State of the Market

[Cirrus]

Seriously, if you don't take things seriously, things might get serious

This is a rather sweeping statement. I for one am not willing to go wherever for a contract - if it means being away from home in the week or travelling abroad then I discount myself from the off.

When I started contracting I moved to a new house within commuting distance of London. It was actually over 100 miles from London but on a train route. For a lot of my 'career' I was in places like Newcastle, Exeter, Ashford, Norwich but then again my new address was close the centre of the country and with access to the A1. M1, M6, M11 etc. If you make no effort to position yourself for your business then don't be surprised if your business becomes challenged.

(Prior to contracting I was living in Scotland - I got out of there like a shot )

[SandyD]

When I started contracting I moved to a new house within commuting distance of London. It was actually over 100 miles from London but on a train route. For a lot of my 'career' I was in places like Newcastle, Exeter, Ashford, Norwich but then again my new address was close the centre of the country and with access to the A1. M1, M6, M11 etc. If you make no effort to position yourself for your business then don't be surprised if your business becomes challenged.

(Prior to contracting I was living in Scotland - I got out of there like a shot )

Where is your house?

[Cirrus]

Where is your house?

To quote from my profile: Rural Rutland

[SeanT]

Rural, but somewhere near Peterborough?

[Cirrus]

Rural, but somewhere near Peterborough?

The whole of Rutland is near Peterborough.

From Rutland you can commute to London via Peterborough, Leicester or one train a day across the Welland Valley.

Or hourly trains to HSBC rates in Birmingham (done that).

What more do you want?

[SeanT]

Indeed - I'd actually like to go back there as all my family are from there, but wifey has a full time job in Coventry and the kids go to school here too. Fortunately a dead easy commute to London, Northampton, Brum, Nottingham et al

P.S. are HSBC looking in BHM?

[Cirrus]

P.S. are HSBC looking in BHM?

I don't know but I suspect they are.

I went for an interview last year. The woman said "Your CV only goes up to 2013 - what have you been doing since then?" I said "I've been working for you in the very office you are now interviewing me in"

Crazy company.

[squarepeg]

(...) If you make no effort to position yourself for your business then don't be surprised if your business becomes challenged. (...)

Exactly. That's why I live in London, in Zone 2, within a comfortable walking distance to two transport networks (DLR and The Tube). Heck, if all transport went tits up, I could still walk to my work, if necessary. Come close to work and work comes close to you.

[SimonMac]

This is a rather sweeping statement. I for one am not willing to go wherever for a contract - if it means being away from home in the week or travelling abroad then I discount myself from the off.

Then you are missing out on some great roles, I live in Leeds but am working in London (away two nights a week) the company and time is very exciting, very interesting and will do my CV a world of good. I have an offer for another contract back in Leeds, but location is the only factor that would appeal to me and even that is not enough to bring me back from London

[kaiser78]

Then you are missing out on some great roles, I live in Leeds but am working in London (away two nights a week) the company and time is very exciting, very interesting and will do my CV a world of good. I have an offer for another contract back in Leeds, but location is the only factor that would appeal to me and even that is not enough to bring me back from London

Well I have always been lucky so far and is a risk I am willing to take. I can commute into London so there is less of a need to be away from home.