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

[inferno]

I've been receiving anything up to 8 calls a day the last few weeks which is promising. Whether they amount to anything with the bench looming is another thing!

Good luck everyone

[amcdonald]

I've not got a CV on jobserve, and based on 3 year old CVs that agency pimps still have I've been flooded with interview offers

This week current client is dangling a renewal and I've got two other job offers after two interviews

Not bad considering I've not even looked for another contract

The economy might be fubar, but London is awash with .net IT contracts

[Wobblyheed]

I've had an interview for a job in Abu Dhabi this week (the agent phoned me before it was advertised). Never had a sniff of these posts since I started contracting in 2004.

[BolshieBastard]

The market is only 'picking up' if your skillset is in demand.

Had a chance of an interview with a former client but in a junior role compared to last time there. Jibbed that off.

Spoke to an agent about an MOJ SC role but once again, it's an 'urgent' role (yeah, right, that's why it's been advertised for over 2 weeks now) so only submitted if you have current clearance.

But, I was very well suited for the role, he said. somehow I smell BS.

Holiday mode this week and next although Im doing another ISEB course to boost the qualifications. Roll on Christmas.

[HeadOfTesting]

depends on the area - it's very tough in senior test management.

i've been benched for over 5 months now (much of it un-intentional)

yes I can afford to be picky but it's far from easy in my area

[amcdonald]

The market is only 'picking up' if your skillset is in demand.

Or if you have generic skills and aren't fussy, sometimes it's good to be a jack of all trades

[TestMangler]

depends on the area - it's very tough in senior test management.

i've been benched for over 5 months now (much of it un-intentional)

yes I can afford to be picky but it's far from easy in my area

What area is that ?

[BolshieBastard]

Or if you have generic skills and aren't fussy, sometimes it's good to be a jack of all trades

Possibly, but in my experience, jack of all trades are masters of none.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Possibly, but in my experience, jack of all trades are masters of none.

Well I think being specialised is crucial to help you easily get the roles that you are most suited to. However it is good to have a bit of experience in several areas in case of emergency. I managed to pick up some .NET in all my roles and could quite easily advertise myself as a .NET developer.

[northernladuk]

Or if you have generic skills and aren't fussy, sometimes it's good to be a jack of all trades

Personally I think this is utter crap. Jack of all is ok for permies as they invest in the person and these skills could be used in the organisation as a whole.

As a contractor you are brought in because you can demostrate you are a qualified expert in your field and can hit the ground running from day one and deliver exactly what the client wants. They do not want to be re-training or skilling up generics.

Put your jack of all CV next to someone that has delivered the clients needs for the last 10 years an day and I will show you a guy with more bench splinters in his arse than soft Mick.