State of the Market

[SchumiStars]

Just done an interview for a UK based company. Permi role, paying 50k per year, requiring SC. They said, they need someone that has SC for a new client, they have over 50 Devs off-shore.

Wanted Angular experience which I have however from the tech questions, a detailed working experience was required.

I can't imagine it would an easy role TBF. It seems that only have rates dropped but the expectation has also increased for the successful employee.

The state of the market in Spring 2025 maybe getting better but it will be like this, low salary and high expectations for a while.

At least the weather is getting better. Just unfortunate to have had a crash on my Dogma F!

[SussexSeagull]

Just done an interview for a UK based company. Permi role, paying 50k per year, requiring SC. They said, they need someone that has SC for a new client, they have over 50 Devs off-shore.

Wanted Angular experience which I have however from the tech questions, a detailed working experience was required.

I can't imagine it would an easy role TBF. It seems that only have rates dropped but the expectation has also increased for the successful employee.

The state of the market in Spring 2025 maybe getting better but it will be like this, low salary and high expectations for a while.

At least the weather is getting better. Just unfortunate to have had a crash on my Dogma F!

I get why a contractor needs a full tech knowledge on day one but if there are gaps for a permanent employee then can train them if they are otherwise a match.

[edison]

SchumiStars did you try a CV ATS optimiser yet like I suggested some weeks back? if so which one?

Below is a link to a guy who posted on LinkedIn about a free to use agent (is that the right word now?) that he created in ChatGPT to review your CV against a job description. It gives you high level feedback and suggestions for improvements. You can then further optimise specific sections of the CV.

I started playing around with it last week but didn't get round to going through all the steps, however it looked promising.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/using...hiteway-5tfac/

[willendure]

I absolutely loathe the site and the moronic posts that appear in my feed. I utterly detest it if I'm honest BUT it's been a very good source of income for me. My last contract for example netted about half a million pounds, and that was from some random 'head hunter' approaching me with a role. I suspect my next role will either come from LinkedIn or JobServe, with an outside chance of somebody in my network coming good.

Do you have an tips on finding contract work through LI, or do you think you just got lucky? Are you joinging special interest groups, actively promoting your business, or you just have some niche skill that means you are actively being sought out?

The reason I ask is that even though I have ticked all the settings to try and indicate that I am interested only in contract work, and not permie, and not part time, all I get is messages about permie roles.

The only reason I am on LI, is because when I send someone my CV I assume the very next thing they will do is look me up on LI, and if I was not there, that might be too weird for them and my CV goes in the bin. Only there because I feel I have to be. Wish it would just die.

[willendure]

SchumiStars did you try a CV ATS optimiser yet like I suggested some weeks back? if so which one?

I googled "CV ATS optimiser" and the first one that came up was Resume Worded: https://resumeworded.com/resume-optimizer

I have used that one in the past, in fact I used it to help me completely rewrite my CV. I think the end result was definitely an improvement, although I didn't agree with everything they suggested. They want numbers in just about everything to get a high score, so instead of saying "I fixed a lot of bugs", you must write "Responsible for fixing 120 bugs". Whilst I think that does sound better, it also get a bit tiresome when you do it everywhere in every sentence on your CV.

It also has a function where you can paste in your CV and job description and it points out all the keywords in the JD that are not in your CV.

Worth trying it anyway.

[Dorkeaux]

Below is a link to a guy who posted on LinkedIn about a free to use agent (is that the right word now?) that he created in ChatGPT to review your CV against a job description. It gives you high level feedback and suggestions for improvements. You can then further optimise specific sections of the CV.

I started playing around with it last week but didn't get round to going through all the steps, however it looked promising.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/using...hiteway-5tfac/

Nice. When I use language model AI, I am way shorter with my directions.

I took that very long-winded prompt, modified it to remove references to a job spec (just to suggest stand-alone improvements) and it came up with some excellent suggestions in ChatGPT.

As with all AI results, you have to apply your own judgement. Some of the suggestions I didn't agree with, but overall very useful.

[oliverson]

Do you have an tips on finding contract work through LI, or do you think you just got lucky? Are you joinging special interest groups, actively promoting your business, or you just have some niche skill that means you are actively being sought out?

The reason I ask is that even though I have ticked all the settings to try and indicate that I am interested only in contract work, and not permie, and not part time, all I get is messages about permie roles.

The only reason I am on LI, is because when I send someone my CV I assume the very next thing they will do is look me up on LI, and if I was not there, that might be too weird for them and my CV goes in the bin. Only there because I feel I have to be. Wish it would just die.

No tips really. I have almost 700 connections. My last contract was from there and the person who approached me was given the remit to find somebody UK based with a lot of experience in one of my skills, .NET for example.

There's no real strategy to how I use the site. I tend to pester my network, like or repost posts that I think might get me noticed. Occasionally I look at the Jobs section of the site but it's utter rubbish. As I've previously said, I detest the type of posts in my feed but I've got to go through the pain, vomit bowl on hand, just in case a nugget turns up. At times, such as now, I've almost got my head in hands at the lack of anything giving me hope, but I know that something will pop along and I'll get a spring in my step again, until it evaporates like the couple of opportunities I had last week. I was approached by some startup owner yesterday but it turned out he wanted me to work for free (well, equity in the firm), which doesn't interest me one bit.

[update]
Just as soon as I submitted this, a little ping on LinkedIn. Looks good but no mention of contract or perm. I've questioned it but the suspense is killing me. Fingers crossed!

[Dorkeaux]

Do you have an tips on finding contract work through LI, or do you think you just got lucky? Are you joinging special interest groups, actively promoting your business, or you just have some niche skill that means you are actively being sought out?

The reason I ask is that even though I have ticked all the settings to try and indicate that I am interested only in contract work, and not permie, and not part time, all I get is messages about permie roles.

The only reason I am on LI, is because when I send someone my CV I assume the very next thing they will do is look me up on LI, and if I was not there, that might be too weird for them and my CV goes in the bin. Only there because I feel I have to be. Wish it would just die.

Having a presence on Linkedin for CV sifters to check is definitely a good thing.

I also find that no one pays any attention to your Linkedin settings, or whether or not you are looking for work.
But so what? I get contacted for permie roles too, but I have a template I send them back thanking them for their note, explaining that I am a career contractor in London currently on rate x and asking if they want a CV.

Again, these agents usually work in a company that has a contract placement arm. Most of the ones I speak to forward my CV to their colleagues.

Lastly, the job listings are searchable and useful. Do they all represent genuine hot contracts gagging for YOU!!? No. But it's nothing personal. Sifting through them is work, that's all.

Maybe other posters find posting, engaging and bigging yourself up on Linkedin useful. I'd like to hear if anyone has positive results (in terms of contracts) from that. I haven't, but would grit my teeth and do it if I thought it was useful. Not so far.

[Dorkeaux]

[update]
Just as soon as I submitted this, a little ping on LinkedIn. Looks good but no mention of contract or perm. I've questioned it but the suspense is killing me. Fingers crossed!

Good luck.

Not to be negative, but if they don't mention the role is a contract, guess what it's not likely to be?
But never mind, more chat experience with potential contract providers, another CV ditributed to same.

[oliverson]

Good luck.

Not to be negative, but if they don't mention the role is a contract, guess what it's not likely to be?
But never mind, more chat experience with potential contract providers, another CV ditributed to same.

Turns out it is Outside. Having a meet with agent later this afternoon, but something doesn't feel quite right and I can't put my finger on it.