When do you think the contract market will pick up again? Jan? Feb? (2017)

[RSoles]

Mornington Crescent.

[WTFH]

Mornington Crescent.

Adjudication, Humph.

[OwlHoot]

July and August are summer, so forget about trying to get work then.

and from September everything tails off in the run up to Christmas

[ECommerceConsultant]

Since I got an email today and yesterday about contract opportunities - I can only say it depends on your skill set, whether you have been in contact with a lot of agencies in the past and whether you have been active on the job boards.

In short get your CV out there making sure you have a UK phone number on it. There is no need for an address on your CV as agents/clients don't read that information they will just ask you when they speak to you. If you are non-UK be prepared that they won't take it any further. You can put a fake address on the job boards as they have been targeted by hackers.

Thanks for this, I do put my UK number on my applications...but still not getting anything... or I get half hour long calls from a mega enthusiastic recruiter who says, "You are absolutely PERFECT for this role, my client is going to LOVE you!!!!!!", then never hear anything from them again...I think I am falling into the trap of the fake job ads, and recruiters just wanting to update their databases. I really can't stress how much I hate fake / dodgy recruiters.

[ECommerceConsultant]

Traditionally Jan and Feb are quiet months.

yes, I worried that might be the case. But as the next poster says, March and April are traditionally quiet as well

So, I guess it's just keep applying and applying...

Still when I look at the openings of perm vs contract it seems to be about 7:1.

[ECommerceConsultant]

But then we are back to September and October when there are no budgets...

OK, it seems a never ending story of months that are quiet, I think we've covered every month from Jan to December now

[ECommerceConsultant]

It already has.
I have two offers already. Not happened to me before...................




Maybe I'm too cheap.....

maybe I'm too expensive hmmm. I did get a request direct from a client, what my day rate is. I told them and never heard from them again, even though I wrote to ask if I could still be of assistance. I know 100% that I'm in the average of day rates for my skills and experience...
especially for London assignments where I have to deal with extreme-commuting and the associated costs, so I wouldn't want to drop my day rate...

[ECommerceConsultant]

I went permie a year ago but at least once a week I get an email or a call about a contract gig. Depends on your skillset and where you're willing to work.

getting an email about contracts, and actually getting one are two very different things!
I get loads of emails every day, but am getting the feeling that some jobs are fake, and a way for recruiters to call you to update their database.

[ECommerceConsultant]

It usually picks up on a Thursday.

Good luck.

qh

haha, yes I've found nothing ever happens on a Monday or a Friday - on Mondays the recruiters are recovering from their weekends, and on Fridays they can't wait to start the weekend. Anything between Tues afternoon and Thursday morning seems to be the most productive time!
and forget about bank holiday weekends and the week before it and after it! Nothing happens!!

[ECommerceConsultant]

I start a new gig in Jan, stil have another interview I've not yet cancelled, plus got a call last week to come back for an interview for a senior perm role I had two for a few months and they'd like to progress. So yes, I'd say it will pick up.

Thanks and congrats on your new role! I hope it goes well.

Nice to see also someone can write a post with relevant and useful info