State of the Market

[pjt]

Got extended into next year, so hoping iv'e worked through the worst of it and it picks up in 2025

I've just bagged an extension till January... Not bad project and Outside IR35. Was meant to be a 1 month role but by January that will make 8 months with the talk of further work on other projects in the pipeline. My year started bad with a 5 month lull but seems to be picking up again now.

[gables]

I've been extended 1 year to end of November 2025 (in a bank inside IR35) - hopefully I've not jinxed it.

[edison]

In this situation its often that the existing permie team are on tulipe salaries.

So they cant offer higher rates to new hires.

This is one of the main reasons why salaries are often omitted from job ads along with the company doesn't want some of the team to realise they are being paid significantly less than the others.

[SussexSeagull]

Got extended into next year, so hoping iv'e worked through the worst of it and it picks up in 2025

That might very well be the case although who knows anymore?

[quackhandle]

In the past I've been benched for 6 months plus there have posters who have sailed right through it never missing a beat/invoice.

A few months/years later it is vice-versa.

Contracting, it's a funny old game.

qh

[pjt]

In the past I've been benched for 6 months plus there have posters who have sailed right through it never missing a beat/invoice.

A few months/years later it is vice-versa.

Contracting, it's a funny old game.

qh

I can testify to that! 16 years sailed through contacting with 0 days on the bench. Then start of this year nothing for 5 months not even much in the way of possible roles. If I'm honest I think a good bit of luck and being in the right place at the right time is part of the key to getting roles.

[SchumiStars]

1.* 12mths (COVID), 1* 12mths (ongoing) on the bench. Prior to that, had a few 3mths on the bench.

This has been the longest one to date. Learning to suffer is part of the game.

[squarepeg]

I was on the bench for 18 months over the last 12 years. Unfortunately, 15 months of those were over the last four years with the Winter of 2022-23 being the worst.

[oliverson]

I was on the bench for 18 months over the last 12 years. Unfortunately, 15 months of those were over the last four years with the Winter of 2022-23 being the worst.

17 months over the pandemic/ir35/brexit thing and on/off for a few months over the financial crisis. 12 months dotcom crash, but that was a result of redundancy, which led to setting up my Limited, so all good. Currently 3 years into a digital project with 12 month renewals and hoping that continues, certainly until the market lifts.

[avonleigh]

17 months over the pandemic/ir35/brexit thing and on/off for a few months over the financial crisis. 12 months dotcom crash, but that was a result of redundancy, which led to setting up my Limited, so all good. Currently 3 years into a digital project with 12 month renewals and hoping that continues, certainly until the market lifts.

5 months out during Covid. That's been it in 27 years of contracting. Been quite fortunate. 2007 during the financial crisis I was working for a telecoms company, where I stayed for 4 years. So wasn't affected by the downturn then at all. 2003 was quite tough as well, took a terribly paid contract for 9 months to get me through that. Currently in a gig till January.