Current state of market

[thunderlizard]

Contractors are operating on too small a scale to be able to talk meaningfully about "the market". We certainly don't get through enough volume for national growth figures - +2% or -2% - to make any difference. Hitting the phones for half an hour extra each day will have a much greater effect than waiting for macroeconomics to sort your life out for you.

[XLMonkey]

Agree, but there's a bit more to it than that....

Over in the public sector, the Cabinet Office have imposed a moratorium on all new IT projects until after the spending review is completed. As a result, about half of all demand for contractors has stopped all at once. If you have been working in the public sector recently, then the time is right to reskill and find a different industry to specialise it (or take a well-earned holiday - which is what I'm doing)

[gadgetman]

WHS

but in Melbourne and closer to £3k

smokin' hot here in Sydney, getting calls from agents on a daily basis, rates going up on a daily basis, and while its winter at present - a nightmare 14 degrees currently at 9:31am - Summer is just around the corner.

And with the pound languishing and the $AU booming (thanks China) I'm getting nearly 2000 quid a week for NOT having to live in London.

If you can get here, now is the time....

[Hicks]

Good afternoon all

Since my original post, I decided to take a much needed break visiting friends overseas.

Having returned, it appears that the market is still the same with limited roles. Are others finding this too?

I know there are a lot of people in a similar situation, but I get the impression there are also a lot of poor quality candidates out there as well. Would that be fair to say? However, I am concerned my CV is/will fail to stand out from the pile due to the sheer volume being received for each position.

It's also proving to be a challenge pinning down recruitment agents as they never seem to be available!

[Fred Bloggs]

1 It's dire.

2 Lots of redundant permies wanting to be filthy rich contractors like us.

HTH.

[alreadypacked]

1 It's dire.

2 Lots of redundant permies wanting to be filthy rich contractors like us.

HTH.

I think it will quiten down a lot more in October, not improve until April 2011.

[Hicks]

I think it will quiten down a lot more in October, not improve until April 2011.

That's a concern.

What makes you think this?

[kingcook]

I do Perl and there's bugger all. Mind you, Perl doesn't seem to be that popular anymore anyway.

Time to re-train once my current gig is over.

[northernladuk]

That's a concern.

What makes you think this?

Well there is always the quiet period in the run to xmas and then there are people watching their budget until April, particularly the public sector as the big cuts start to hit at a wild guess.

[gingerjedi]

1 It's dire.

2 Lots of redundant permies wanting to be filthy rich contractors like us.

HTH.

...taking roles at near permy rates without realising the true cost of being your own boss.

They'll be back to permidom when the penny drops.