Bench Time

[kaiser78]

Build up a rapport with some trustworthy agents (there are one or two out there), so that you are in their minds when roles come in.

[Elliegirl]

Funny you should mention this today;I was thinking about how competitive some areas are, and that includes Project Managers. 50 plus applications for 1 job on Reed. Sue Ellen mentioned calling recruiters but that's never worked for me. They never returned my calls, might be something about me. Also there are some on here who are seasoned contractors and have built up a network of contacts and don't have to go down the Jobserve/CW jobs/ etc route. I am not one of those; most of my roles have come from Jobserve or Reed and what has worked for me is Fastest Finger First. Very targeted CV submitted as soon as the job is advertised, or as close as possible. Recruiters will generally submit their top 2 or 3 and if they get a CV very early that ticks the boxes then bingo. I've been called half an hour or less after submitting my CV because I am what they are looking for. Always remember that when you are job hunting it's always about you. Everyone else is just a competitor who is out to eat your lunch and dinner.

[northernladuk]

Thanks for all your constructive advice, have managed all the above keeping the cv updated in the last 5 months.

Th Job sites/Indeed/ Jobserve, IT board etc

My expertise lies in project management , systems implementation, Project delivery.

I'd start looking a bit closer to home for the problem. There are plenty of PM gigs going around and must have been 100's go through jobserve in 5 months surely?

[SueEllen]

Thanks for all your constructive advice, have managed all the above keeping the cv updated in the last 5 months.

Th Job sites/Indeed/ Jobserve, IT board etc

My expertise lies in project management , systems implementation, Project delivery.

Looks like you will have to do both a national and European wide search for roles. Just make sure you check out the tax regime for a variety of countries.

[Esso]

Bench Time

Thanks for all your constructive advice, have managed all the above keeping the cv updated in the last 5 months.

Th Job sites/Indeed/ Jobserve, IT board etc

My expertise lies in project management , systems implementation, Project delivery.

[northernladuk]

To add to the above - if you have in demand skills and not suitable for the role the agent will still have a chat with you. Make sure you ask them to contact you if any suitable roles come up. Even if you end up getting a contract elsewhere, doing it with a few agents can secure you a contract sometime in the future.

You'd assume he hasn't with 5 months on the bench already....

[SueEllen]

Finally when applying to any roles online assume that your application will probably be ignored unless you follow up promptly with the recruiter in question - when I was last looking I was actually told in as many words by a number of people that "we get so many applications that we only really follow through on the ones we speak to" or more positively "seeing as you took the trouble to call me let's have a chat about the role now"

To add to the above - if you have in demand skills and not suitable for the role the agent will still have a chat with you. Make sure you ask them to contact you if any suitable roles come up. Even if you end up getting a contract elsewhere, doing it with a few agents can secure you a contract sometime in the future.

[CatOnMat]

Why limit yourself to public sector?

Personally I have found the last three months quiet, but starting to get calls every day now.

How are you searching? Are you updating your CV and re-uploading every week to refresh to the top of the pile? How is your CV looking? What is the relationship with recruiters to call? Have you updated LinkedIn to say you are actively looking?

Sort out the above and I guarantee a new role soon.

Also making sure that your profiles on Jobserve/Jobsite/CV Library/etc are showing you as active and searchable. Might also be worth reaching out to your LinkedIn network highlighting what you're looking for and how you can add value to prospective clients (either them or anyone they know).

Finally when applying to any roles online assume that your application will probably be ignored unless you follow up promptly with the recruiter in question - when I was last looking I was actually told in as many words by a number of people that "we get so many applications that we only really follow through on the ones we speak to" or more positively "seeing as you took the trouble to call me let's have a chat about the role now"

Apologies if you've already done all this and I'm stating the obvious - hope that helps and best of luck!

[Wilmslow]

Finished 14 months contract ( 1st Contract from permie) as a PM

Finding difficult to find second contract, been on the bench for 5 months rolling , no income coming,
6 months warchest is running low.

Need some advice go permie or stay contracting in the gloom and doom of IR35 contracting - public sector.

Advice please - newbie

Why limit yourself to public sector?

Personally I have found the last three months quiet, but starting to get calls every day now.

How are you searching? Are you updating your CV and re-uploading every week to refresh to the top of the pile? How is your CV looking? What is the relationship with recruiters to call? Have you updated LinkedIn to say you are actively looking?

Sort out the above and I guarantee a new role soon.

[WTFH]

Probably this thread should be moved to welcome.

Done

[BrilloPad]

Probably this thread should be moved to welcome.

Do you have any dependants? What sector are you in? What skills do you have?

Any responses without knowing those would be very difficult.

[Esso]

Finished 14 months contract ( 1st Contract from permie) as a PM

Finding difficult to find second contract, been on the bench for 5 months rolling , no income coming,
6 months warchest is running low.

Need some advice go permie or stay contracting in the gloom and doom of IR35 contracting - public sector.

Advice please - newbie