PM Benchtime Duration

[KentPhilip]

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.

24 months!

Do you mean to say there were benched contractors last time sitting doing nothing for up to 2 years? Why did they think that they would ever get a job again?
And did anyone subsequently hire them with 2 years on the dole experience?

Wouldn't anyone give up and try to get a permie job?

[gingerjedi]

24 months!

Do you mean to say there were benched contractors last time sitting doing nothing for up to 2 years? Why did they think that they would ever get a job again?
And did anyone subsequently hire them with 2 years on the dole experience?

Wouldn't anyone give up and try to get a permie job?

So why didn't the market 'work'? Why weren't they getting £12ph like every other poor fecker in IT at the moment?

Very heroic of the PM's that stuck to the dole for 2 years rather than price their competitors out of the game.

[BlasterBates]

12 months passes quicker than you think, 24 months would be extreme, but I would see greater than 12 months on the bench now as "not unusual".

I find for the first 6 months benched contractors look for the current rate, and there is always an interview dangled in front of you, to perpetuate your illusions, it is only when they've spent several months out that they move into "desperation" mode, 12 months is usually a "motivator" to take anything at all.

[BrowneIssue]

24 months!

Do you mean to say there were benched contractors last time sitting doing nothing for up to 2 years? Why did they think that they would ever get a job again?
And did anyone subsequently hire them with 2 years on the dole experience?

I was in continuous work in IT as a permie from Aug 84 to May 95.
I was in continuous work in IT as a contractor May 95 to Nov 2001.

Nov 2001 to Jul 2004: tumbleweed. (during which I got involved in a business startup that kept me amused for about 14 months)

Nov 2006 to Mar 2007: benched.

Jul 2007 to Feb 2008: benched. (This was a puzzlingly long time). 197 applications, 9 interviews, two offers.

Hmm. You know what? I might be crap at this contracting malarkey.

Wouldn't anyone give up and try to get a permie job?

Once you have been a contractor, it is very hard to get shortlisted for a permie role. Agents won't even consider you. I got called to one interview just so the recruiting manager could say my CV was a pack of lies. (Which it wasn't and I offered a reference for every item on it. I shamed the buggers into paying me for attending. )

[Alf W]

Been benched for about 6 weeks now. Not really seeing anything and the few agents I've managed to speak to are clearly struggling to find the roles. My main clients are the banks or those who supply to them and it's just dead with all project and programme budgets being held back - I've got plenty of permy contacts on the inside telling me this.

I'm lucky (or smart) enough to have planty or retained funds in my Ltd Co so am just going to bait a few hooks and ride it. No point in just bashing your head against a brick wall.

The upside is that the timing was just right and I've been making more money trading banking shares over the last six weeks than I would have billed had I been extended.

[dozer]

watched chi and thg skyrocket today, maybe we should setup a benched pm share tip thread for those with some spare time.

[BrowneIssue]

watched chi and thg skyrocket today, maybe we should setup a benched pm share tip thread for those with some spare time.

At £1,000 per tip, I'll happily provide you with some consultancy.

You'll be a permie then.

It's dog eat dog here, mate. And I'm a fluffy Golden Retriever.

PS free tip: if you're watching daytime TV, you're no contractor. Permietractor at best.

[fadanoid]

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.

Hey. Lets hear it for the swingin' dick. YOU DA MAN.

[dozer]

At £1,000 per tip, I'll happily provide you with some consultancy.

You'll be a permie then.

It's dog eat dog here, mate. And I'm a fluffy Golden Retriever.

PS free tip: if you're watching daytime TV, you're no contractor. Permietractor at best.

sweet, where can i send the invoice for chi and tig? £2k would be a sweet bonus to the days takings, 7 day terms of course

jeremy kyle keeps you in touch with your market.

[BrowneIssue]

sweet, where can i send the invoice for chi and tig? £2k would be a sweet bonus to the days takings, 7 day terms of course

If it's gonna cost me £2k, you'd better explain. A google search didn't enlighten me.

What's 'chi and tig'?

But bear in mind if it's telly related, I don't care 'cos I ain't got one.