Jesus I need a contract

[scooterscot]

This one time I was on the bench for 2 weeks, it was awful.

Have you tried expanding your search beyond the 3 counties you mentioned to say - Europe?

[gadgetman]

Sorry if this is salt in the wounds but I'm struggling to find bog standard test analysts willing to work for less than $700 AUD per day (currently about £387).

I sympathise with those on the bench. I was there myself (in the UK) for 2 periods in 2008 and had to take a 25% cut to get a contract at the end of that year. Thankfully that saw me through to my current gig in Melbourne in April last year.

Speaking to a local recruiter just over from the UK, she says she was typically getting 500 CV's in response to each vacancy.

Things don't seem to be improving much there right now.

[d000hg]

Ever heard of Plan B?

I'm already working on Plan B and my first contract starts next week.

If your a systems developer then develop one and try and sell it. Even better find somebody who needs a system, do it for cheap then try and sell it on.

Hmm. Interesting that every software developer seems to have an idea for a great product. Like how every journalist believes they could write a great novel?

[doodab]

Another way to keep your mind ticking over, upgrade your skills and fill the gap on the CV is to do some work on an open source project. That can also lead to paid work sometimes.

[MarillionFan]

Deffo a touch market. 1.5 months isnt that long. I pulled out the stops in Jan, even though I finished in October, decided to work on a Plan C for a few months(which didnt work out).

I've been looking for 5 weeks, I have had one offer which we are presently renegotiating and I am still live on 4 more contracts, but god they're moving slow at the moment.

I'm just working on my SQL MCTS exam for now.

[BlasterBates]

ITs been 1.5 months and Im getting fed up, depressed and so need a contract / work.

I think you need a hobby....you know like building HMS Endeavour out of matchsticks.

The fact that you get depressed when not working is well erm....depressing.

Me I'm into music...I can spend all day perfecting a Shadows number, and playing around with my "space echo" effects.

Anyway we had a good gig a couple of weeks ago, the sound balance is almost perfect now, and that's with the cheap Gretsch guitar (£600) and a VOX valvetronix with built in effects (£200). Used tape echo on max with a touch of reverb, switched to Fender Tweed Bassman and what a sound.

Vocals were good mostly as well, tried slapback echo, but wasn't right but switched to reverb and got a great sound.

We tried out Apache and it went down great guns so now I'm on a surf guitar "trip".

[ronanm]

Sorry if this is salt in the wounds but I'm struggling to find bog standard test analysts willing to work for less than $700 AUD per day (currently about £387).

I sympathise with those on the bench. I was there myself (in the UK) for 2 periods in 2008 and had to take a 25% cut to get a contract at the end of that year. Thankfully that saw me through to my current gig in Melbourne in April last year.

Speaking to a local recruiter just over from the UK, she says she was typically getting 500 CV's in response to each vacancy.

Things don't seem to be improving much there right now.

How difficult would it be as a UK based contractor to fill the test role?? In general, do AUS companies sponsor contractors?

[gadgetman]

Unlikely unfortunately.

Two routes I can think of are:

1. Via a salary management company, some of which can provide sponsorship.
2. Via a 1 year working visa you can get if you are under 30. This can be converted to a 2 year visa if you do 3 months work in specified industries (fruit picking, mining etc). My son is about to take this route.

or marry and aussie

Personally I'm here on my wife's visa, her job is on the wanted skills list.

How difficult would it be as a UK based contractor to fill the test role?? In general, do AUS companies sponsor contractors?

[Andy2]

Unlikely unfortunately.

Two routes I can think of are:

1. Via a salary management company, some of which can provide sponsorship.
2. Via a 1 year working visa you can get if you are under 30. This can be converted to a 2 year visa if you do 3 months work in specified industries (fruit picking, mining etc). My son is about to take this route.

or marry and aussie

Personally I'm here on my wife's visa, her job is on the wanted skills list.

So aussies can work here but we can't go there
Doesn't sound very fair

[NeverBeenNorthOfTheM25]

So aussies can work here but we can't go there
Doesn't sound very fair

Australia is a much better country than the UK

Me<- Aussie working in the UK