State of the Market

[SussexSeagull]

My phone was white hot at beginning of year. Dead as a dodo in April. Coming up to peak season for me (June, July) so will be of interest what happens from 2nd week of June.

On a related note I have one good friend and ex-colleague who is taking a right shafting from a big consultancy on rate at the moment. From what I can see the outsourcers and consultancies are no the problem, the problem is that they are using further middle men to source contractors.

When everyone is taking a piece, what you are left with can just be the crumbs and not the pie.

Best advice I can give is to look beyond London for roles. Which is the inverse of the advice I generally give in times of recession.

I had one interview in London before Christmas but other than that London seems very quiet. If the bubble is bursting there that really isn't good for the rest of the country.

[BoggyMcCBoggyFace]

You have to prove it though. Pretty difficult to do in reality. Some guy was there for many years so he was earning way more than the new manager in the team (to be fair he had become dead wood anyway as he would not pull his weight but still its very underhand and highly illegal). They tend to go down the route of your appraisal was below average due to specific factors vs your co-workers so most people leave of their own accord once they put the pieces together in their minds that they are effectively being shown the door. Apparently once you get 3 below average appraisals they can just sack you after the required verbal & written legal warnings and just pay your notice period with no handshake payoff.

What is described above is going on and not even at more lower levels, some permies are on salaries now they would never get at same employer if brought in to do the new job, in respect of the 'Equal Pay Act' some HR departments could do with re-reading it, as jobs of equal value should pay the same, equal pay act also allows employees to discuss salary with another if its with the context of equal pay, so any term in the contract saying you cant is voided.

[SuperZ]

I had one interview in London before Christmas but other than that London seems very quiet. If the bubble is bursting there that really isn't good for the rest of the country.

Not sure that holds true? London is a different market. Lots of financials, lots of competition, and lots of idiots and willy waving IMO (you can tell it at the interviews). Glad I left that place behind.

[Andy2]

Just completed 4 months on the bench
starting to think about applying for those pathetic permie jobs paying 45k , after 10 years of contracting

[MrMarkyMark]

Not sure that holds true? London is a different market. Lots of financials, lots of competition, and lots of idiots and willy waving IMO (you can tell it at the interviews). Glad I left that place behind.

Sorry, unlike you I just see the opportunities £££



Terrible place, please don't try and come back

[SueEllen]

Not sure that holds true? London is a different market. Lots of financials, lots of competition, and lots of idiots and willy waving IMO (you can tell it at the interviews). Glad I left that place behind.

Bye! See ya!

<Shuts the door before SuperZ gets fully out>

[Bluenose]

Just completed 4 months on the bench
Time to apply for those pathetic permie jobs paying 45k

sorry to hear that bud. let us know how you get on.

it's a self help asylum around here.

what's your area of expertise?

[PrestonChris]

Just completed 4 months on the bench
Time to apply for those pathetic permie jobs paying 45k

I'm in one and its killing me .... :-(

like death from a thousand paper cuts

not helping the work we are doing is from the dark ages

[SussexSeagull]

Not sure that holds true? London is a different market. Lots of financials, lots of competition, and lots of idiots and willy waving IMO (you can tell it at the interviews). Glad I left that place behind.

Back after the crash contractors who normally worked in the City had to go looking for work elsewhere.

Finance is a massive sector and the City is a huge part of that.

Some might argue an adjustment is long overdue but will be painful in the short to mid term.

[MyUserName]

Just completed 4 months on the bench
starting to think about applying for those pathetic permie jobs paying 45k , after 10 years of contracting

My company is hiring permies people if the Southampton area works for you?