State of the Market

[uk contractor]

Hung parliament sinks business confidence, IoD finds - BBC News
Understatement of the week time already
"The uncertainty caused by the general election has led business confidence to sink "through the floor", according to a lobby group.
A snap poll of 700 members of the Institute of Directors found a "dramatic drop" in confidence following the hung parliament.
Members saw no clear way to resolve the political impasse quickly, the IoD said."

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Hung parliament sinks business confidence, IoD finds - BBC News
Understatement of the week time already
"The uncertainty caused by the general election has led business confidence to sink "through the floor", according to a lobby group.
A snap poll of 700 members of the Institute of Directors found a "dramatic drop" in confidence following the hung parliament.
Members saw no clear way to resolve the political impasse quickly, the IoD said."

How depressing.

I'm hitting the bench in 4 weeks time - was hoping things had picked up from the slump at the beginning of the year.

Probably going to be even worse

[uk contractor]

How depressing.

I'm hitting the bench in 4 weeks time - was hoping things had picked up from the slump at the beginning of the year.

Probably going to be even worse

I hit the bench last autumn worse for me!!! I know others out for even longer and agents say its not uncommon for 6-9 month cv gaps right now!

[Andy2]

6 months on the bench for me. Having to deal with agents is exhausting.
They are employing all the dirty techniques like not putting the CV forward but saying that they have,
Sending other CVs along with my cv but at a lower rate due to which my cv gets rejected,
asking for references after wasting 20 min talking about a fictitious role.
I have had enough.

[radish2008]

6 months on the bench for me. Having to deal with agents is exhausting.
They are employing all the dirty techniques like not putting the CV forward but saying that they have,
Sending other CVs along with my cv but at a lower rate due to which my cv gets rejected,
asking for references after wasting 20 min talking about a fictitious role.
I have had enough.

Fight the power man - don't let the slugs take you out - they are all ****ers but try to keep the faith and you'll be ok.

[Cirrus]

Just suck it up and keep smiling.

Having to deal with agents is exhausting.

You're a salesman. Delivering IT etc stuff is easy. Loads of people can do it. What separates you is you can get the work.

The key in selling is not to make any emotional investment in leads. Loads of people will walk in your shop and ask you about your products. Just be polite and forget about each of them.

Until, that is, they invite you pitch to the client.

Even then don't get over-excited.

It sounds counter-intuitive but think what happens when you go talking to salespeople. How many times do they follow up to persuade you to buy? Fretting over leads is just going to make your life a misery.

[Elliegirl]

6 months on the bench for me. Having to deal with agents is exhausting.
They are employing all the dirty techniques like not putting the CV forward but saying that they have,
Sending other CVs along with my cv but at a lower rate due to which my cv gets rejected,
asking for references after wasting 20 min talking about a fictitious role.
I have had enough.

All the contractor gigs I've done have been secured through agents. I thought that was the way it was generally done until I joined CUK and read that some people hardly worked that way and/or got roles through repeat business, contacts or selling themselves.

This made me realise I had to get proactive instead of sitting there waiting for roles to be advertised on jobserve or waiting for agents to give me a call, so I've started dipping my toe in the waters of self promotion and recently landed my first client, who is based in Germany. It's only one, but there's more work from him if he's happy with my efforts. Longer term I don't want to be relying on agents for my bread at all. I've taken the first step.

[SussexSeagull]

Funnily enough clients have annoyed me more than agents in the last few months. Then again I might have developed very low expectations of agents over the years!

[washed up contractor]

I hit the bench last autumn worse for me!!! I know others out for even longer and agents say its not uncommon for 6-9 month cv gaps right now!

I remember a time (actually I cant remember when it was but I think it was something like 10 years ago!) when agents wouldn't entertain you for advertised roles if you were benched! They were saying 'we're only considering applicants who are in current roles.'

I pointed out that that strategy was utter nonsense to more than one agent but they said that was what clients were stipulating (yeah right, course they were).

There's little doubt the market is contracting and it doesnt matter what your specialism is. Sure, if you're in work you will not notice it and if you are in London \ South East, you shouldnt really be out of work but elsewhere, things are a lot tougher.

Oh and in another 6 weeks or so, we'll be in what was recognised as the start of the notoriously dead summer season.

[uk contractor]

I remember a time (actually I cant remember when it was but I think it was something like 10 years ago!) when agents wouldn't entertain you for advertised roles if you were benched! They were saying 'we're only considering applicants who are in current roles.'

I pointed out that that strategy was utter nonsense to more than one agent but they said that was what clients were stipulating (yeah right, course they were).

There's little doubt the market is contracting and it doesnt matter what your specialism is. Sure, if you're in work you will not notice it and if you are in London \ South East, you shouldnt really be out of work but elsewhere, things are a lot tougher.

Oh and in another 6 weeks or so, we'll be in what was recognised as the start of the notoriously dead summer season.

Yeah I agree a lot of this BS about too much bench time is recruitment agent lead they cba to put a benchwarmer cv incase it (their own perception) makes them look bad to their boss (the more experienced agent usually) clients are not as bothered at all I have even asked several of them after being hired by triple aaa IB's they all same the same thing we want the best fit for the role. Until I told them were not even aware agents played these tricks and cherry picked the cheapest cvs not usually the best applicants!!).Most hiring managers unless very astute assume agencies will give them the best not the cheapest (but surprise surprise cilla !!! the agent happens to have a higher margin on the cvs put forward vs more experienced closer fit candidates they dump or hold back as plan B!)

More clients also accept many of us contract as a lifestyle choice so cv gaps are not because we cannot get work just that we cannot get work on our own terms!!! At the end of the day like most I would just conceal the cv gaps as I know references are seldom taken up so it makes little difference...the real problem is what you touched on a contracting market then the political uncertainty, offshoring, savage cost cutting etc etc all means less work more applicants in an already shrinking market due to globalisation & way too many tier 2 visas being issued!!