Testing market...dead & buried..??

[melbourne720]

I'm a test analyst, been benched for 2.5 months after working the previous 15.

Very grateful for Mossman and HeadofTesting posts, very informative for those of us such as myself who are newer to the contract test market.

Am looking at perm as well as contract as there is virtually nothing out there.

I like the idea about using the time constructively, something I am finding keeps me from stressing too much. Bit of jogging in the morning, a few golf lessons that were a present, and as long as the weather stays nice spirits will remain high

[Ardesco]

Tester here and started again last week after being benched for 5 weeks. Seem to be fewer roles than previously, but there are roles out there.

Tweak your CV a bit and get applying would be my advice and gen up on open source stuff while you are out. Seem to be a lot more companies looking at the open source options atm.

[dropcliffsnotbombs]

I'm a tester and have been fortunate to be able to find work when I have wanted to and have even had to turn work down this year.

I finished a contract in january with a smallish company that I have worked with for several contracts over the last few years. I knew that they were likely to have more work later in the year but it hadn't been signed off yet. This is a pattern that we have followed over the last few years and it has suited me and them well (I like to take a few months off at a time to have a life).

I then got offered a contract at another previous client, a very large company, in a different part of the business, but no doubt it helped that I had worked for them before.

Since working for them I have been offered more work back at the company I left in January which I have had to turn down.

I think keeping a good relationship with previous clients is very important at the moment and I certainly will be making an effort to keep in contact with any previous clients and people I have worked with.

Good luck everyone.

[Ilu]

[QUOTE=swamp;836265]No mainstream development means no testers needed.

I suppose this equally applies to Business Analysts. I am a BA and most of role is heavily leaned towards mainstream development. Scary times

[SillyMilly]

No mainstream development means no testers needed.

Developers can move to maintenance work, bug fixing, 3rd line support. There may be some role for testers in these activities, but usually very little.

Strangely enough, no mainstream development means no developers needed either. Maintenance, bug fixing and support can be covered by minimal development resource.

It's also not unusual to see all the dev done offshore and testing in the UK - or project is based on a COTS solution - so Clientco take on a team of testers, but no developers.

We're all in the same boat - not just testers!

But it's clear from my experience and others' that this slowdown has been going on for far longer than the officially recorded recession - so maybe the upturn is closer than we think!

[slockyer]

I love the positive thinking.