State of the Market

[dsc]

How do they get away with this? Shocking.

Online calcs tell me this is £26400 per year, so £2200 per month, so a crazy high £13.75 per tax per hour, just a smidge over minimum wage...

[edison]

I really do enjoy the challenge of software development. Bit easier these days, but nevertheless still love it.

PT, is not easy. Having to find clients, keeping a busy order book and then also being fit. There is a reason why PTs don't drive supercars.

And whilst difficult in it own right, does not offer the mental stimulation I require.

I enjoy difficult programs, I like challenging requirements. Sadly all a bit easier these days, rockstar programmers can be replaced with bodies and are getting fewer and rarer by the day.

TV repairs used to be an art form. However now they are just a throw away commodity and easily replaceable.

Companies such as Amazon, ebay, netflix rarely go outside for contractors, they have the skills in-house. They can train youngsters, give them a low salary and a phat pension to keep them hold of for 20yrs.

It's been 2yrs with no want, need or desire from enterprises to go back to UKC.ltd.

Face it boys, we are grandfather clocks in a digital world .

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

There seems to be a high proportion of over 50s on this forum and whilst our collective plight in the current market seems depressing, we are not representative of the wider tech workforce which is mainly in its 30s and 40s.

And even those companies that are not digital first like your Amazons of the world, are ever more likely to source skills elsewhere as they can't attract and retain in house staff in more cutting edge tech. Increasingly this is from consultancies or outsourced providers at the expense of contractors.

[sadkingbilly]

PT has to be one of the worst professions. It's very badly paid and people don't stay in it long. I have been in gyms for last 20+ years. Amount of PT's who have left during that time is staggering. Only ones who make money are the ones who may have a few celeb clients.

whereas I haven't.

[Dorkeaux]

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

There seems to be a high proportion of over 50s on this forum and whilst our collective plight in the current market seems depressing, we are not representative of the wider tech workforce which is mainly in its 30s and 40s.

And even those companies that are not digital first like your Amazons of the world, are ever more likely to source skills elsewhere as they can't attract and retain in house staff in more cutting edge tech. Increasingly this is from consultancies or outsourced providers at the expense of contractors.

Edison raises a good point about the makeup of this forum.

Perhaps the forum tends to attract older posters having difficulties, but "outside" there is a sizeable cohort of contractors that are doing OK, given the circumstances.

But that's good news, isn't it? There is stuff going on in the market to go after.
Maybe not a lot of coding, that's just another aspect of how the market has been changing (for decades!).

[oliverson]

...

I enjoy difficult programs, I like challenging requirements. Sadly all a bit easier these days, rockstar programmers can be replaced with bodies and are getting fewer and rarer by the day.

...

Like finding a contract in a challenging market?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I wonder to what extent the content of the following article is contributing to our woes?

https://www.ft.com/content/a304cf5a-...f-16651b59e758

[quackhandle]

Karate and Cucumber? They're just making this tulip up.

qh

[SussexSeagull]

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

There seems to be a high proportion of over 50s on this forum and whilst our collective plight in the current market seems depressing, we are not representative of the wider tech workforce which is mainly in its 30s and 40s.

And even those companies that are not digital first like your Amazons of the world, are ever more likely to source skills elsewhere as they can't attract and retain in house staff in more cutting edge tech. Increasingly this is from consultancies or outsourced providers at the expense of contractors.

I had feedback from an interview that my knowledge of testing was old fashioned.

I understand Contractors don't get any protection from discrimination. However with the pension age going up people will be looking for jobs into their 60s and should be getting legal protection when applying for jobs.

[SussexSeagull]

Karate and Cucumber? They're just making this tulip up.

qh

Cucumber is apparently a tool for writing automated tests in plain language. I have heard of it but never used it. That was literally the first reference I had ever seen to Karate as a testing tool.

The problem with those of us who would like to teach ourselves automated testing is there are so many frameworks out there that you are throwing a dart at a board if you teach yourself one because clients look for the specific type they use.

[SchumiStars]

TBF, I think IT is down in all areas including grad placements. I know 2 young CS grads who are having trouble, just as we are.

[PerfectStorm]

TBF, I think IT is down in all areas including grad placements. I know 2 young CS grads who are having trouble, just as we are.

Graduates have been having trouble since time immemorial.

They'll begrudgingly go into the consulting industry like everyone else