Getting a foot in the door

[malvolio]

Thanks. Yeah, I've started doing just this - Initially I was a tad reluctant (no real reason, just didn't wanna go down the gis-a-job route) - but yeah, it makes sense - the grass is already looking a bit greener :-)

Hmmm...

It's a major change that you're contemplating making; no career, no comfort blankets, even less security, a load of costs you don't have now to name just a few. Don't go in to it half-hearted, attack it and grasp any opportunity.

[Rastko]

Especially at the OP's presumed age (I'm not too far behind). If you don't have a network you can 'work' for finding contraacts at that stage in life, it may be hard work competing for advertised roles.

Not trying to put you off, OP, if that's the way it has to be, but just looking to see if there's another way.

If you're not sure how to tap your network, hopefully you at least know who is working where via LinkedIn. Then I suggest you need a plan of attack. Start meeting contacts for coffee, lunch, pint etc. Difficult if the travelling distances are great but a good way to go about it. Let them know about your availability and abilities. Show what you can do for them, but don't be afraid to ask for a bit of assistance as well. Just my way of doing things - other methods are available.

Thanks. Yeah, I've started doing just this - Initially I was a tad reluctant (no real reason, just didn't wanna go down the gis-a-job route) - but yeah, it makes sense - the grass is already looking a bit greener :-)

[unixman]

I don't agree that the market is unusually bad or has been affected by Brexit. In 2006 I was made redundant from a permanent job. Finding a first contract took 3 months. And it was 1 hour 20 minutes from home. My latest contract, which I am about to start, was easier to find and is 30 minutes away,

Advice to the OP would be that there are fewer contracts than perm. jobs, and you have to look harder for them. Keep searching. Interrogate the big search engines twice a day. Get all the right words on your CV, and keep going.

[ShandyDrinker]

Br*x*t, all the banking work flying away to Fwonkfwort and Dublin, plus generally contracting itself being rogered up the back passage like never before.

^^ This. For anyone starting contracting now, it's tough and I'd question your sanity, especially if you had a decent job already although as the OP has said in this case they took VR.

Not sure about Frankfurt but the thing I find amusing about Dublin being trumpeted as a destination for all these banks is that they struggled to find sufficient candidates as it was, primarily because of the woeful rates on offer, the extortionate cost of living and taxation if you were to go via an Irish Ltd or Umbrella.

That being said, I really enjoyed the contract I had in Dublin as the client I was with at the time were excellent and arguably helped me get a break to work in the City back home in the UK.

If I were to advise someone trying to break into investment banking in the UK now I'd recommend trying to get a role in Dublin (BAML, JP Morgan, Citi, etc) or perhaps trying somewhere like Glasgow (JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, etc).

[northernladyuk]

What she said, - talk to all your contacts at 'big bank' and the ones now at 'other big banks' etc

Especially at the OP's presumed age (I'm not too far behind). If you don't have a network you can 'work' for finding contraacts at that stage in life, it may be hard work competing for advertised roles.

Not trying to put you off, OP, if that's the way it has to be, but just looking to see if there's another way.

If you're not sure how to tap your network, hopefully you at least know who is working where via LinkedIn. Then I suggest you need a plan of attack. Start meeting contacts for coffee, lunch, pint etc. Difficult if the travelling distances are great but a good way to go about it. Let them know about your availability and abilities. Show what you can do for them, but don't be afraid to ask for a bit of assistance as well. Just my way of doing things - other methods are available.

[BR14]

What is your network like and have you tapped it? I have't got a gig via an ad for years (actually I've only ever got one), although I know plenty still do.

What she said, - talk to all your contacts at 'big bank' and the ones now at 'other big banks' etc

[northernladyuk]

Cheers. Yeah, that was one of my starting points, "BA skills are very transferable" but, what with the number of ads I'm seeing where they consider domain-specific skills & experience as essential to the role, I'm beginning to hesitate - guess it's down to me to tailor the CV / application so that I convince them otherwise :-)

What is your network like and have you tapped it? I have't got a gig via an ad for years (actually I've only ever got one), although I know plenty still do.

[Rastko]

Was in a similar position when I started contracting 8 years back now. Had spent 30+years as a BA in one area. BA skills are very much transferable so look outside banking, I've done retail, Insurance, travel and education BA roles. At lot of it is luck, hard work and being in the right spot at the right time.
Keep looking and good luck

Cheers. Yeah, that was one of my starting points, "BA skills are very transferable" but, what with the number of ads I'm seeing where they consider domain-specific skills & experience as essential to the role, I'm beginning to hesitate - guess it's down to me to tailor the CV / application so that I convince them otherwise :-)

[Hertsseasider]

Was in a similar position when I started contracting 8 years back now. Had spent 30+years as a BA in one area. BA skills are very much transferable so look outside banking, I've done retail, Insurance, travel and education BA roles. At lot of it is luck, hard work and being in the right spot at the right time.
Keep looking and good luck

[BR14]

My first contract was in 2005 and took a total of about 12 hours' effort. Nowadays things are a little different

Mine was 1974 and took no effort! - but, as you say, things are different now.

[ladymuck]

My first contract was in 2005 and took a total of about 12 hours' effort. Nowadays things are a little different

[stek]

Morning all,

How hard should it be to get your first contract?

Been a BA in Banking for 30+ years – took VR (gladly), took a few months out and now looking to contract for the next 5-10 years – in a similar sort of role (BA, big bank, London) – registered with a few boards / agencies (jobserve, reed, hayes, spring) – but there seems to be very little going on – seen maybe 3 or 4 roles that have been a loose fit.

OK, it’s a rubbish time of year and I’ve only been looking for a few weeks, but, must admit, I thought there’d be plenty more choice out there.

What does anyone reckon? Head down and be patient? or am I looking in the wrong place? or going about it the wrong way?

Cheers for any advice / thoughts.

Br*x*t, all the banking work flying away to Fwonkfwort and Dublin, plus generally contracting itself being rogered up the back passage like never before.

[Rastko]

Morning all,

How hard should it be to get your first contract?

Been a BA in Banking for 30+ years – took VR (gladly), took a few months out and now looking to contract for the next 5-10 years – in a similar sort of role (BA, big bank, London) – registered with a few boards / agencies (jobserve, reed, hayes, spring) – but there seems to be very little going on – seen maybe 3 or 4 roles that have been a loose fit.

OK, it’s a rubbish time of year and I’ve only been looking for a few weeks, but, must admit, I thought there’d be plenty more choice out there.

What does anyone reckon? Head down and be patient? or am I looking in the wrong place? or going about it the wrong way?

Cheers for any advice / thoughts.