Seasonal Trends

[lightng]

I've a couple of questions to agents or contractors who do a lot of short-term stuff. Ignoring recession/boom effects, what are the busiest months and quietest months of the year for finding contract work? Are some sectors different than others in terms of busy / quiet periods?

[Ravello]

Generally (i.e. not sector specific) I've found that late Jan through to May is resonably busy with the busiest period being at the end of march/beginning of April. Summer months (Jun to Aug) are dead trade picks up a bit in september through til October time then dead again over Christmas.

[TheBigYinJames]

Generally (i.e. not sector specific) I've found that late Jan through to May is resonably busy with the busiest period being at the end of march/beginning of April. Summer months (Jun to Aug) are dead trade picks up a bit in september through til October time then dead again over Christmas.

WHS.

I've found that world events can kill a market. i was looking for work over 2006 World Cup and got nothing until the day after England were kicked out, then the phones didn't stop ringing.

[lightng]

Darn it! My contract end date clashes with ... http://www.worldconkerchampionships.com. I'd better start saving now.

Thanks for the replies.

[Diestl]

WHS.

I've found that world events can kill a market. i was looking for work over 2006 World Cup and got nothing until the day after England were kicked out, then the phones didn't stop ringing.

You better pray they don't win it next time, you'll be out of work for 3 decades.

[Liability]

You better pray they don't win it next time, you'll be out of work for 3 decades.

LOLOL very good.

[fadanoid]

Just done some quick analysis over the last 10 years and the complete months I have had on the bench are reasonably consistent. I have had 17 months on the beach out of 120 and I have had one March one February and three January's out. Most of the others are two monthers. Had approx 6 contracts over this period. Not always actively looking over these 17 months. Hmm. Interesting...........

[Cheshire Cat]

From my limited experience, I would say that it's not a good idea to end a contract at the start of the kids summer hols, or in the month or so before xmas.
Ideally, you'll be on a contract that ends around march/april or sept/oct, in time to pick up another 6 monther, and work through the lean summer and xmas periods.

[swamp]

Interesting question actually, because really:

market = contracts / candidates

Early Jan is dead as a dead dog, but there are no candidates mad enough to be on the bench either, so actually not a bad time to look -- I got a good contract this Jan in these circumstances

[Advocate]

I'll be on the bench early Jan...