Seeing the other thread on here today - http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...xperts-on-here (and not wanting to hijack that thread) has prompted me to start this one.
Having been made redundant from HP recently (Unix Consultant for many years) I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for reliable and trustworthy agencies I could get involved with. I've replied to the odd advert so far and it's served to remind me how hopeless some of these agencies can be. The last time I went through a similar process was sixteen years ago, so I'd be interested to know if anyone has some up to date experiences they could share, to help me give the job search a bit of focus. Thanks.
Ian
Assuming you haven't already done so I'd register with LinkedIn, update your status as available and do a job search. I'd do similar on Indeed, Totaljobs, Jobserve etc. You'll be a more attractive candidate to employers if they don't have to pay a fee, and many don't use agencies anymore.
The agencies tend to find you if you have a good public profile and CV.
If you know the ideal sector, location or company you want to work for, work backwards from there. It's often common knowledge which agencies are supplying which big companies.
linkedin is the best bet and go contracting.
Thanks for the advice guys. After being a (dormant) LinkedIn member for years I did update my profile on there and even added a photo, against my better judgement, as I was told it makes a difference. When you look like I do it may make the wrong difference! :-)
Anyway, I shall certainly look at Indeed, Totaljobs and Jobserve as well. Thanks for that.
Interesting advice about contracting too. It's something I've never done. In fact I've always actively avoided it, but several people recently have advised it as the way to go for a 55 year-old IT Consultant like me, so maybe I'll show a bit more confidence in my abilities and try it!
Ian
I must admit I assumed you meant contracting!Originally Posted by Ian_O
I made the transition from long term IT permy to contract after redundancy, would never go back. Definitely worth seriously looking at.
Don't wait for the agencies. Especially with a background at HP, go on the websites of every large IT service provider (all the big Indian, European and US ones) and apply directly via their job portals. Go for the big corporates as well (especially the ones you supported while at HP).
Best of luck.
When I was doing some contracting, I used OptimumIT who were very good at that time.
Seems to be the same advice wherever I go - i.e. contracting is the way forward. Looks like now is the perfect time for me to take the plunge!
That sounds like good advice, thanks. Someone else mentioned to me that sixteen years at HP should be looked upon as a positive thing when looking for the next role. Not sure why, but I'm glad if that's true! :-)
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I shall take a look at them. Many thanks.
I work for a company in the same sector. Not sure what our UNIX offerings/capabilities are but can do some digging?
I also joined after redundancy from HP 6yrs ago (well split by a 6 month contract in between). We have taken many ex HP staff on. I had 21 years there myself in some shape or form.
For contacting you don't really find an agency any more and develop a relationship with them. They just fill the roles on their books and for they most part are fairly dumb cv filtering and billing administrators. I've had success on jobserve and LinkedIn, don't really bother looking elsewhere.
Barclay Simpson are good for perm tech roles.
That's very kind, thank you. I'll send you a PM.
HP have got rid of so many experienced staff in the last few years. I used to think there was a master plan, but then I stopped being naive!
Definitely second the advice to talk to the companies that were/are clients of HP, especially the ones you dealt with - could well be some requirements that need to be filled. Also, they may well know others to talk to.
While it's useful to talk to agencies, working your network is also a very positive thing and can/should yield positive results.
Good luck.
That's one I wasn't aware of before, but am looking on their website now. Thanks.
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Thank you.
Responding to the thread as a 'bookmark' so I can easily find later...
linkedin is good, also add your CV to indeed, jobsite & jobserve, set up email alerts and you'll see the jobs you want advertised.
I think the days of registering with a few agencies are gone as there are just so many out there.
Good luck.
A friend of mine is the MD of Highams Recruitment who specialise in IT for banks and the London market.
https://www.highams.com/
I don't know if it what you are looking for but give him a call, Mark DeLacy is his name. He'll be able to advise you.
Tell him Neil sent you.
Cheers,
Neil.
Sorry to hijack this thread as not my intention, but feels like a good place for the question. Does anyone know of any good contacts for contract work in Digital marketing roles in and around London by any chance? This is an avenue I have been looking at of late. I work in the banking sector currently
I was a contractor for about 8 years back in the late '80s/early '90s.
Definitely the best time to do it, with no IR35 or company car tax issues to concern yourself with too much.
HMRC closed a lot of the best loopholes.
I went permy again in 1996 as I was a bit bored with the kind of work I was offered as a contractor and found a more interesting and well paid job - It was great, I was there 8 years and it rates amongst my top 3 jobs (I've had a few!).
I had a short spell contracting again when I left, which was OK, but back to grunt work and, again, permanent work was more interesting and, in the round, as well paid.
I'd like to work 100% for myself, but ultimately I'm a bit too lazy and am happy to take decent money for reasonably interesting work.
Just a balance to all the pro-Contracting posts. I did enjoy the money and the flexibility when I did it, but I'm not sure I'd go back to it by choice now.
M
Thanks very much for that. Much appreciated.A friend of mine is the MD of Highams Recruitment who specialise in IT for banks and the London market.
https://www.highams.com/
I don't know if it what you are looking for but give him a call, Mark DeLacy is his name. He'll be able to advise you.
Tell him Neil sent you.
Ian
Me too. But I also like holiday, a pension, sick pay and not having to continually market myself before and after contact end date.
Some guys thrive on it, but it's not for me.
I've done the calculations many times and without a day rate of astronomical proportions it's not worth leaving my permanent job.
The programmer contractors I used to work with in 2000 used to earn £450 a day. 16 years later they still earn almost the same but I earn eight times more than I used to. The long game has played out very well for me.
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