How quiet are people finding the market??

**PM-Junkie** · 14 July 2009, 12:15

Originally posted by Stu B View Post

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.

July and August are traditionally dead at the best of times. I suggest enjoying the summer and waiting for the kids to go back to school.

**expat** · 14 July 2009, 12:17

How quiet are people finding the market??

If the grave is like this then I'm going to be bored a long time. That quiet.

**HeadOfTesting** · 14 July 2009, 12:40

dead - although I have had a couple of calls today

**Not So Wise** · 14 July 2009, 12:57

In today's market unless you can afford extended periods on the bench taking that month out in May (one of the best months for new contracts) was a probably a mistake.

Even in a good market, from mid June things start getting quite, bottom will fall out of market by mid/late July and then you can pretty much hang it up until late Sep./early Oct.

**mace** · 14 July 2009, 12:58

Market conditions

Been looking for contract/perm since end of June.

>150 applications, talked to about 30 agents, CV put forward to 15 clients, 4 phone interviews, no face to faces, lots of promises.

Notable gaps in employment previously have been:-
4 months without work in 2002, 2 months in 2003 and 2 months in 2007.

Only real difference from when I was last looking is that I've broadened my skillset and widened the salary range/position/job types so that I can apply for more roles. If I put myself in the position I was in in 2002/03, I'd say it's as bad as then. jobstats.co.uk suggests the same but also suggests that there's been a pick up in advertised roles since mid-June, so who knows this recession may soon be over.

**expat** · 14 July 2009, 13:03

Originally posted by mace View Post

Been looking for contract/perm since end of June.

>150 applications, talked to about 30 agents, CV put forward to 15 clients, 4 phone interviews, no face to faces, lots of promises.

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.

**scooterscot** · 14 July 2009, 13:07

I've had 2 phone calls today one direct with client who now wants a face to face meeting.

Can I manage the additional work though????

**Shimano105** · 14 July 2009, 13:11

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!

**Not So Wise** · 14 July 2009, 13:12

Originally posted by expat View Post

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.

Never been one to agree with lying on CV's but to deal with idiots (even bigger ones considering current today's market) like this would be either changing my last contract my end date or even better just not putting termination date on last contract, aka "Feb 2008 - "

Had to do the latter after taking a year off to travel a while back, as soon as did started getting interviews

To many stupid agents/clients see you have not worked for X amount of time and just toss the CV without once asking/thinking "why"

How quiet are people finding the market??