Lining up your next gig

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Started my first gig for 3 months. How should I go about lining up my next one? Should I speak to agencies, use LinkedIn, put my CV up on monster? I am hoping to stay in the North West, so anywhere within commuting distance. What should I do to maximise my chances?

Advice appreciated?

[Troll]

Is there something about living in the North West that makes one have to digitise every thought ?

[chef]

how about look to seizing any opportunity to make yourself invaluable in the current gig so that you don't have to move..

• give a good impression to those who matter
• meet deadlines
• be seen to be busy (irrelevant of if you actually are, that's what photocopiers, notebooks and 10 min toilet breaks are for)
• never start with "this isn't how it was done at my last place"
• always look to suggest giving yourself worth but no extra work/responsibility (tricky but doable)
• dont put your neck on the line with a solution unless your 999% sure it will work guaranteed
• work out who the decision makers are (i.e those that will decide to extend you or not) and ensure they receive the right impression at all times
• do your work well and with pride as being sloppy only catches up with you in the future
• don't brag about your rate or lifestyle and learn from past experiences with any other contractors on site (a lot of my gigs have been via people I have worked with in the past)

[PAH]

Is there something about living in the North West that makes one have to digitise every thought ?

I blame Wilmslow, though is it technically in the NW?

[TykeMerc]

I blame Wilmslow, though is it technically in the NW?

Yup, tiny bit south of Manchester so it qualifies.

[swamp]

Steal as many pens as possible from the stationary cupboard. Envelopes are good currency too.

[NickFitz]

In my experience, most gigs are filled within a week. Last year I endured tremendous hounding from an agent over a gig for which I insisted the client would have to wait six weeks so I could complete my current gig, until the client said they were happy to wait. (I'd applied for the second at the same time as the first, but the second moved much more slowly.)

I've never bothered thinking about the next gig until I'm out of the previous one; then I decide how much time I want/can afford to take off before getting back in the game. Clients seeking contractors to start three months hence are sufficiently rare that I have never encountered them.

As with everything in this peculiar world of ours, YMMV

[Drewster]

I suggest a combination of the advice given by Chef & NickF....

[Tarquin Farquhar]

I suggest a combination of the advice given by Chef & NickF....

Curiously for a collection of people who earn money by being paid for the application of their hard-earned knowledge, quite a few CUK people like those two will give you valuable and hard-earned knowledge for free here. Make good use of it.

[chef]

Curiously for a collection of people who earn money by being paid for the application of their hard-earned knowledge, quite a few CUK people like those two will give you valuable and hard-earned knowledge for free here. Make good use of it.

What a great Plan B.. Tips on being a contractor website/book/coaching dvd

aimed specifically at those who haven't worked out how to search in google or to read the guides (======>)