Reply to: Been out of work for a while? You're finished!

[DimPrawn]

Play nicely!

Remember alcohol and drugs exist.

And failing that, Chloroform. Does this hanky smell funny to you Sue?

[No2politics]

Depends if you actually tried to make something of your life.

Remember that most people are applying for generic jobs like shelf stacker or HR assistant that anyone could do. They interview with 20 identical people and hope somehow they are chosen.

If you have worked hard to cultivate skills that are in demand then none of this applies. I jumped from job to job before becoming a contractor. One interview I remember them saying "We see that you've spent only 6 months to a year in every single role. How do we know you won't leave this company in 6 months too? We need someone to work long term so we can skill them up and have them be an asset to the team."

I gave them some BS response and quit exactly a year later.

If you got the skills, you got the power.

Absolutely this.

[clearedforlanding]

No, that's true, but if they're just calling to say "hi" I also want to make sure they're working off a current one. Asking them to send an email so I can reply with updated CV also indicates how serious their desire was to keep it on file. Around %30 of the time no email comes through.

Ignore the keeping CV on file horsetulip. They get it from aggregators like Jobserve anyway (make sure it whitters on about everything you have ever done).

Send a CV to an agent only when you have received a Jobspec and have discussed the specifics with the agent and are convinced there is a role. Make sure that CV is tailored to the role.

Keep a file of which CVs was sent to which agents.

[seanraaron]

Shouldn't you be sending the agent the latest copy of your CV, tailored for the role, for them to forward to the client?

Or do you just let agents fire off whatever CV they have on their database, without your permission?

No, that's true, but if they're just calling to say "hi" I also want to make sure they're working off a current one. Asking them to send an email so I can reply with updated CV also indicates how serious their desire was to keep it on file. Around %30 of the time no email comes through.

[AtW]

Moral of the story - don't be unemployed, work for your Ltd on Plan B whilst searching for another contract, which can also be done via Ltd.

Simples

[NibblyPig]

Depends if you actually tried to make something of your life.

Remember that most people are applying for generic jobs like shelf stacker or HR assistant that anyone could do. They interview with 20 identical people and hope somehow they are chosen.

If you have worked hard to cultivate skills that are in demand then none of this applies. I jumped from job to job before becoming a contractor. One interview I remember them saying "We see that you've spent only 6 months to a year in every single role. How do we know you won't leave this company in 6 months too? We need someone to work long term so we can skill them up and have them be an asset to the team."

I gave them some BS response and quit exactly a year later.

If you got the skills, you got the power.

[SueEllen]

No one would believe any woman would be stupid enough to sleep with you, let alone breed.

Play nicely!

Remember alcohol and drugs exist.

[clearedforlanding]

I've changed physical and email addresses for work stuff so I always ask what's on the header because a lot of these places get your CV from who knows where. I definitely don't want them sending outdated crap to clients.

Shouldn't you be sending the agent the latest copy of your CV, tailored for the role, for them to forward to the client?

Or do you just let agents fire off whatever CV they have on their database, without your permission?

[BrilloPad]

This is definately true. A couple of months is okay, but anything longer than that and you can halve your chances as each month goes by.

The "reason" for big gaps that seems to wash with clients is that you decided to look after the children for a while whilst your partner worked. This means you weren't looking for work, so in the client's mind your not a failure in the marketplace.

No one would believe any woman would be stupid enough to sleep with you, let alone breed.

[SueEllen]

I've changed physical and email addresses for work stuff so I always ask what's on the header because a lot of these places get your CV from who knows where. I definitely don't want them sending outdated crap to clients.

Clients don't get your physical address or any other contact details from agencies so put the minimum on your CV the agent needs to contract you with.

[nomadd]

Yeah but you is fooking ace, innit?

That's why I always use you as a reference..

[seanraaron]

Hirer struck with 'Carrey Liar/Liar Syndrome': I want to make the most money for ME in the shortest space of time - hence I'll be paying you the very lowest I can, the very lowest you'll accept; I want someone who will work the fastest, longest and hardest for ME, to make money for ME. Your only purpose in my eyes is to make money for ME.

Did you take the job?

[seanraaron]

I was sitting talking to the interviewer and then she suddenly she says "Well what have you been doing since 2013?"

Somehow she'd got an old CV. The agent swore it wasn't him (which curiously I'm disinclined to believe)

Anyway a 2 - 3 year gap didn't seem to faze her.

However if the agent had got the old CV, that would have been an entirely different matter I suspect.

I've changed physical and email addresses for work stuff so I always ask what's on the header because a lot of these places get your CV from who knows where. I definitely don't want them sending outdated crap to clients.

[SunnyInHades]

Clients want drones that never stop working, are never ill, never put family first, never think about anything other than client co bottom line.

Hirer struck with 'Carrey Liar/Liar Syndrome': I want to make the most money for ME in the shortest space of time - hence I'll be paying you the very lowest I can, the very lowest you'll accept; I want someone who will work the fastest, longest and hardest for ME, to make money for ME. Your only purpose in my eyes is to make money for ME.

[Cirrus]

Have I told you this story?

I was sitting talking to the interviewer and then she suddenly she says "Well what have you been doing since 2013?"

Somehow she'd got an old CV. The agent swore it wasn't him (which curiously I'm disinclined to believe)

Anyway a 2 - 3 year gap didn't seem to faze her.

However if the agent had got the old CV, that would have been an entirely different matter I suspect.