Labview and TestStand contracts

[SlimAvril]

I have got 13 years work experience developing automatic tests using NI Labview and TestStand.
I have started contracting in Sept 2012 and it was very good, non stop consecutive contracts until last August, when I decided to take a 4 weeks holiday. After the holiday it dried up like a river in the Sahara desert. I couldn't find anything since then and it is a very difficult situation to deal with when you have a family of 2 adults and 3 children to look after.
Is this a normal pattern in contracting ? or is it particular to Labview and TestStand contracts?
Labview and TestStand samaritans please help me.
I even accepted contracts for lousy £18 hour and I was rejected despite my long time experience.
I am now trying to comeback to permanent jobs with no joy so far.
Do you think that I am taking a hasty decision? or should I wait for the right contract to come my way?

[SueEllen]

It is the normal pattern in contracting.

I know someone who has continuous work for years then ends up with a 10-11 month break.

One thing that can help you is to be more flexible on location. The more flexible you are the more likely your breaks will be shorter.

Also if you have generalised skills have another version of your CV so you can apply for those roles.

[Nexus7]

I had a specialist technical skill for which the contract market was good for a few years but for the last year or so all the work seem to have been taken over by offshore based system integrators. When the odd role did come up the rates were no attractive.

My approach has been to focus on roles that require more soft skills (analysis, team leading etc) and have been much more successful than if I'd tried to remain in my core technical skillset. Some of the people I know who have tried to remain in that technology have had very long periods on the bench. It might be different for your particular skillset though. When you have a specialist skill you are normally aware of projects going on so you should have a feel of what the likelihood of getting a role is.

My advice would be to keep trying all options i.e. keep looking for contracts, consider contracts requiring other skillsets you may have, consider going permanent and see what comes up. Securing a permanent role isn't necessarily easier than securing a contract.