How quiet are people finding the market??

[HeadOfTesting]

About the same. But that's since end of February.

Had an agent last week say to me with suspicion in her voice, "you haven't had any contract at all since February?". Oh great, I'm becoming unemployable because I'm unemployed. Just what I needed.

You're a man of great experience (more than me) so you'll know that you must operate a zero tolerance policy towards this attitude.

I'm polite and unassuming when I talk to agents but if I get this (which to be fair is exceptionally rare) then they get well and truly put back in their box. Not much winds me up - but this does the trick nicely

[chris79]

I never ever acknowledge being "unemployed".. I'm employed by my company, but the company doesn't have a client(s) right now. During that time I explain the gap by either freelancing doing bits and bobs (like 1-5 day work) for people or explaining it's time out to study my next certificate etc.

When I write my CV I have this gap covered with this on it, I never leave a gap. Problem solved.

Alternatively write you are employed by your Limited company from 200x - current, then list your clients under it with no dates, only length of time.

There are several solutions to this scenario, just find one you feel comfortable with.

[expat]

Thought you had something lined up expat?

Anyway, the trouble with taking time out is the wind-up period it takes to get back into, well getting paid.

As well as the time you have taken out it will be about 6 weeks until you get paid, assuming you start work tomorrow.

If you do back to back gigs then the money machine is already up to speed, but that period after you have started work to getting paid is the most frustrating I find!

I did: I went for a face-to-face interview in Germany, for a permanent job. Turned out the agency/vendor had insufficiently qualified it and the client was looking for something else (not someone else: I was the guy for the job but it wasn't that job they had in mind). No joy then.

I'm assuming I won't start work tomorrow, an assumption with the evidence in its favour. So yes, at best it is going to get worse before it gets better: some debt will have to be taken on before income rolls in, debt gets cleared, warchest rebuilt, oh yeah and pension savings restarted.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Oh great, I'm becoming unemployable because I'm unemployed.

Not much winds me up - but this does the trick nicely

This is one of the reasons why I am happy to be out of the contracting game. This sort of thing winds me up so much. They will not accept anything less that 100% utilization of your skills thought your career to date with no consideration of personal issues or objectives, or market conditions.

[Torran]

Getting a call a day at the moment. Have my CV out for 3 roles.

Things definitely picking up.

[expat]

Getting a call a day at the moment. Have my CV out for 3 roles.

Things definitely picking up.

I've had a call a day for months, and had my CV out for at least 3 roles at any give time. Is that a good market or what?

[Torran]

I would say that its better than it has been up here for the last 6 months. I didn't hear a peep from Nov - Apr.

[CiderEagle]

Definitely picking up a bit compared to three months ago and six months ago. I'd even go so far as to say it isn't that much below what you'd expect around holiday season. Will be interesting to see what its like come September.

[nomadd]

Been out since May - Took the first month really low key - Rest wise - (had done some silly mileage for the last year)

Appling for all sorts of roles (being a contractor of old I have many strenghts) However I have found that I have had some silly call backs but thats it..

Anyone else finding that they just are not getting called back???

Cheers S.

Been out since March. Market is dead. Sent out ~100 cv copies via jobserve, but had no more than 10 calls back. No interviews. Worst I've ever known the market in 20 years.

Nomadd

[Evil Hangover]

Agreed, there is stuff out there, but you have to be a bit more creative than just hammering jobswerve to death.