PM Benchtime Duration

[kaiser78]

Have just joined the bench from completing last PM contract and am interested to read how long other PMs have been on the bench and what sorts of PM related roles are being advertised.

Thanks

[Troll]

A chap I know managed to walk from one PM role which finished on Friday to the next starting today... noticeable rate drop (cira 100 @ day) but not sure how representative it is of the market- job wasn't advertised on the job boards either

HTH

[fishslice]

Finishing this week and next gig already lined up with a 38% increase - kerching

[BrowneIssue]

I'm in a specialised market within PM work and so I am getting the occasional call. Lucky me.

Last week I followed up one role I had applied for where I was a close match. The agent kindly spent 15 minutes on the phone - I think he needed a gossip 'cos he was knackered. We generally put the world to rights and as part of his whinge he said he had a number of exact matches for this specialist, Senior Project Manager role so I would not be being put forward. He had had 600 applications; 150 of these in the first hour.

I haven't heard of numbers like that applying for PM roles since the market was awful in 2001.

Unless you have something special to offer, my experience of 2000-2002 and my gut reaction says a generic PM can now expect to be on the bench for 12 to 24 months.

But if you have specific skills and a good CV and a matching role comes up, you might get a gig this afternoon. Then you just need it to be in the right location, to accept a lower rate, to have a good interview, to be the best on the day, for your face to fit, for the budget to be approved and for the agency not screw it up for you. Easy peasy.

[RichardCranium]

Bring a cushion:

Project Manager
Location: United Kingdom
Country: UK
Salary/Rate:
Market Rates
My client a large Global organisation is currently looking for an experienced Project Manager to help deliver a corporate time and expense system. You will be responsible for managing the production of the required deliverables,while planning and monitoring the project. Other responsibilities will include preparing and maintaining the project plan, stage and exception plans as required. You will have experience in delivering/managing JDE projects on time and on budget , with proven experience more ->
Posted: 05/05/2009 12:45:04 Start Date: ASAP to 4 weeks Duration: 6 months

See when I posted this message? Link:

The requested job has expired

Bring a cushion AND amphetamines.

[dozer]

not looking good for pm's, been 3 months with only 2 interviews.

[BlasterBates]

looking at the adverts, I would say the market is pretty bad all round. Statements like "due to the large number of applicants, we cannot reply to all of them" sound ominous indeed.

In this case luck is incredibly important, as there will be hundreds of suitable applicants. Make sure your CV gets in first, and that it is f****ing good. Management summary should be right at the top, with ace achievements.

[PM-Junkie]

On a positive note though, I know for a fact (from experience) that a lot of those applications are from people who have never managed a project in their lives - ie, gone on a Prince2 course or produced a couple of Gantt charts.

Yes there are quality people out there...but don't go assuming that if 600 people apply for a job, they are all suitable applicants. Notwithstanding the fact that it will be a tough year - if you are a good PM and have something to offer, you may fare better than you think.

[BrowneIssue]

Finishing this week and next gig already lined up with a 38% increase - kerching

Congratulations!

[fishslice]

Congratulations!

Thanks - judging by what everyone else is saying I feel very lucky. But following on from comments from BrownIssue and PM-Junkie - I have a damn good CV and interviewed well.