State of the Market

[northernladuk]

If the information you provided is accurate, then it would seem that February, May, and October would be the only months with available jobs in this situation. It is worth noting, however, that this is just a hypothetical scenario and may not reflect the actual reality. Additionally, the availability of jobs can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the specific industry, location, and individual companies. It's always best to do your own research and check with potential employers to get a more accurate picture of the job market.

Just as wooly and useless as most of the advice we give so will totally fit in. Can you ask it what it's fave gladiator and does it lick the vitual chutney spoon please?

We need admin to set the bold bit as a footer to every post made here

[dx4100]

None of us here have the greatest time or respect for the average recruitment agent but bloody hell there seems to be a new level of arsehole doing the job.

Finding the market quite slow. Fair enough its Christmas. So tried my hand at a few roles which are bordering a little on the edges of my skill set.

Had two good interviews via two separate recruitment agents where I thought they where a bit 50/50. Anyway patiently wait for feedback - nothing. Finally cave and say Hi, where do we stand? to recruitment agent. No reply...

I mean after contracting for so long I just kind of shrug it off but at the same time, WTF, I usually get back at least a yay or a nay following an interview.

Is this the new norm or have I just been lucky to have the basic level of respect and decency shown to me following an interview so far

[ladymuck]

I've been ghosted more often than not by agents over the years so I chase a couple of times tops and move on. My logic is that if they thought you were going to earn them some money they'd be all over you like a nasty rash.

[SueEllen]

Is this the new norm or have I just been lucky to have the basic level of respect and decency shown to me following an interview so far

You have just been lucky.

Oh and sometimes it can be the end client.

[KentDogWalker]

None of us here have the greatest time or respect for the average recruitment agent but bloody hell there seems to be a new level of arsehole doing the job.

Finding the market quite slow. Fair enough its Christmas. So tried my hand at a few roles which are bordering a little on the edges of my skill set.

Had two good interviews via two separate recruitment agents where I thought they where a bit 50/50. Anyway patiently wait for feedback - nothing. Finally cave and say Hi, where do we stand? to recruitment agent. No reply...

I mean after contracting for so long I just kind of shrug it off but at the same time, WTF, I usually get back at least a yay or a nay following an interview.

Is this the new norm or have I just been lucky to have the basic level of respect and decency shown to me following an interview so far

normal

[TheDude]

None of us here have the greatest time or respect for the average recruitment agent but bloody hell there seems to be a new level of arsehole doing the job.

Finding the market quite slow. Fair enough its Christmas. So tried my hand at a few roles which are bordering a little on the edges of my skill set.

Had two good interviews via two separate recruitment agents where I thought they where a bit 50/50. Anyway patiently wait for feedback - nothing. Finally cave and say Hi, where do we stand? to recruitment agent. No reply...

I mean after contracting for so long I just kind of shrug it off but at the same time, WTF, I usually get back at least a yay or a nay following an interview.

Is this the new norm or have I just been lucky to have the basic level of respect and decency shown to me following an interview so far

This is the new norm. It happens even when applying directly to a company for a perm role.

Recruiters are under a lot of pressure and if they aren't placing candidates they will also be looking for a job very soon. A lot of time the client will provide zero feedback or just simply withdraw the role so there is zero upside to the recruiter to call you just to make smalltalk.

It's frustrating but if the skills and experience that you, I or anyone else posses were that coveted then the recruiter would be giving the velvet rope treatment win, lose or draw.

[agentzero]

I posted this in another thread, but it seems important. The intention of this is not to be rude, but to highlight that you have to always adapt and change in contracting. eg: If you are a Project Manager then you are going to have to change into Service Delivery or be a PM in another job title and under specific definition in order to find outside IR35 contracts that are truly outside IR35.

For those in software, infrastructure, cloud, truly technical roles, there should be no issue finding inside or outside contracts now, with outside being more competitive of course. This is why I recommend good permanent roles, or a permanent role and an inside IR35 contract simultaneously if you're intelligent and find an easy permie role.

I don't much time for contractors with lengthy exposure to contracting complaining that their market is dead. Being a contractor means being agile and having skills up your sleeve.

Someone has mentioned looking at IT Jobs Watch, but you could also just go on Job Serve, sort by day rate or look at volume of jobs and start to move towards those specialisations. In software this is easy, as it is for infrastructure. Someone has already mentioned cloud.

Become agile. If you can't cope with that, which is perfectly normal and reasonable, then look at permanent roles instead where you can coast a bit more. There is no shame in it and I am not being rude. If your market is consistently near dead then you should add more skills or change and morph into what clients want. It's not easy but can be rewarding.

Good luck to all.

[dx4100]

So early Christmas present - been offered a contract today - won't get the contract and full offer until Jan 3rd but that is to be expected given the time of year but given the nod today by the agency that they want me

Closed my company during covid due to having to go on payroll for last two gigs so going to a busy start to the new year resetting everything back up.

Good to be back Who says you can't land a gig at Christmas

[SussexSeagull]

So early Christmas present - been offered a contract today - won't get the contract and full offer until Jan 3rd but that is to be expected given the time of year but given the nod today by the agency that they want me

Closed my company during covid due to having to go on payroll for last two gigs so going to a busy start to the new year resetting everything back up.

Good to be back Who says you can't land a gig at Christmas

Funnily enough things did seem to liven up this week, which bodes well fo the New Year.

[edison]

Reverse boomed! Things were going well with current client and I had some good feedback from client boss and stakeholders. All of a sudden, client boss seems to have a radical difference of opinion on my approach and working methods which we now clearly disagree on. Couple of days later I get the boot.

Just before xmas is a PITA but on plus side I've already had two agents contact me about roles for the new year so fingers crossed.