Working more locally

[northernladuk]

A popular misconception, its actually the 9th in the UK by population.

Very good point well made. Let's call it Greater Manchester then in which case it is 2nd

But anyway, back on topic.....

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Thanks all.

I guess I am a bit unusual in that although I have searched job sites and I always have 2 or 3 email searches of job sites running, I have never had anything useful from them. None of the jobs I've ever tried to follow up locally ever came to anything - and whilst I've had some pretty good gigs not one of them came from a Jobsite or ever appeared there as far as I know. For my area the only ads on Jobsites seem either to have rates so crazily low that they are clearly just a way of getting Bob in, or demand a crazy mix of skills that doesn't exist - and those are the London ones. I've never seen anything local - and when I limit my search to local only I still get jobs from all over and europe too because agents just spam the keywords.

I reckon it's some donkey work then - I do know a lot of agents, but I've also managed to do without them mostly :-)

[Platypus]

Places like IBM and Crapita have a good 'work from home office' ethos.

Look for firms who have offices within your commute range, and check out their websites, see if they have any vacancies,
e.g. Cambridge Consultants - UK Job Vacancies
Working for us | Barclays GRB

With Peoplesoft, thought about cross-training into OeBS? Maybe there'd be more oppties in that?

EDIT, some obvious stuff I'm dure you've done
http://www.agencycentral.co.uk/agenc...-leicester.htm
http://www.localrecruit.co.uk/leicester/

EDIT2: here's a PS vacancy in Leics
http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/IT-Jo...n=LocalRecruit

Another idea, find out who uses PS, and contact them direct
e.g. http://www.clearbluegroup.net/peoplesoftusersuk.html
Or go to a user group meeting

I happen to know that Derby University uses PS.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I started the thread recently titled: "Why the hell are there no contracts in Manchester!?!"

In the last 12 months I have had interviews in:
-Chester
-Liverpool
-Preston
-Blackpool
-Crewe
-Oxford
-Derby
-Macclesfield (would be a dream come true to get one this close!)
-Exceter

You would expect 1 in 2 or 1 in 3 to be in Manchester but I have never managed to get anywhere near a Manchester contract. So I can't imagine leicester or the surrounding cities offering anything better. You are within a good distance of London so that't the best option IMO.

I am most likely to leave my current place at the end of contract in a couple of weeks regardless of whether they offer me extension and look for somewhere close to home - for the same reasons you highlighted. However I might live to regret it.....

[nomadd]

I am most likely to leave my current place at the end of contract in a couple of weeks regardless of whether they offer me extension and look for somewhere close to home - for the same reasons you highlighted. However I might live to regret it.....

Maybe you could just renew for a short while, just to get you over the "hump" of Jan./Feb.? And add a few more pennies in the warchest?

The Manchester situation certainly seems to have improved over the last year, but then I guess that's true across the board. 2009 was a stinker. Still, if you never try for the North West type gig., I guess you'll never know...

All the best, and keep us updated with how you get on.

[Wanderer]

Simple. Go permie.

Well, not really a simple choice but I agree it might be a the way to go. Keep an eye out for a nice permie job close to home and stick it out for a few years until your little one is a bit older. They are only young once and you don't want to miss too much of them growing up - it goes really quickly.

Do the numbers and be honest about how much you realistically make contracting (net of expenses) vs how much you could take as a permie with a bit more home life then figure out if it's worth it.

Tough choices - good luck with it.

[Fred Bloggs]

A bit off topic, but I'm guessing the same will probably apply to the Leicester area too. Just lately things have picked up in the north west but the last 18 months has been truly dire. Even looking for work locally at about 40% of my present (Surrey) rate has shown zero work in the local area. It is picking up though and I hope that by the end of my current job in Surrey (~May 2011) that I will land a local job again.

[lukemg]

I think you have to be patient, I take some benchtime on the chin to stay in the Northwest (5 months one time - eek). BUT, there is work about from time to time. Sounds like your area is the deadzone for your stuff so not really a goer. As ever London/SE is about half the contract market of the UK so there are always going to be more options there.
I also see the myth that there are tons of juicy perm jobs available for contractors in all locations is alive and well. There aren't, bob is doing them and you are a bad risk for desertion when the market picks up.

Godd luck all...

[dang65]

I started the thread recently titled: "Why the hell are there no contracts in Manchester!?!"

Although anyone wishing to read it will have to search for the slightly confusing "Why the hell are there in contracts in Manchester?!?!"

Or click here.

[BolshieBastard]

Ah, in a thread of sensible replies from sensible people, one of our regular idiots had to chip in. With more of his usual "bollocks".

Still, thanks for the reminder BB. How on earth I missed you off my "ignore" list this weekend I'll never know... Still, welcome as a new member. Please feel to post as many replies as you like from now on; I don't have to see them. Happy days.

Thinking oneself to be always right, as you do, is the sign of a dillusional mind. Glad to read you're still sticking your head up your dillusional arse