State of the Market

[simes]

How the market looking now? I've been in Outside IR35 contracts without a break since 2010 but reading this thread makes it sound like the game is up? Current contract end in Feb but will probably run for a few more years if I want, however was looking for a change of scenery.

Prior to Covid and OPW, I had 20 years of sequential contracts, new and renewed; all the troughs having been lightly skirted over. Since then, my CV has had about as much reaction as if I were applying to be an astronaut with only odd bits and pieces being done in those intervening three years.

Like eek, I would do whatever it takes to secure your renewal. Even if they surprise you with a rate decrease...

[JustKeepSwimming]

May be a bit of copium but I do think the market will pick up a bit.

Speaking to people over Christmas and the impression I'm getting is that higher ups are accepting higher rates are here to stay and they can't postpone projects indefinitely on the hope they will fall. At the same time there going to be fair bit of rationalisation through 2024.

Maybe it will be from Apil, who knows.

[Unix]

Prior to Covid and OPW, I had 20 years of sequential contracts, new and renewed; all the troughs having been lightly skirted over. Since then, my CV has had about as much reaction as if I were applying to be an astronaut with only odd bits and pieces being done in those intervening three years.

Like eek, I would do whatever it takes to secure your renewal. Even if they surprise you with a rate decrease...

What is your skill set if you don't mind me asking?

[ladymuck]

I tidied up the CV and set up a few alerts over Christmas as I'm just not feeling the current gig.

[SussexSeagull]

Trying to track down an agent to find out when my new contract is starting. Always thought January 3rd was optimistic.

[simes]

What is your skill set if you don't mind me asking?

Do not mind at all. Project Manager.

But with a CV that is predominantly Telco and Media based, it does not offer anything at all now for a world clamouring for Cyber Security specialists, banking or insurance. My sister on the other hand, who has exactly that, recently finished something in the Cyber world and the very next day was offered an interview elsewhere, on an OIR35 rate that is topping anything that she or I had in the past... Also, the economy now means the agents ask for impossible levels of experience in a technology or an industry which, for now at least, has wiped me out.

One awaits... And in the meantime, I work as film extra.

[dsc]

[...]Also, the economy now means the agents ask for impossible levels of experience in a technology or an industry which, for now at least, has wiped me out.[...]

With so many people applying it seems to be a game of "lets see what else they know and how cheap we can get them".

[oliverson]

Happy to report that my 6 month contract extension came through.

[ladymuck]

Happy to report that my 6 month contract extension came through.

[SussexSeagull]

How the market looking now? I've been in Outside IR35 contracts without a break since 2010 but reading this thread makes it sound like the game is up? Current contract end in Feb but will probably run for a few more years if I want, however was looking for a change of scenery.

There did seem to be some anecdotal evidence on here of things improving before Christmas but if that is true it can end as soon as it begun.

By all means have a look elsewhere but I would be tempted to renew.