on the bench

[The Coal Man]

who is sitting on it?

4 months and counting. First 2 months voluntarily been sitting on it, been looking actively the last few weeks and its pants out there.

[AlfredJPruffock]

4 months and counting. First 2 months voluntarily been sitting on it, been looking actively the last few weeks and its pants out there.

Maybe - but then again its the summer holidays - time enough for work after the summers gone.

After all - how many summers do you have left ??

[Clippy]

PMing, ITIL, interrogating the current IT staff and putting the fear of god into them.

Public sector mainly, but I'll work for anyone for the right price.

Fitzy - What is your honest assessment of why this may be?
i.e. is the market for your skillset flat at the moment, is it your CV etc.

Trying to get an idea of market conditions for your skillset as I work in a similar field.

[The Coal Man]

Maybe - but then again its the summer holidays - time enough for work after the summers gone.

After all - how many summers do you have left ??

Too true ! Enjoy it, don't get too down about it I say

[fitzy73]

Fitzy - What is your honest assessment of why this may be?
i.e. is the market for your skillset flat at the moment, is it your CV etc.

Trying to get an idea of market conditions for your skillset as I work in a similar field.

Market is dead (for my area). I spoke to an agent I know yesterday - he works for a well known and reputable agency. He told me he had over 500 applications for one PM role. Further, he told me he has nothing on the cards except that role. A normal summer would see him have 5 - 10 roles a week.

I am starting to believe there is a lot of false jobs on Jobserve as well. I've been inundated with calls about "who else have you been speaking to".

Speaking to a few ex colleagues, it seems that many companies are canceling projects, cutting down on contractors and only going ahead with any changes where there are clearly defined business - and cost - benefits.

It's tough out there.

Do you want fries with that, Sir?

[HermanDune]

Market is dead (for my area). I spoke to an agent I know yesterday - he works for a well known and reputable agency. He told me he had over 500 applications for one PM role. Further, he told me he has nothing on the cards except that role. A normal summer would see him have 5 - 10 roles a week.

I doubt there are even 500 project managers looking for work right now, and for them all to chance upon the same ad and apply seems less likely.

Here up north I am regularly getting agents trying to put me forward for pm jobs even though I'm not yet 'ready' for that type of role.

I reckon the agent was trying to depress you so you'd be more grateful for the role he has you in mind for and would accept a lower rate!

Cheer up fitzy!

[TykeMerc]

WHS

Plus as we all know there are plenty of people who call themselves PM's but haven't the first clue how to actually manage a project that presents any real challenge.

Anyone who's spent the cash to get a Prince2 Practitioner cert can call themselves a PM, but most of them feel managing a Gantt chart is the be all and end all of the job.

The fact is many "PM's" couldn't manage a piss up in a brewery.

[fitzy73]

I doubt there are even 500 project managers looking for work right now, and for them all to chance upon the same ad and apply seems less likely.

Here up north I am regularly getting agents trying to put me forward for pm jobs even though I'm not yet 'ready' for that type of role.

I reckon the agent was trying to depress you so you'd be more grateful for the role he has you in mind for and would accept a lower rate!

Cheer up fitzy!

The agent is one of the good guys - I know him over 14 years. So yes, I do believe him. There might be a lot of spillover from guys who are seeing the writing on the wall for their projects, or other folk who are coming to the end of their contract. I'm London based btw.

Anyone have any better resources than Jobserve? It's starting to do my head in now. There is only so much day time TV a man can watch.

[scooterscot]

Calm down you lot.

Silly season is in full swing and the jobs are still there if anything it's a great time to be a contractor, all will change come September.


PS: If I win this 2nd contract I'm currently bidding for I'll buy every member a pint. (does not include members from New Zealand)

[lilelvis2000]

Virtually on it now. Been searching around for three weeks now (due to client delay of implementation). Busy now for a few days to put in the production implementation..but next week....desperately seeking work.

Being freelance and without car make it even that much harder. though do have a line on a website job...sounds like a one day job though.

Well...I needed a holiday anyway. How's Greece this time of year?