

Im not junior stuff either so Im aiming for senior roles. But, if there's none about, you cant apply for them can you?

When all said and done, I dont know how you can 'de contractorise' your cv. In any application process, this is what grab's the hirer's attention.

Have you got the recruiters on your side by telling them that you've been contracting but you want to return to the stability of permanent jobs? Their word should carry _some_ weight if the client employer has a relationship with the recruiter.

[BolshieBastard]

Once you have seen the light do your best to stay away from the darkness.

Yes but pretty immaterial if there are no contracts. I intend being 'retired' in 3 to 4 years so no point of a Plan B hence, considering permie.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I dont know why people are bringing up the pitfalls of permie. Yes, we all know what it entails. Bottom line is, I want to get back to work but the opportunities are limited, some by choice and some not and the pros and cons of permie v contracting doesnt bring anything to the table.

As I have said, a lot of roles are being advertised as permie rather than contract. Im even seeing permie BA roles being advertised now. Hyphen (Adecco etc) are currently advertising for 6 BA at LTSB under their "Employed Consultant Model."

Im not junior stuff either so Im aiming for senior roles. But, if there's none about, you cant apply for them can you?

When all said and done, I dont know how you can 'de contractorise' your cv. In any application process, this is what grab's the hirer's attention.

Once you have seen the light do your best to stay away from the darkness.

[BolshieBastard]

I dont know why people are bringing up the pitfalls of permie. Yes, we all know what it entails. Bottom line is, I want to get back to work but the opportunities are limited, some by choice and some not and the pros and cons of permie v contracting doesnt bring anything to the table.

As I have said, a lot of roles are being advertised as permie rather than contract. Im even seeing permie BA roles being advertised now. Hyphen (Adecco etc) are currently advertising for 6 BA at LTSB under their "Employed Consultant Model."

Im not junior stuff either so Im aiming for senior roles. But, if there's none about, you cant apply for them can you?

When all said and done, I dont know how you can 'de contractorise' your cv. In any application process, this is what grab's the hirer's attention.

[ELBBUBKUNPS]

OK, so, the contract market is dire. Yes, Im getting calls about some contract at either end of the country ie London or Edinburgh but, virtually nothing in between. Im also seeing lots of roles that 12 months ago would have been contract but are now being advertised as permie.

I've started applying for the permie roles as, although I've a good warchest, I dont want to fritter it away by just sitting at home doing nowt.

To date, I've not had a sniff of an interview for a permie role even where the agent has contacted me about them. Hardly surprising I know since a lot(?) of permie employers turn their noses up at 'ex contractors moving into permie' positions.

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

I managed it, and my permy employer is someone who was never a client of mine so no contract to permy at same place IR35 worries.

I sold myself on being at a stage in life I wanted a 'career' (is there any such thing these days) and explained how the contractor skills I had made me a better option that a existing permy, things like being able to hit the ground running, delivery focus etc etc, I blagged alot

I did get asked alot of questions about why I wanted to stop contracting and as well as the career part of it I explained how HMRC had made the environment so painful and uncertain to operate in that was another reason. (There you go HMRC less tax revenue for you from me is that what you wanted ???)

Main issue I was had was getting good £, lots of permy places just see contractors as just a developer or at max a senior developer, it took me a while to get an offer that was good, not great but it was best I would get.

[Mich the Tester]

Yup it's testing, problem is lots of companies think they don't need good quality testers

Just be patient. They will.

[Jeebo72]

OK, so, the contract market is dire. Yes, Im getting calls about some contract at either end of the country ie London or Edinburgh but, virtually nothing in between. Im also seeing lots of roles that 12 months ago would have been contract but are now being advertised as permie.

I've started applying for the permie roles as, although I've a good warchest, I dont want to fritter it away by just sitting at home doing nowt.

To date, I've not had a sniff of an interview for a permie role even where the agent has contacted me about them. Hardly surprising I know since a lot(?) of permie employers turn their noses up at 'ex contractors moving into permie' positions.

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

The problem is you're only going after permie jobs because you can't get a contract. You may well be giving off these signals to recruiters, even if you think you are not.

Why not chase senior roles, roles that you could say are about career progression, and hint that at this stage in your life, this is what you want to do.

[The Spartan]

Is your area particularly niche? The general IT skills jobs market seems really buoyant - .NET, SQL, Java etc.

Yup it's testing, problem is lots of companies think they don't need good quality testers so they opt for the cheaper option or for Bobs. Oh well as the saying goes "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.""