Anon
Unregistered User
(2/25/00 1:41:14 am)
Reply | Edit | Del All | Here is my gift to you, contractors.... the best way to find work
Here it is, my friends. Has worked for me time and time again - with about a 50% success rate!
First, you find a few jobs that you like on sites like net-temps, dice, whatever floats your boat.
Then you figure out who the CLIENTS are. You can do this 3 ways that I've found
1) Try and figure it out based on location and the description of the job
2) Talk to friends - see if they know who the company in GimpVille is who is using Visual Psychosis version 11.Q
and the third, and most insidious way, but also the best...
3) Call the bork up, and tell him that you're interested. Tell the bork that you'd like to be submitted, and before sending a resume, ask what the client is since you're making sure you're avoiding double submittals. I've found that 75% of borks will tell you who the client is. When they do, you tell them "Oh, jheez... good thing I asked! I was already submitted there!".
Now you know the client.
Call them up and ask about the job. You can probably get to the hiring manager due to your knowledge of the job. BS your way in if you have to "Yeah, I was calling to speak to the manager of the XYZ project, they put out a request for people and I'm calling in response to that request" - you'll get through. Then deliver your pitch to the PHB who is running the project.
One of three things will happen...
1) They have a vendor list, and you must go through an agency. This isn't all that bad news - first try to get on their list! Worked for me once. If you can't then ask for who IS on the list, and then approach that person and offer a SMALL percentage of the bill rate for a no-work placement. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T CALL THE BORK YOU STOLE THE NAME FROM! 
2) They will hem and haw about the whole thing. If they do this, it means that the position never existed anyways. Give a small pitch and leave them with your card.
3) They will want you to take the job! I've found that about 50% of clients are REALLY frustrated with the asshole borks. They get candidates at ridiculous rates with little experience. Many clients see me as a breath of fresh air! I am able to get a better rate for MYSELF, I usually get at-home work, and I don't have a BORK bending me over each week when I get my check.
TRY IT - IT WORKS.
Now I know what some of you are thinking - "Anon, isn't it unethical to do that to a bork". Well, it's sort of like when they ask for your resume without any real jobs - only in reverse!
And if you are ever found out by the bork, there is nothing they can do because unless you're a buffoon, you wouldn't sign any kind of NDA due to a PHONE conversation. If you're really worried about it, make up a fake name, and get one of those ringmate phone numbers, and you'll be homefree.
I know it's a little mean to the borks, but it works, and they've been jerking us around for years. I've gotten SEVERAL projects worth over 1/4 of a million last year alone doing this. It takes Balls of Steel (tm) to pull it off, and you gotta be able to sell your services, but it works!
My gift to you, fellow contractors!
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