The Market is picking up..... or is it!

[Funkywood]

Had 3 emails from 3 different pimps working for the same agency, same branch all promoting the exact same gig!

Do these people not talk to each other!

Same here. Does the Agency have a h and x it in by any chance?

Even worse, in my case it was a previous client I worked for 4 years ago and who I have contacted directly.

Yesterday the number went to 4!

[Keen2Work]

FWIW, I don't think so

I'm still on the bench.

I've lost track of the number of agents who've responded to this question with "things have really picked up in the last few * weeks/months/years" (* delete as appropriate)

I guess the answers you'll receive are likely to be highly subjective.

If you have recently moved to another contract, you're unlikely to think that the market is poor. if you have one of the key desireable skills, and have been working on it solidly for several years, you'll probably not have noticed a problem.

- I have Unix, scripting, Db.:T-SQL, Perl, C, C++, Banking, Real-Time - though haven't recently worked exclusively on any one of them for an extended period of years!

If you've been out for months, you won't see it that way at all.

Worst of all, I don't know of any objective way of finding out?

Either respondents have a vested interest like selling services, or are unable or unwilling to remain detached and pragmatic.

For nearly two decades, my limited company earned from £600 rising up to £2K/wk (with occasional, short interruptions). For the last two years, income has been zero.

[krytonsheep]

For the last two years, income has been zero. .

Don't give up...

- I have Unix, scripting, Db.:T-SQL, Perl, C, C++, Banking, Real-Time -

If I was recruiting and saw a CV which read like that it wouldn't get too far. You'd have a lot more chance if it said something like
"real-time C++ on Linux, MySQL ...".

Just reading "unix, scripting" is a bit like saying "full uk driving licence".

[terradev]

Chin up

Don't give up...

If I was recruiting and saw a CV which read like that it wouldn't get too far. You'd have a lot more chance if it said something like
"real-time C++ on Linux, MySQL ...".

Just reading "unix, scripting" is a bit like saying "full uk driving licence".

Would agree with this whole heartedly. When I am reviewing CVs I always assume the stuff at the beginning is the candidates speciality and the stuff at the end is the least comfortable. So put your headline skills and experiences up front and in bold, the stuff that everyone has and is almost a prerequisit needs to slot in at the bottom (its important that its there but not where it is). Have you considered cross training and taking a 3 month contract for poor money to get it solid on your CV? You could consider it a loss leader to future opportunities.

Anyway Good luck i'm sure something will crop up.

[Keen2Work]

I appreciate the positive suggestions...

Don't give up...

If I was recruiting and saw a CV which read like that it wouldn't get too far. You'd have a lot more chance if it said something like
"real-time C++ on Linux, MySQL ...".


Just reading "unix, scripting" is a bit like saying "full uk driving licence".

..and sentiments.

The longer this goes on, the more resigned you become to the very real possibility that you may never work in software again!
I wish I could really believe that "something will turn up".

You wouldn't see it expressed as above on my CV - I was briefly summarising my skillset in case anyone thought that I might have little to offer. I'm not trying to sell myself to the forum. FWIW: My CV reads well - according to quite a few third parties, and has been honed over the last two years to match market requirements as closely as possible.

Yes, I have offered my services for very little for six months or more, if it'll get me back into mainstream analysis/development/support, but it hasn't worked.

The problem with that approach is that agents and clients both think you are over-qualified for such roles and generally refuse to consider you. Catch-22?

How to persuade them that I really mean it?

[Clippy]

..and sentiments.

The longer this goes on, the more resigned you become to the very real possibility that you may never work in software again!
I wish I could really believe that "something will turn up".

You wouldn't see it expressed as above on my CV - I was briefly summarising my skillset in case anyone thought that I might have little to offer. I'm not trying to sell myself to the forum. FWIW: My CV reads well - according to quite a few third parties, and has been honed over the last two years to match market requirements as closely as possible.

Yes, I have offered my services for very little for six months or more, if it'll get me back into mainstream analysis/development/support, but it hasn't worked.

The problem with that approach is that agents and clients both think you are over-qualified for such roles and generally refuse to consider you. Catch-22?

How to persuade them that I really mean it?

Sorry to hear this.

What are the challenges you are facing?

Lack of roles, failure to obtain an interview or failure to secure the role at interview?

[BlasterBates]

I'm still on the bench.

I've lost track of the number of agents who've responded to this question with "things have really picked up in the last few * weeks/months/years" (* delete as appropriate)

I guess the answers you'll receive are likely to be highly subjective.

If you have recently moved to another contract, you're unlikely to think that the market is poor. if you have one of the key desireable skills, and have been working on it solidly for several years, you'll probably not have noticed a problem.

- I have Unix, scripting, Db.:T-SQL, Perl, C, C++, Banking, Real-Time - though haven't recently worked exclusively on any one of them for an extended period of years!

If you've been out for months, you won't see it that way at all.

Worst of all, I don't know of any objective way of finding out?

Either respondents have a vested interest like selling services, or are unable or unwilling to remain detached and pragmatic.

For nearly two decades, my limited company earned from £600 rising up to £2K/wk (with occasional, short interruptions). For the last two years, income has been zero.

I thought C++ banking was looking quite good. When was your last C++ banking project? That's what you should be pushing. The scripting or database won't get you far.

£600 - 2000 sounds good, I was on at least half that. What were you doing?

You need to repackage yourself as hot shot ex banking programmer now ready and willing.

[BlasterBates]

Had a check today.

Suddenly it looks really bad, all the banking jobs seem to have disappeared.

[MrMark]

For the last two years, income has been zero.

Blimey. Here I was feeling bad about being benched for nearly 3 months... I've about given up on the contracting market so am trying to branch into Plan B territory - set small operators up with Drupal or Wordpress and provide support and hosting... I've had plenty of agents' calls but they've tended to be fishing exercises, and I've got to the stage now where I won't pick up the phone and only reply if they leave a voicemail.

[nomadd]

Had a check today.

Suddenly it looks really bad, all the banking jobs seem to have disappeared.

Had a check today.

Suddenly it looks really good, all the banking contracts seem to listed on jobserve, 1,849 in total.

The IB I work for has just recruited 10 I.T. people, and are still looking for others.

EDIT: Changed the word "jobs" to "contracts", just so there was no confusion.