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Receiving NO responses - also, any contract workers here?
I'm a contract worker and my contract's about to expire this month. I've been casually sending out applications for about a month for jobs I really thought I'd like. Last week I was told that I likely won't get a contract extension here, so I've been sending out a lot of applications since then.
I've heard nothing back from anyone. No interview offers, no "Sorry but you're not right for this position" messages, nothing. Is it normal for companies to hang onto an application for a couple weeks before contacting the candidates, or is this a sign that there's something really wrong with my resume?
My last three jobs have been short-term contractor jobs because that's just what I was able to get at the time. For two of those jobs, my contracts were extended as much as possible before their budgets ran out, and I parted with each company on extremely good terms and I got lots of references to use for the future. I've noted on my resume that these were contract jobs so that it doesn't appear that I'm just getting fired or quitting every other year. Is this unappealing to employers, to see that I move to another company every year or two?
I just want to work somewhere FT and stay there. I'm tired of skipping around all the time. Interviewers in the past have asked why I'm choosing to take contract jobs, and I just want to shout, "The bills need to get paid somehow!" but of course I can't do that. I can't afford to just turn down jobs until the Perfect Job comes along. Am I stuck being a contractor for the rest of my career? /vent
Re: Receiving NO responses - also, any contract workers here?
" I've heard nothing back from anyone. No interview offers, no "Sorry but you're not right for this position" messages, nothing. Is it normal for companies to hang onto an application for a couple weeks before contacting the candidates, or is this a sign that there's something really wrong with my resume?"
Totally normal for them to send nothing and not consider you, also totally normal to wait a few weeks before contacting those they are interested in. Things move slowly within companies.
74 books read in 2011
It's totally normal for them to take some time to start the interview process. It's also totally normal for them to not let you know if you weren't even considered.
It might be your resume, but that's hard to say without seeing it. IMO it wouldn't hurt to run it by some people and see what they think. It may also just be a function of your location and/or field that things aren't popping up.
You may have pre-screeners or screening software that's not picking up that these were contract positions, or people may be seeing multiple contractor positions and think you prefer that sort of thing over a FT position. A carefully-worded CL may help with that.
There are ways to explain your extensive contract work without shouting about the bills. "Unfortunately in the current environment, I was unable to find a full-time position in my field. However, I wanted to keep my skills fresh and chose to work on a contract basis until I could find a full-time position. I feel that I would be a good fit with this company, and could contribute to the team in a full-time permanent capacity."
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
I'm a contractor. I agree with your sentiments. I just want to settle into a job and not worry about budgets or extensions or forgetting to apply for extensions or applying to more and more jobs. It's really tough.
Don't take it personally if you don't hear back right away. I've learned that different companies (even different types of companies like corporate vs non-profit) have completely different ways of handling it. Some use software to weed people out based on keywords or lack thereof. Some have HR pre-screen applicants and then forward to hiring managers. Some have HR do all the work (and HR may not always know what the department is looking for).
Some companies take a few days to get back to you. Some take weeks. My current position took almost 2 months from inital contact to hiring me. And at that time the conditions changed (it was supposed to be full time but they weren't "sure" and wanted to try me out so they offered me it as contract). I also went through 4 sets of interviews with around 9 people and it still took 2 months.
Sometimes the responsibilities of the people making the decisions requires them acting faster or slower than what most job sites will tell you.
Do you best and hang in there.
It also doesn't hurt to have a few people spot check your resume now and then. :-)