Reply to: First contract advice

[Testing123]

Well, I guess I got lucky, no two ways about it, plus my current employers have been supportive and let me only take a 3 week notice period.

So going forward, there will be no notice period, one contract ends, another starts, give or take a week or so! (If things go well, and I find my next contract!) 😄

[Scratch It]

Because that would have gone some way to explain why you were struggling to get a contract. Most clients wont wait for a notice period to be served.

[Testing123]

😂😂😂 ok cool cheers for the heads up! 👍

[stek]

Morning all, just thought I would give you guys an update.

I've landed my first contract with a shopping channel, with a very good day rate and the initial contract length of 6 months.
I was surprised with how in-formal the interview was (only a telephone interview) and by his own admission (the interviewer) I was more qualified than him! (He had an RPG dev background)
I was listing technologies id used, defect tracking software id used and how I implemented and tested overnight changes...he couldn't care less! Got offered the contract the next day and currently working my notice period. Well pleased with myself and I seen to of started a trend at work as everyone is asking me how to go about it! Hopefully the contract gets extended!! Have a good weekend all

Extension are shiit, proper contractors aim to get out as soon as possible, job done, new environment. Hoping for extensions is a sign of permie-mindedness.

AYSYACOTBAC?

[Testing123]

Why does that matter?

[Scratch It]

Morning all, just thought I would give you guys an update.

I've landed my first contract with a shopping channel, with a very good day rate and the initial contract length of 6 months.
I was surprised with how in-formal the interview was (only a telephone interview) and by his own admission (the interviewer) I was more qualified than him! (He had an RPG dev background)
I was listing technologies id used, defect tracking software id used and how I implemented and tested overnight changes...he couldn't care less! Got offered the contract the next day and currently working my notice period. Well pleased with myself and I seen to of started a trend at work as everyone is asking me how to go about it! Hopefully the contract gets extended!! Have a good weekend all

Congratulations and all that... though you might have wanted to mention that you had a notice period to serve in your initial post!

[barrydidit]

Have a

And don't forget to get the contract reviewed

[Testing123]

Morning all, just thought I would give you guys an update.

I've landed my first contract with a shopping channel, with a very good day rate and the initial contract length of 6 months.
I was surprised with how in-formal the interview was (only a telephone interview) and by his own admission (the interviewer) I was more qualified than him! (He had an RPG dev background)
I was listing technologies id used, defect tracking software id used and how I implemented and tested overnight changes...he couldn't care less! Got offered the contract the next day and currently working my notice period. Well pleased with myself and I seen to of started a trend at work as everyone is asking me how to go about it! Hopefully the contract gets extended!! Have a good weekend all

[cojak]

I went on their CV webinar a few days ago, where the expert advised everyone to put their references on their CV and didn't understand why people didn't.

He was an ex-Hays recruiter though...

[darrylmg]

Link? Couldn't see it easily on the PCG website, and don't remember ever reading their example CV template.

It's under Advice->Winning Work->CVs and Sales.

I think you need to be a member to see those pages.

[TheFaQQer]

Read through the PCG cv template and other guides.

Link? Couldn't see it easily on the PCG website, and don't remember ever reading their example CV template.

[oscarose]

OK

Okay

[darrylmg]

[QUOTE=Testing123;1957804]

sometimes, you just need to get the gig and prove your worth when you get there, true?

It's all about the keywords.
If you don't have them, then you won't get seen by the agents.
If they see you, you need to have the experience.
If you have the experience then your rate needs to comply with their expectations.
If your rate complies, then you might get an interview, which is finally where you can work your magic.

Read through the PCG cv template and other guides.
Break out all the keywords/buzzwords into a skills matrix on your cv and ensure you try and work them into the cv text too.
Finally, fill in as much as possible on the jobserve profile key skills section, and set the profile as searchable (in jobserve settings).

Hth

[Testing123]

Much appreciated for all the help guys.

I keep you posted of any updates I may receive!

Cheers

[TheFaQQer]

sometimes, you just need to get the gig and prove your worth when you get there, true?

Yes.

Whether it would work or not, but you could offer a zero days notice period in the contract - ie. if they find you are rubbish, they can get rid of you immediately. Tell the agent that you are so confident that you can do the work and the client will be pleased, that they can walk you off site straight away if they find otherwise.

In reality it's no different from the rights the client will have anyway, but it might convince the agent that you do know what you are on about.