Current state of market?

[VBM2]

I was going to ask if peoples opinion's of "taking the plunge" and going it alone now was a good idea, but from reading this thread, it's probably not a good idea at all!

[TheRefactornator]

True if you're a web monkey with years of ASP.NET experience but if you're a .NET developer in a sector other than web, it seems a bit slower..my niche skills do not appear to be working at the moment.

I take it back because things seem to have dramatically improved today. Although there's nothing absolutely concrete at this stage, after being benched for 6 months I now have:

1) A telephone interview arranged for one remote contract role
2) An application in for a local perm role
3) An application in for another remote contract role

They're all looking like "real" ones and are good technical matches in my sector! Everything crossed here.

[PaulCD]

Good stuff.

I've seen a couple of things crop up online today and had a phone call asking me if I was still interested in something that I declined an interview for about a month ago (don't know what possessed me at the time!). Seems that it might just be on the go again and even though it was a lower rate it is a 6 month gig AND in the UK.

[CDM]

Market is very depressed

My contract finished in September of last year (after 3 solid years with the client) and I took a month off to go abroad on holiday. Came back into the middle of the banking crisis/credit crunch and have been on the bench since - despite my best efforts and even after studying for and gaining additional certifications in the down time.

Things are picking up a little but for 4-6 months, there's been practically no real positions being advertised on the job boards. Lots of bottom-of-the-barrel agency tricks abound but that does seemed to have settled down a bit now.

Managed 3 interviews in the past few weeks but still no contract. On 1 of those, I found out after the fact that the agency was charging nearly £300 on top of what he was offereing me and the client turned it down because 'I' was too expensive. On another, I got all the way through the technical interviews only for the client to then decide there was another critical key skill they wanted that wasn't on the original spec. They've now re-posted the position with the new skill listed foremost.

I've long since decided to take a lower rate but there are 2 problems with this: A) There aren't any positions being advertised even at lower rates and B) With 20+ years of seniority, I'm considered too much of a flight risk to be offered a less senior position.

My warchest is now seriously depleted. I really feel for those whose warchest isn't as deep as mine is (was). The sad thing is that I don't think the worse is over yet. Just hoping I can hang on until I get something.

- CDM

[gingerjedi]

It's tough out there, I keep getting contacted (a few interviews lined up too) about permy positions that would be great if it weren't for the junior salary on offer, It's really hard to get excited about a role when you’re constantly thinking about what you'd need to cut back on should you get it.

I've always said I want an easy life permy role... one day when I can afford it!

[tim123]

i'd say it's getting better.

i am getting calls and e-mails about contracts that seem genuine. some of them are even naming the clients.

2 months ago was getting nothing.

It's definately getting better

I've had two calls about jobs this month, the previous three (months) I got zip all.

Though I've still not managed to turn any of the calls into interviews.

tim

[moorfield]

Interview for me today, but 3 hours including 2 written tests and that was only the first round - all for a 3 month gig (with probable extensions).

Completely knackered now, on our 3rd bottle of Mateus Rose already.

[jmo21]

Interview for me today, but 3 hours including 2 written tests and that was only the first round - all for a 3 month gig (with probable extensions).

Completely knackered now, on our 3rd bottle of Mateus Rose already.

what kind of role was that? skills, techs etc?

[FarmerPalmer]

phone has rung more in the last couple of days than in the last month .. things must be picking up

[Scotchpie]

Well even the NHS contracts seem to have dried up The few still available are paying much lower than before but do seem to be for longer periods, mostly 6 months compared to 3.

I often wonder if the contracts are indeed paying lower or the pimps are just after a bigger cut as there's little work about and they want to cover their backs.

I'm on the bench in 3 weeks unless I can arrange something. The last couple of weeks seems better and I have my CV with two prospective clients. Have to wait and see. I'm having to accept a lower rate though.