Anyone got a cushion...

[Jubber]

Keep it simple.

Take anything. £20/hour is much better than splinters.

Surf Jobsites while earning/gaining experience.

Move when right contract appears.

[PAH]

70K was sounding good to me until you revealed all. I'd want 170K for a shipped out all over the place job, why/how does anybody put up with those sort of jobs !?

Some may see it as a way of getting wider experience, seeing more of the world (or at least the UK). They don't realise how soul destroying it is to live out of a suitcase away from your friends and family.

Though contracting in general can be like that anyway, if you haven't the luxury of being choosy about the location.

[rootsnall]

Been close to landing a reasonable paying contract a couple of times, but it seems there is an average of 20-30 contractors applying for the same role, so not going to be as easy as I'd hoped.

Once you get the 20-30 scenario you are stuffed rate wise, the agents start chasing each other down and you have to join in or warm that bench.

How about signing on ?

[miffy]

70K was sounding good to me until you revealed all. I'd want 170K for a shipped out all over the place job, why/how does anybody put up with those sort of jobs !?

Christ knows. I don't mind working away if I'm in control of it. Permie jobs stink anyway and this type really are the worst.

There are other vacancies if you fancy it?

[PAH]

Take anything. £20/hour is much better than splinters.

It's just the thought that the agents know the market is depressed at the moment, so are trying to fob us off with lower rates whilst no doubt taking a bigger cut themselves.

Tricky knowing how hard to play ball, knowing they're probably bluffing but will probably have other contractors keen to accept their low rate.

At the end of the day the agent isn't interested in getting the best person for the job, just the cheapest that they think can do the job.

[PAH]

Once you get the 20-30 scenario you are stuffed rate wise, the agents start chasing each other down and you have to join in or warm that bench.

When an agent starts banging on about how many other CVs he's received for a role I instinctively start thinking he's bulltulipting, to try to get me to accept a lower rate. Unfortunately, when the market is slowing down it's a tactic they can't lose with.

Is there a way of getting stats on jobserve for the number of applications/emails sent via them for a particular vacancy?

[rootsnall]

When an agent starts banging on about how many other CVs he's received for a role I instinctively start thinking he's bulltulipting, to try to get me to accept a lower rate. Unfortunately, when the market is slowing down it's a tactic they can't lose with.

I think you'll find they hate it just as much as you. In the post dot com slump they were chasing each other down in desperation to get a contractor placed. I'd be talking to multi agents for one job and they'd ring back every hour or two asking if you'd lower your rate again. Clients who have been paying top whack for years probably enjoy screwing the others in the chain when they get chance.

Rates in my game went from £400+ to £250- in a matter of weeks, luckily the slump only lasted 6 months and some contractors don't even know it happened. Sounds like we are entering another slump, no signs in my game yet though.

[PAH]

luckily the slump only lasted 6 months and some contractors don't even know it happened.

That was when I took a year off and made money refurbishing a property instead. Seeing fellow contractors accept tulip permie positions because there was so little work elsewhere told me to get out of the game for a while.

Unfortunately this time I'm not as prepared and will have to ride it out one way or the other.

[miffy]

When an agent starts banging on about how many other CVs he's received for a role I instinctively start thinking he's bulltulipting, to try to get me to accept a lower rate. Unfortunately, when the market is slowing down it's a tactic they can't lose with.

When applying for roles, I'm seeing this quite a lot...

We are currently experiencing significant interest from the marketplace in relation to this opportunity and the volume of response we have received is considerable.

I wonder how much of that is true and if they're blagging it.

Is there a way of getting stats on jobserve for the number of applications/emails sent via them for a particular vacancy?

I doubt it. Would be nice to have that though!

[Zippy]

...the bench is starting to feel very uncomfortable.

I'll bring a few when I join you tomorrow.