State of the Market

[uk contractor]

Purely based on my experience there wasn't much of a wind down over Christmas. December was the best month in the search so far and Jobserve is fairly much back to normal already (granted not an entirely reliable metric).

Last time I was looking for something at the end of the year the industry seemed to pack up in mid November!

The role I interview for this Friday was before Xmas as well its a little weird the way the market works!

[northernladuk]

The role I interview for this Friday was before Xmas as well its a little weird the way the market works!

Not really. Ignore all the pap about quiet periods etc. Understand why clients need us and what drives that need and then it becomes clearer. Guessing at quiet periods just confuses everything.

[SussexSeagull]

Not really. Ignore all the pap about quiet periods etc. Understand why clients need us and what drives that need and then it becomes clearer. Guessing at quiet periods just confuses everything.

Just commentary really. I was still chasing a new contract in the Summer while nothing much was happening.

[heyya99]

In my 5 years of contracting, I don't think I've ever heard an agent say the market was anything but quiet. I do wonder what they are using as a benchmark. An agent I have recently gotten a long gig with told me the software development market is slow and he doesn't see it picking up and that perm is a better option. If it was that quiet all the time then they themselves would be out of work. Or is this another underhand tactic.

[northernladuk]

In my 5 years of contracting, I don't think I've ever heard an agent say the market was anything but quiet. I do wonder what they are using as a benchmark. An agent I have recently gotten a long gig with told me the software development market is slow and he doesn't see it picking up and that perm is a better option. If it was that quiet all the time then they themselves would be out of work. Or is this another underhand tactic.

They are trying to give you a subtle hint after seeing your CV. HTH.

[heyya99]

They are trying to give you a subtle hint after seeing your CV. HTH.

You can do better than that!

[Cirrus]

In my 5 years of contracting, I don't think I've ever heard an agent say the market was anything but quiet. .

In 30 years of contracting I never heard an agent saying anything but "it's really picking up at the moment - we've got loads of requirements coming in". Most agents I have come across only deal with contracts. Other people in their organisations do permie - the two don't cross over. So there's no incentive to persuade you into a perm role. Maybe you are dealing with too small agencies?

[theroyale]

It may not matter to you but then again, you didn't ask the question.

I, on the other hand, did ask. I asked because I'm on a break and enjoying it. The only nagging doubt I have about this break is having to explain to agents that I'm a contractor who took a break between gigs to upskill/recharge batteries.

If the OP told me their breaks don't concern them as they've never disadvantaged them before then that's an opinion I might value.

Have multiple several-month long breaks in my contracting (6y) career. I contract part time out of choice. Never had a problem getting back into it and getting the next gig. In my opinion a good cv (solid project deliveries, well known clients) speaks far louder to most agents and clients than the months away from work.

Of the agents that do want to put me forward for roles, I'd say only about 1 in 10 even query the breaks beyond "ah, where were you travelling, how was it?". and the minority among that who have a problem with it (only 2 or 3 times ever), I decline to go ahead with. Not the sort of people I want to be working with anyway.

[MrMarkyMark]

Have multiple several-month long breaks in my contracting (6y) career. I contract part time out of choice. Never had a problem getting back into it and getting the next gig. In my opinion a good cv (solid project deliveries, well known clients) speaks far louder to most agents and clients than the months away from work.

Of the agents that do want to put me forward for roles, I'd say only about 1 in 10 even query the breaks beyond "ah, where were you travelling, how was it?". and the minority among that who have a problem with it (only 2 or 3 times ever), I decline to go ahead with. Not the sort of people I want to be working with anyway.

This and this.

Had plenty of long breaks over 14 years, the longest around a year, it has never made any difference.

[uk contractor]

HSBC offshores dozens of IT jobs :: Contractor UK
No IT contractor skills scarce, finds REC :: Contractor UK