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Not getting many responses to applications, no interviews, any tips?

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    Not getting many responses to applications, no interviews, any tips?

    So this is the first time I'm looking for work since finishing university 7 years ago.

    As a short summary came top of my year in BSc & MSc then joined a large company on a fast track scheme. Rose up through the ranks very quickly and began to specialise in test management. I've run testing on some really big deliverables across all the test phases and have (what I consider to be) a lot of experience. My projects always went well & have reflected this on my CV.

    I left the UK to travel SE Asia for 18 months and returned in November 2014, this is something I always wanted to do however life got in the way. It was a case of now or never!

    I'm now back in the UK and looking for work within the test management. At the moment I'm using sites like indeed.co.uk to look for both contract (preferred) or perm positions. It seems like every job posting has an agent behind it.

    Looking at Evernote I've applied for 60 jobs, had 4 calls from agents, 2 promises to put a 'profile' forward, and nothing else.

    Is this normal? I'd say 20 applications were in November, I stopped over Xmas, and re-started looking 2 weeks ago submitting another 40.

    Any perspective appreciated, this job hunting is new to me.

    #2
    Agents hate gaps, they expect you to work from cradle to grave never taking a day off.

    Bad luck on taking time off. Big mistake.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by joeg View Post
      Any perspective appreciated, this job hunting is new to me.
      Did you specify your rate/salary expectations?

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by AtW View Post
        Did you specify your rate/salary expectations?
        Welcome back, I missed you!

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by FatLazyContractor View Post
          Welcome back, I missed you!
          I've been busy.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by AtW View Post
            I've been busy.
            So is Suity, I heard!

            Comment


              #7
              It may have something to do with 5.5 years of work since uni which may not be enough to go on. How many companies have you worked for in that time and in what roles?

              Your CV may be rather 'graduatey' and eager still (I'm guessing) and to get big work you have to be quite confident about your abilities and less of the "I would describe myself as a team player who's eager to learn..." if you get my drift.

              Try chucking out a few applications at 20k more than you're looking for and you'll see what I mean - people actually bite! He who dares wins, Rodders.
              ⭐️ Gold Star Contractor

              Comment


                #8
                Like perfect storm said, 5 years isn't much to go contracting on, especially if it;s all at one company.

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                  #9
                  There are loads of top paying contracts out there for people who have 5 years of no experience and are willing to drop work to bum around on a beach for a year and a half.

                  It's gob smacking that you have not been snapped up and a sad indictment of our skewed employment priorities

                  If I was an employer, I would employ you tomorrow. or soon after
                  (\__/)
                  (>'.'<)
                  ("")("") Born to Drink. Forced to Work

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Your CV is obviously not working.

                    You need to rewrite it for contracting. It's worth having a few different versions which you can edit quickly for each role you apply for.

                    Also since you like travelling look for roles in different areas.
                    "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

                    Comment

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