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[2scoops0406]

Oh, the horror of it all. exacerbated by my not so local one being directly underneath the law courts. What a horrible demeaning experience. I guess that's what they want though.

I was curtly informed that my salary expectations were unrealistic, despite offering a figure below what I earned 16 years ago.

Oh the shame

 

[Thermo]

keep trying mate and good luck

 

[Bilioustrumpstaine]

Grim ain't it.

Did it once about 15 yrs ago (shudders at the memory)

Chin up, summat will turn up.

 

[2scoops0406]

There is no seasonal or casual work here, surviving on the cash in hand market at the moment. Really bad, fortunately not desperate yet, but how many other people (not necessarily on these boards) are in the same position, but less fortunate?

It's mildly depressing, but as a contractor you expect slack periods, but this one isn't good and not looking any better next year.

184 Jobs apps, 1 interview

 

[tim west]

How far are you willing to travel and what is your trade?

 

[2scoops0406]

How far are you willing to travel and what is your trade?

IT, previously about 4 hours / day travel.

 

[Bilioustrumpstaine]

Yep let us know, perhaps we may hear of an opportunity.

I am near Farnborough and Camberley.

 

[Bilioustrumpstaine]

There are a lot of IT companies around here, what field of IT are you in.?

 

[tim west]

I am near Farnborough and Camberley.

On me doorstep

 

[2scoops0406]

Investment / Retail bank software development, not the place to be at the moment.

Currently on :-

JobSite
eFinancial
Monster
iProfile
cwjobs
cvlibrary.

 

[Estrella]

From personal experience i'd add Total and fish4 to that list. Also update your CV / details daily. Even if its the changing of one word.

 

[Blasphemous]

From personal experience i'd add Total and fish4 to that list. Also update your CV / details daily. Even if its the changing of one word.

Yeah, good advice from BC there Scoops. Totaljobs is, IMO the best jobs site out there at the moment.

http://www.totaljobs.com/

And BCs point regarding updating of your CV is also excellent advice. I have seen many CVs that you just know were written years before the application. A lot of applicants have a CV and think that's it, they don't need to update it or freshen it. Yes, I have seen them updated but only with dates and company names. They have failed at the first hurdle. Make your CV stand out Scoops. Its so simple. It doesn't even have to take very long. One of the quickest and most effective ways to freshen your CV up for a Job App is to 'reflect' the wording in the Advert. Don't just repeat it word for word obviously but take their words and use them to explain your experience. If a company is looking for:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Then make sure you mention that you have A, B, C, D in your CV and make it prominent. Don't assume that they will know you have A, B, C, D from your experience etc. HR people don't know everything about every trade/profession, believe me, I know that much!!!

It may sound like simple advice Scoops but it really can make a big difference if you tailor your CV to each application. I've got a fair bit of experience of HR Teams (Human resourses) I was a HR Trainer for a number of years. I have seen on many occasion, when a CV arrives, it is quickly scanned over by a member of the HR team. Sometimes that member can be the office junior. If they see that the CV seems to be 'ticking all the boxes' then 9 times out of 10 it will be processed as an 'Invite to Interview'. If it's not 'immediately' obvious then it will be processed as 'Keep on File Until'. Keep on File Until, is the pile for CVs that are not 'shouting out' that the App has all the required skills/experience. So he/she is put to one side and will be brought back into the 'sifting' process if needed. If not, ie other CVs are showing the App has the required skills/experience, then the 'Keep on File Until' pile can very quickly become the 'Regret' pile! I'm not saying it is like that in every organisation and indeed it shouldn't be done that way. Any decent HR Officer, Manager, Director will give each CV time and consideration. We know that there are people out there that are excellent at their job but they might be a little lacking in their ability to produce a decent CV. That is where 'excellent' HR professionals come into their own, identifying strong applicants from weak CVs. But what I am saying is, hedge your bets. If the company you are applying to has a good HR department, they will recognise strong applicants, but if the company has a weak HR department, they will very often miss the good candidates because they cannot read a CV properly. Make sure they don't have to 'hunt' for your skills/experience!

Good luck mate.

 

[Bilioustrumpstaine]

Investment / Retail bank software development, not the place to be at the moment.

I know a company that develops software in the communications industry, specifically in defense. Is that in any way of interest, I have to add I don't know if they are recruiting but business is good for them at the present time.

 

[2scoops0406]

Thanks for the tips, yes I do "ping" my CV regularly. The advice about getting through HR is spot on. I once applied for a job, that I had previously done (same company, same job), I didn't get through the HR process

I've also got a "professional" review of my CV and will if necessary pay for it to be re-written, although the current one is based upon a professionally written CV.

Yes, I do tailor my CV for jobs I particularly want, then I have a general one for the more speculative applications. I am also loath to blatantly lie on my CV, a bit of embellishment maybe, but I don't put down things I have no experience in.

 

[stevebamford]

Hi have you looked at Jobserve at all - I've generally found that pretty good (I'm also IT freelance).

I had a few months in 2001 where I couldn't get anything - I was applying for loads of contracts and not even hearing back from the agencies. I spoke to one and they said they were getting hundreds of CV's per job, they looked at the first 20 they had in and chose the 5 best ones to submit to the client so check the job boards as often as you can and get the CV in double-quick....

It got quite scary but I got something in the end....

Have you tried phoning round all your previous clients ? That might be worth a go? Lowering your day rate (supply and demand may mean your're pricing yourself out of the current market ?)

Good luck mate - Been there, its not nice

Steve