Feh. 16-NSD streak in tatters

bobbie78

Are you looking for perm or contracting work? you might be able to get a contract for a few months further a field and claim back in the week hotels as a business travel expense. There are many umbrella companies that will do all the taxes etc. for you and just pay you paye if you pay them a nominal fee. I have just started contracting after being made redundant twice in 2 years and getting sick of it. I've got a 6 month contract which is for the same wage as what I earnt in the whole of last year doing a more interesting job too. I'm sure you have looked but monster, cwjobs, jobserve and unixboard are the main ones I've always got jobs through, although hayes and reed contact me sometimes too when they find things that match my cv.

The only thing I've learnt is apply for everything, even if you don't want it, just to get your cv registered with as many agencies as possible so that if they do get something in you are the first person they call. I know it sucks I applied for 300 jobs before I got this one but it can be done, even though the talking to the agencies can be soul destroying.

Sorry if I'm offending anyone who works in an agency I'm just sick of explaining what half the words mean on my cv every time some on calls me, I'd just like one person to know what the words linux, unix, solaris, free bds, aix hp-ux, slackware etc mean and in what ways they are inter-changeable rather than me having to explain what they mean when you claim you are pre-interviewing me for a job you have no conception off.

Sorry this has turned into a rant, I know it is hard but keep applying everywhere and it will come good. Can you do any training while you're not working, build up a portfolio of websites or elegant code or anything (depending on what work you do) so you can show people at interviews. Good luck and PM me if you need any help I might be able to give in finding a new job.

Two9A

bobbie: It's hard not to rant on this subject, I know; I tend to find myself ranting at times (often at the nearest wall). I've been taking your advice, as I've heard it elsewhere a few times before: throwing my CV at any agency that sticks jobs up on monster/jobsite/etc. Hayes and Reed have my CV, but I've never had a call back from them, so :rolleyes:

I do actually have a portfolio, threw it together a couple of months ago (basically web work, since that's what I do for a living). You're right about contracting though, (if you can find the work) it pays very well; also right on the total lack of clue exhibited by agencies. I've generally had good luck with the agencies knowing of what they speak, but I've had the occasional village idiot asking me for 5 years in PHP5, or other requirements which are impossible to meet unless you call a year "4 months".

To bed with me though; gotta get up early to haul my bum across town.

nickyhutch

You haven't been out of the house in over two weeks? I wouldn't give a job to someone who didn't get out, to be honest.

DawnW

How about a spot of voluntary / charity work? This would enable you to get out a bit without sending any money, meet some different people, and add something interesting to your CV. I be there are charities crying out for IT help, or alternatively you could try something different.

Two9A

Ok, that wasn't too bad. Ticket into town was 5.65 (it's gone up!), ticket across town was 3.50 (that's gone down! how does that work?), and lunch was 3.68 (yes, I know, I could've made sarnies, but I couldn't be bothered ). Total: £12.63 (mental addition, please confirm); not a disaster, but non-ideal.

As for the agency, they love me. My current supercontractor bigged me up in his reference, I've got experience relevant to at least a couple of roles they have open, and I'm within the budget for those roles. Sounds good, but I've had that plenty of times before, and nothing's come of it.

Also, just as I was typing this, the agency called me back to confirm a telephone interview with one of the roles. A progression, so we'll see.

Justanswer also got back to me re: their broken registration system. Apparently, they activated my account at the server side, so I'll check how that's running, and if I can register as an "expert".