State of the Market

[Bluenose]

Clients in one business domain do not all behave/hire in lockstep.

Controversial Friday afternoon post!

[edison]

Clients in one business domain do not all behave/hire in lockstep.

I would argue that time spent applying for roles in domains you imagine are locked is a far better value than spending time and mental energy "tailoring" your CV and writing covering letters.

Maybe you are right about the London market prefering people who are localish, but refer to my first point. Since Covid there are far more opportunities for hybrid/remote working. It's one major way the market has actually improved.

Also, one of my past London market clients was based in Scotland. Fully remote, baby!

I think it is a bit of a herd mentality amongst hiring managers in many sectors.

At various points in my contracting career I've manged to get into banking, pharma (twice) and insurance (twice) which all seemed to be more a less closed shop to me. I'm not a techie but I had worked a lot in other heavily regulated environments which I think at least helped to prise the door ajar a bit.

I've seen hiring manager bias in most sectors. Private sector companies who are biased against anyone from the pubic sector or vice versa. Managers in smaller companies who are biased against people from big corporates and vice versa. And so on...

As Dorkeaux suggests, it's worth chancing your arm, especially in the current market, if the job ad doesn't specifically say *MUST* have XYZ sector experience.

[SchumiStars]

I think it is a bit of a herd mentality amongst hiring managers in many sectors.

At various points in my contracting career I've manged to get into banking, pharma (twice) and insurance (twice) which all seemed to be more a less closed shop to me. I'm not a techie but I had worked a lot in other heavily regulated environments which I think at least helped to prise the door ajar a bit.

I've seen hiring manager bias in most sectors. Private sector companies who are biased against anyone from the pubic sector or vice versa. Managers in smaller companies who are biased against people from big corporates and vice versa. And so on...

As Dorkeaux suggests, it's worth chancing your arm, especially in the current market, if the job ad doesn't specifically say *MUST* have XYZ sector experience.

True story.

I applied for a data warehouse contract. Got into the interview whereby the manager read my CV and said I am sorry about this but this job is not for you. Clearly you are a developer.

He said we'll you are here now, do the tech test, don't worry about it, I don't expect you to do well.

Whilst he sat in the room, I completed the test and handed it back to him and he threw his arms up in the air and said well, it looks like you have passed so you can start on Monday.

I usually don't do well on tech tests TBH, there is a million ways of doing something and there is always someone who is better. But in this case, it looks like I had done enough of them for the cards to fall in my favour.

I did have to learn how to do Data warehouses, in a hurry though

Moral of the story, always give yourself the best chance.

[SchumiStars]

Just noticed that both IBM and HP are sponsoring Ferrari in F1. Very odd, to have conflicting brands on one global televisied supplier.

Perhaps it's a sign of the times that everyone is skint.

[eek]

Just noticed that both IBM and HP are sponsoring Ferrari in F1. Very odd, to have conflicting brands on one global televisied supplier.

Perhaps it's a sign of the times that everyone is skint.

Hp sell hardware
IBM is consultancy and software

There is no conflict since Lenovo took over Thinkpads and HP offloaded their consultancy to HPE.

[sadkingbilly]

Hp sell hardware
IBM is consultancy and software

There is no conflict since Lenovo took over Thinkpads and HP offloaded their consultancy to HPE.

really?

I've made a fortune on illusions then.

https://www.ibm.com/z

[SussexSeagull]

I am guided by the advert and if they ask for, for example, Investment Banking experience then I wouldn't apply especially as they usually ask for experience of systems that are (presumably) IB specific.

Plus at the moment clients can be picky.

[oliverson]

I am guided by the advert and if they ask for, for example, Investment Banking experience then I wouldn't apply especially as they usually ask for experience of systems that are (presumably) IB specific.

Plus at the moment clients can be picky.

It’s only Front Office roles, working with the traders, that are insistent on IB knowledge, and you can see why really. What trader wants to talk to a developer for example who has no clue about the terminology, the Greeks, etc. I’ve done FO roles but it wasn’t an issue in energy trading. Electricity is electricity after all, but that would be the exception really. All the other IB roles were mid/back office, where data is just data.

[hungry_hog]

My friend who spent many years at JPM said no one understands that stuff anyway! They just use words like PnL explain and wear a gilet.

[SussexSeagull]

It’s only Front Office roles, working with the traders, that are insistent on IB knowledge, and you can see why really. What trader wants to talk to a developer for example who has no clue about the terminology, the Greeks, etc. I’ve done FO roles but it wasn’t an issue in energy trading. Electricity is electricity after all, but that would be the exception really. All the other IB roles were mid/back office, where data is just data.

I will have to bow with your knowledge of the sector but I have worked in various industries and fields over the last quarter of a century and I have never failed to pick it up to a greater or lesser degree. Unless IB is widely different to everything else I imagine I could have done the same.

Unfortunately at the best of times it was a hard thing to break into and we are far from in the best of times at the moment.