State of the Market

[dsc]

[...]Weirdly, I've never actually met a Polish plumber.[...]

Yeah me neither after almost two decades in the UK

[SchumiStars]

I'm genuinely struggling to accept that there has been nothing you could have got in the last two years? Even if it wasn't what you ideally wanted .....

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I have applied to most suitable positions regarding my skillset (JAva, .Net, EPiserver) and I can assure you I am not picky.

I have applied to remote positions, local positions and WFH.

I do get interviews, perhaps 2 a month, so I know my CV is getting seen.

I also only spend a couple of hours during the morning to get it done. I can then post on here, go running, cycling or the gym.

[Appydaze]

It only takes 1 lead to convert…….Haven't seen it this bad since the '01 recession where I was out for nearly 2 years, actively seeking permie roles back then, as I wasn’t a contractor until a few years later. Haven't seen it this bad in the contract market, which I've been in since 2007.... (BA, the odd PM , architect type roles). Worst was close to a year, but averaging 9 - 10 months so managed to keep things ticking over. In this current downturn I’ve been out of contract since early 2023, just 2 interviews in 2023 and no interviews in 2024!

Working on a dev project to keep busy, the usual combination of JobServe applications and agents calling (agent leads I assume from job boards and internal DBs) hasn’t lead to much. For context I have never been over subscribed for roles or opportunities, whatever the state of the market, so have always been a grateful contractor. Since the ir35 change, I‘ve had a paye contract (converted from o/s during the recruitment process) and the rest have been inside roles. …….. If it’s a source of encouragement for those seeking, especially if you have been out for long time, just got an offer in Europe, circa £500 o/s ……I kept trying and kept busy . .....hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[SchumiStars]

It only takes 1 lead to convert…….Haven't seen it this bad since the '01 recession where I was out for nearly 2 years, actively seeking permie roles back then, as I wasn’t a contractor until a few years later. Haven't seen it this bad in the contract market, which I've been in since 2007.... (BA, the odd PM , architect type roles). Worst was close to a year, but averaging 9 - 10 months so managed to keep things ticking over. In this current downturn I’ve been out of contract since early 2023, just 2 interviews in 2023 and no interviews in 2024!

Working on a dev project to keep busy, the usual combination of JobServe applications and agents calling (agent leads I assume from job boards and internal DBs) hasn’t lead to much. For context I have never been over subscribed for roles or opportunities, whatever the state of the market, so have always been a grateful contractor. Since the ir35 change, I‘ve had a paye contract (converted from o/s during the recruitment process) and the rest have been inside roles. …….. If it’s a source of encouragement for those seeking, especially if you have been out for long time, just got an offer in Europe, circa £500 o/s ……I kept trying and kept busy . .....hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you for your honesty. Refreshing in this place that's full of in-demand-contractors who have a superioir skill set and contact list

Congrats on your new contract.

[dsc]

I seem to be getting some job ads via email mostly, engineering, which not many (or any actually) people on here do, pay is 2010 levels and it's mostly perm but it's there. Also some contracts in Ireland, mostly pharma, paying around 60eur ph.

The weirdest tulip though is two emails re positions in Oil and Gas bloody hell not seen those since...well probably around 2012. Absolute shocker.

[Dorkeaux]

Thank you for your honesty. Refreshing in this place that's full of in-demand-contractors who have a superioir skill set and contact list

Congrats on your new contract.

I might be on the wrong thread for this, but surely you don't want the forum to be only an echo chamber for the unemployed.
If I were (and believe me, I very well might be soon!) I would be more interested in the posters who were in work.

No one here is working to spite you. We're (I believe) just trying to help out our colleagues.

[pjt]

I might be on the wrong thread for this, but surely you don't want the forum to be only an echo chamber for the unemployed.
If I were (and believe me, I very well might be soon!) I would be more interested in the posters who were in work.

No one here is working to spite you. We're (I believe) just trying to help out our colleagues.

Yeah thats a very good point. Its not good hearing about people having a rough time. I'd rather hear some good news as I think this thread especially can put a real downer on things. I had 5 months out last year but have been working consistently since. Roles are thin on the ground but most people seem to be finding a way through it I hope.

[ensignia]

I just wrapped up a 5 month contract with a lovely European company, and am now back to two other full time clients.

The market is terrible, but some of us have been lucky I suppose. I'm not a dev or a techie and am mid 30s, so am probably quite different to a lot of people on here.

[TheDude]

My contract finished yesterday.

Just had a phone screen for a perm role and have had a few approaches over the past week so maybe there are a few green shoots.

[Bluenose]

I might be on the wrong thread for this, but surely you don't want the forum to be only an echo chamber for the unemployed.

Its a tricky one as this is the state of the market.

In a market like this one (and 2020) people dont like posting about good news as it draws a spotlight on them and what they are up to.