Desperate!!

[Kalinikta]

Hi all, im new to this forum, so first of all a big hello to everyone. I have been reading bits here and there for a while now and wanted to post this thread both to give a bit of insight that others might appreciate and also to ask for advice myself.

OK down to the nitty gritty..

I live in London and have been an IT contractor for 3 years or so, im a 2nd line support analyst, but with leaning toward specialist site support; which usually involves technical project overseeing/involvement or hit the ground running no supervision roles. I am by no means a massively high earner, my last role was £200 a day; which for me is the most I have ever earnt.

I finished my last contract in February which I did really well in and had extended 4 times. I havent been able to secure another position since then.

I have read on this forum and others that a lot of people have been out of work longer; which of course is no surprise considering the state of the economy.

So like tens of thousands of other IT contractors I have been scouring the job boards and applying for roles. At my last contract they had their own internal recruitment department, and a chap I befriended there gave me some pretty sickening figures for applications for roles. The average was 200 CV's, with some 1st line positions getting 500 applications. Obviously as the experience level went up these numbers came down but his words were "swamped"; and some days he didnt even want to put the role up simply because of the amount of stick and hassle he would get from people applying and not hearing anything.

As we all know, companies can pick and choose who they want now, and be very rude while they do it; knocking down rates and asking for ridiculous skill sets for riduculously low amounts of money.

I have tried the calm approach and waited to hear feedback for roles and got nothing, I have tried the direct approach and contacted the employers after an interview when I havent had feedback after two weeks, to be told "you shouldnt do this", to which I reply "have you given my agent feedback then?"...."No we havent"....."well thats why im calling you!"..

I know the broad answer to this is of course the awful global recession, right now I would take on pretty much any role to keep my mortgage but as you might guess they wont take you on below your skillset as they can pay less to someone else.

So its a huge problem for a huge amount of people and I havent got a clue how to solve it beyond what I am already doing...and believe me im chasing hard on everything I can get my hands on.

I have yet to sign on...but im going to!

If anyone else cares to add to this feel free...its a scary situation out here folks...

Thanks

K

[grey_lady]

Hi Kalinikta,

It is scary out there right now, Im just wondering how much poorer we'll all going to be after the budget this afternoon.

On a practical note, have you contacted all of your previous employers asking if there's anything coming up that they could consider your for?

Considered applying for perm roles? preferably somewhere with lots of lovely training to increase your skill set when you go contracting again in the future :-)

I believe that if you sign on for 13 weeks then you should get the interest portion of your mortgage paid, if you're on repayment your lender might let you switch to IO.

Cutting outgoings as much as poss, shopping around for the best deals etc can all make the warchest stretch that bit further.

HTH :-)

[Kalinikta]

Hi Grey Lady, thanks for your reply.. Ill just answer your points below...

Hi Kalinikta,

It is scary out there right now, Im just wondering how much poorer we'll all going to be after the budget this afternoon.

On a practical note, have you contacted all of your previous employers asking if there's anything coming up that they could consider your for?

Yes everyone, and there isnt anything at the moment.

Considered applying for perm roles? preferably somewhere with lots of lovely training to increase your skill set when you go contracting again in the future :-)

Yes im applying for ANYTHING remotely suited to my skillset, but of course most times they wont look at it because they can get someone much closer matched.

I believe that if you sign on for 13 weeks then you should get the interest portion of your mortgage paid, if you're on repayment your lender might let you switch to IO.

I didnt know this, im on interest only already??? I need to look into this.

Cutting outgoings as much as poss, shopping around for the best deals etc can all make the warchest stretch that bit further.

Yea, ive trimmed all my outgoings and halved financial commitments already.

HTH :-)

Thanks

K

[gingerjedi]

Your post mirrors my position almost exactly, I was 2nd line at the MoD for 3 years on £205 per day, when that ended I spent 5 months trying to match that rate before giving up and taking a role for £135 a day that ended last week and I'm now having to come to terms with the fact that these roles are now paying as low as £13ph with SC and even then competition is fierce.

I've seen 2nd line roles as low as £7ph, even the fall back positions such as storeman and van driver are nowhere to be seen, it's all very depressing.

I’m planning on taking whatever I can get as some money is better than nothing, I also plan to swap my mortgage to IO for a couple of years, even if it picks up and I get a decent role I want to save a war chest for next time.

Chin up!

[realityhack]

On a serious note - why don't you PM some of the more established forum members (with hiring experience) and get them to look at your CV? I'm a (tad) busy this week but will do what I can, even a cursory glance may help? I'm not the most experienced at hiring as some here but I've had v good feedback on my own cv.

I've done this for a couple of mates and don't mind - even strip out your personal details if you like.

RH

[Kalinikta]

Hi Ginger Jedi, yes I agree with your points; there is a lot of skill taken for not a lot of remuneration; and thats the way it is right now. In a years time I think the situation will have balanced out a bit; but of course at the moment its a war out there.

Hi Reality, thanks for your input, yes id be more than happy to do that. I believe my CV is pretty solid, its done the rounds on a few helpful people already but of course I would be keen to do that....being new here I dont know anyone though!...great advice though.

Whilst talking about CV's Reality, I have noticed that I may have to do some "extreme tailoring" to get in the door for positions which they wont usually consider me for. It is confusing because some of the rates are around the £180-200 mark but when I quiz them on why the rate is so high for a call logger they have no answer...and im finding out now that these rates get slashed as they go to interview....a really sad situation.

Thanks

K

[DocP]

Don't take it personally. It's just supply and demand.

[Kalinikta]

Don't take it personally. It's just supply and demand.

Yes Doc, thats right. Its how to deal with it thats hard.

K

[Wilmslow]

It is indeed a very dire place out there for most - I have turned to permie, a third less money and dreaded objectives crepe to deal with....

Where abouts are you??

I know that my firm in Bradford may be looking for some new helpdesk people as permies - PM me if you like??

I interview myself, but through preferred suppliers, but very happy to offer a CV review if you like......

Good luck!

[Kalinikta]

It is indeed a very dire place out there for most - I have turned to permie, a third less money and dreaded objectives crepe to deal with....

Where abouts are you??

I know that my firm in Bradford may be looking for some new helpdesk people as permies - PM me if you like??

I interview myself, but through preferred suppliers, but very happy to offer a CV review if you like......

Good luck!

Hi Wilmslow, thanks for your input. I am based in East London near Canary Wharf so Bradford is probably a little far for me! It is indeed an awful economic climate and the reality is coming out for all to see and its not a pretty picture.

Yes ill PM you and you can give me your quick thoughts if you like on my CV.

Thanks in advance

K