Market improved a lot recently..?

[nomadd]

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the market at present. Seems to have picked up a lot in the last 4-6 weeks.

I'm sure when I was doing a "7 day, Contract Only" search for "Java" on Jobserve a few weeks back it was pulling ~250 jobs. Now it seems to be over 600.

What do other people think? Sign that things are finally turning a corner? Or have I got my memory and the numbers screwed up!

Cheers,

Nomadd

[swamp]

Billy Jenkins has starting posting carp on Jobserve again.

[nomadd]

Billy Jenkins has starting posting carp on Jobserve again.

Don't think he ever stopped.

Nomadd

[thunderlizard]

If we assume around 250-300 Jobserve ads posted for each contract, that means the number of available contracts has doubled to 2. Must be the pre-Christmas rush.

[Fred Bloggs]

No it's dire. My CV usually elicits a very positive response from prospective clients. I have submitted it 4 times in the last three weeks and not even a glimmer of interest resulted. And, yes, they were actual live gigs too I believe.

My conclusion? I'm thinking that there must be some very highly skilled and highly experienced contractors in my field of work still waiting to get off the bench and maybe accepting lower than normal rates to do so?

[bren586]

Rates seem to be key.

Amsterdam roles are being offered 45 - 55 euros an hour.

A large blue company makes no bones about it all being about price - not quality.

If I was willing to work for buttons then I would be in work right now.

[Fred Bloggs]

Rates seem to be key.

Amsterdam roles are being offered 45 - 55 euros an hour.

A large blue company makes no bones about it all being about price - not quality.

If I was willing to work for buttons then I would be in work right now.

Yes, fair summary. Jobs in Euroland that were offered at 850 Euros a day two years ago are now being offered at 600 Euros, it seems. Mind you in £ terms I suppose that's about the same rate, actually!

[DimPrawn]

Yes, fair summary. Jobs in Euroland that were offered at 850 Euros a day two years ago are now being offered at 600 Euros, it seems. Mind you in £ terms I suppose that's about the same rate, actually!

600 Euros is not far off £600 a day. I wouldn't call that exactly a bad market if that's all you can scrape together these days.

[Fred Bloggs]

600 Euros is not far off £600 a day. I wouldn't call that exactly a bad market if that's all you can scrape together these days.

Yes, that's why I was reflecting on the state of the £. Sadly I'm reduced to £360 a day, it is only 25 minutes from home though, can't win 'em all I guess.

[northernladuk]

My conclusion? I'm thinking that there must be some very highly skilled and highly experienced contractors in my field of work still waiting to get off the bench and maybe accepting lower than normal rates to do so?

Either that or lot more people are finding the need to 'alter' or what ever BS term they use to justify lying on their CV's just to get a gig as per a couple of discussions recently.