State of the market

[larry]

Jobless Recovery

During the last 'upturn', contractors were drowning in job offers as spending on IT was unleashed. Apparently, according to politicians/journalists/statiticians we're now recovering. But no jobs growth.

Saw on the Russia Today channel that some graduates in the US are going to India to take up positions!

This time it's different.

[Aman]

The last two weeks has seen unusually busy.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

The last two weeks has seen unusually busy.

Your probably right, I imagine the job centre and doll ques are very long by now.

[norrahe]

The last two weeks has seen unusually busy.

You get that at this time of year, lots of calls about possibilities but nothing firm as everyone is speccing for up and coming projects, sorting out budgets.

[Scary]

I've noticed the jobs-spam ramping up recently, never really sure if that's a good sign (more jobs) or a bad one (more fishing).

[theroyale]

I saw a clutch of IB developer (Java/C#) jobs on Jobserve going at 450pd... never seen IB jobs advertised for under 500pd.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

This is the time of year when I really start to feel hopeless, I start to gain confidence towards middle of January/start of Feb that things will improve. I am starting to wander whether things will improve at all next year with all these cuts....

[nomadd]

I saw a clutch of IB developer (Java/C#) jobs on Jobserve going at 450pd... never seen IB jobs advertised for under 500pd.

Then you are not looking hard enough.

I've seen plenty of agencies offering roles via "consultancies" (i.e. small software houses) where they've wanted City based devs with skillsets as long as your arms and rates between £250-300. Still, good for a laugh, if nothing else.

EDIT: For example: http://www.jobserve.com/CSharp-DOTNE...4276EA8A.jsjob

[rsingh]

Well, I started this thread some months back in the hope of getting sensible, considered replies. I'm mostly disappointed. Forum's like these remind me of the BBC's "Have your say" columns, where most of what you read is opinionated rubbish, or pontification backed up by very little evidence. Perhaps I should have known better.

For those who have tried hard to address the original question - many thanks.

I would love to be back in work and would do it for nothing for a few weeks if I thought it would kick-start my career.

Every month out of work feels like another nail in the coffin. Agency calls are fewer and further between.
I suspect, but am unable to prove by any obvious means, that I'm not alone. It's very frustrating.

Peace to all. I hope any recovery comes soon.

It's a tricky time of year now. Even more difficult considering the economic circumstances - so don't get too disheartened.

If I were you, I would mentally write off any chance of getting a role in the next few weeks. Keep looking, but don't get too disheartened if nothing turns up.

List your three strongest skills and get certified in one in the next month. Make this an immovable deadline. Frankly, you have nothing to lose. If you can do this, you can resume your job hunt in the new year with a bit more optimism.

Also as has been mentioned on other threads, volunteer. Google It4charities, it beats sitting at home hitting F5 on observe. It looks good and breaks the gap on your cv.

Good luck.

[Fred Bloggs]

Definately signs of things picking up in process engineering. Even seen a few jobs in the NW this last two weeks. Seems a few jobs are getting underway now, bringing folk on board for the New Year. It'll go quiet again shortly but it looks more necouraging for the New Year than I have seen iun the last two years now. Long may it continue!