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Pay The Reckoning Limited: Blog |
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Random Thoughts 2 : Surviving The Dry Patch So, my last interim contract came to an end two months ago. At one stage, such were the numerous political and technical wranglings, it appeared that the project had a few months' more life in it. However, as happens, deadlines loomed and all parties concerned made an extra push to reach an agreement. Having done so, and with a dedicated HR resource (me) to hand to drive things forward, we had the project wrapped up – later than we had originally expected, but earlier than we had feared once we had discovered just how tricky it was likely to be to secure our preferred outcome. So, with warm wishes all around, I took my leave and pitched back into the job market. It's cold out here! Where are all those 3-6 month interim projects that were floating around back in the summer? Where are all the phone calls that I was fielding when I was already ensconced in my last project? It's never a good idea to panic, so I draw up a campaign of action. Firstly, have a look at the CV. Does it get across all of my skills, the breadth and depth of my experience? A tweak here, a tweak there – good to go. Secondly – a mental note to check Changeboard, Personnel Today Jobs and the CIPD jobs page every day. Three searches on each. First a search for reward vacancies (permanent, contract or interim), then a search for contract vacancies (any specialism) and finally a search for interim vacancies (any specialism). Of course, if I reckon I'm at least 75% qualified for any of the jobs advertised, I submit an application. If I'm not even vaguely qualified? Then, I note the recruitment consultant's contact details and submit a speculative CV in any event. I make two golden rules. Always make sure that I meet face-to-face with any recruitment consultant who shows interest and requests such a meeting. Even if I've met every other consultant who works out of their office. That meeting could be the catalyst for the next role. And secondly, to look the consultant up on LinkedIn. If they're signed up, then a connection there can do me no harm whatsoever. One of the biggest disappointments of the past few weeks? Well, having a little time on my hands to keep up to date with former colleagues, I get in touch with a HR Director with whom I formerly worked – very happily and very productively – for several years. We arranged to have lunch. It was really good fun, catching up on the comings and goings of friends and colleagues, his life, mine. Early on he had asked me how was my business. I didn't want to bullshit him and so I was straight and said that after a very good 18 months, I'd suddenly found myself struggling to pick up work. But, ever the optimist, I had high hopes for a busy year ahead. As we were about to leave and he was waiting for the bill, he “confessed”, with a certain embarrassment, that he had no interim work available to put my way. I stuttered a nonchalant reply, to the effect that he needn't have brought it up; that wasn't the reason I was there. I'd simply planned to have a quick catch-up over lunch with a former boss – and very pleasant it was, too! However, we both realised in that instant that if he had offered me a few months' work, then I would have bitten his hand off to accept... So, another day, another round of scouting for the next job. Wish me luck! All comments welcome at aidan@paythereckoning.com February 2010 |
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Copyright, Aidan Crossey 2010 |