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Market very quiet

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    Market very quiet

    I've been living a somewhat charmed life over the last 2-3 years in that my contracts have all dovetailed very conveniently and I've been in a constant churn of repeat business.

    Regrettably, that cycle came to an end back in August (thanks Accenture, Infosys et al) and I've been enjoying a bit of R and R back at Buggeridge Towers mostly pottering round the garden tending to my roses but I've had my feelers out for a good month or so now and I can hardly say the world is beating a path to my doorway.

    I've had 1 telephone interview in all that time - I thought the economy was supposed to be booming; the service sector especially. Is this just one of those slack periods or is it a much tougher market place than the last time I had to try and land a gig 3 years ago?

    Or is the answer to my question in parentheses above?

    I'm web development on the Microsoft .Net stack by the way.

    #2
    Originally posted by Malcolm Buggeridge View Post
    I've been living a somewhat charmed life over the last 2-3 years in that my contracts have all dovetailed very conveniently and I've been in a constant churn of repeat business.

    Regrettably, that cycle came to an end back in August (thanks Accenture, Infosys et al) and I've been enjoying a bit of R and R back at Buggeridge Towers mostly pottering round the garden tending to my roses but I've had my feelers out for a good month or so now and I can hardly say the world is beating a path to my doorway.

    I've had 1 telephone interview in all that time - I thought the economy was supposed to be booming; the service sector especially. Is this just one of those slack periods or is it a much tougher market place than the last time I had to try and land a gig 3 years ago?

    Or is the answer to my question in parentheses above?

    I'm web development on the Microsoft .Net stack by the way.
    If Linkedin is anything to go by people are screaming for .Net peeps, maybe its another factor?
    Originally posted by Stevie Wonder Boy
    I can't see any way to do it can you please advise?

    I want my account deleted and all of my information removed, I want to invoke my right to be forgotten.

    Comment


      #3
      How many thousand a day are you asking? I think I might know why
      ⭐️ Gold Star Contractor

      Comment


        #4
        Share same skillset as OP and been on the bench 5 weeks, just landed a rolling one monther yesterday. From what I'm seeing on the job sites and talking to agencies, it looks like things are just 'too good' for us contractors.

        I know that sounds nuts but clients now seem a lot more confident about the future and so are taking on permies rather than contractors. The long recession is coming to an end and many clients have laid off permies over the last few years and so perhaps looking to replenish their ranks with staff - no need for us short term bods.

        Agents I've been talking to do are all saying they have 10+ permie positions for every contract and the usual jobs sites are reflecting this.

        IMO, I reckon eventually the permie headcounts will be replenished and clients will once again be turning to us contractors to gap fill. Until then... maybe use the time to refresh your skillset or you could always jump ships and have your pick of permie jobs....
        You ain't seen me, right!

        Comment


          #5
          A lot will depend on location and rate but as SimonMac says I find agents posting requests for .Net tech stack people on LinkedIn on a daily basis.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by dack View Post
            Share same skillset as OP and been on the bench 5 weeks, just landed a rolling one monther yesterday. From what I'm seeing on the job sites and talking to agencies, it looks like things are just 'too good' for us contractors.

            I know that sounds nuts but clients now seem a lot more confident about the future and so are taking on permies rather than contractors. The long recession is coming to an end and many clients have laid off permies over the last few years and so perhaps looking to replenish their ranks with staff - no need for us short term bods.

            Agents I've been talking to do are all saying they have 10+ permie positions for every contract and the usual jobs sites are reflecting this.

            IMO, I reckon eventually the permie headcounts will be replenished and clients will once again be turning to us contractors to gap fill. Until then... maybe use the time to refresh your skillset or you could always jump ships and have your pick of permie jobs....
            I've just read your Month on the Bench thread and I have to concur with the received wisdom that one really does need to do a bit more legwork these days rather than just uploading an updated CV to Jobserve and such like.

            That said, there appears to be tap all in my home area (South West) and rates are pretty much below par.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Malcolm Buggeridge View Post
              I've just read your Month on the Bench thread and I have to concur with the received wisdom that one really does need to do a bit more legwork these days rather than just uploading an updated CV to Jobserve and such like.

              That said, there appears to be tap all in my home area (South West) and rates are pretty much below par.
              SW could be your problem. At least 2 of the big FS clients in the area are still loosing local .net people in favor of TCS. Might be a bit of a commute, but Cardiff seems to be busy at the moment.

              I've never had a problem in SW, but I do work the job boards and agents like someone from Nev's call centre.
              Last edited by Project Monkey; 25 September 2014, 09:23.

              Comment


                #8
                I'm using the same stack and was benched all summer. I'm now working in Taunton and commuting from newport. There was bugger all in South Wales all summer.

                Comment


                  #9
                  The trend is on-shore permies and offshore contractors, that's why the demand for permies is high and they're not rushing for onshore contractors, because they can balance the load with offshore contractors.

                  Just something I observe in the companies I'm working in.
                  I'm alright Jack

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Hi,

                    I can't decide what the market is doing.
                    I am a BI Developer. I finished my last gig at the start of August, I knew August would be a quiet time so I took that month off.
                    So have only been looking the last 2 weeks, I have had one telephone interview which looks like it will turn into a second interview.
                    Agencies have contacted me but haven't really heard a lot back off them.
                    Good job I have a bit of a warchest.

                    Comment

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