Like 2001 all over again...

[rootsnall]

But do you notice it in the real world?

I've just gone back contracting at potentially the worst time in history - and yet I finished a contract on Friday, started a new one on Monday (on more money) and turned down another one. This was not only the worst time in history, but also the worst time of the year as well.

And I'm just an average jobbing code monkey.

Similar things happened during the last downturn as well, so don't listen to anyone and carry on as normal.

I think you were lucky and just got through the door as it was closing, cling on for dear life.

I'm about to finish up on Friday but have been looking around since late November and it is deader than dead in my game. I can normally line something up quickly via a contacts ring around but almost without fail the stories are of getting rid of people, budget cuts, projects being scrapped, etc etc Not a sniff yet and I think things are going to get worse before they get better. The one plus is you only need one decent break and a long contract and you are out of the tulip !

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Looking at this page it’s not easy to get in but could be quite a nice life;

Eurostar;
Pay: £45,566 for 35 hour, four day week including Sundays

You have to live within an hour of St Pancras, have 5 years experience of driving fast trains, and learn French.

[Shimano105]

Hope it all works out roots, try jazzing your cv up a bit and look for gigs outside the financial sphere.

[Solidec]

I had a terrible 2008, working for only 6 months out of 12, some of which by choice however!

Luckily started a new 3 month gig on Monday which is pretty much down the road.

I will be very relieved to find 6 months of work for 2009, market is hella dead at present!

Hopefully things pick up a bit in April as companies figure out what their balance sheets are like and what their IT budgets will be for new tax year.

2009 is a break even year for me! Pay down all debts.

[gingerjedi]

Bristol? Never a good place to start anything.

One of the Englands prettiest, healthiest, wealthiest and friendliest cities… there isn’t much competition in this country mind.

Bristol in the top 10 even I'm shocked!

Bristol – Dita Von Teese recently opened a new Harvey Nichols store alongside a Cinema de Lux and a wealth of luxury apartments at Cabot Circus - a long awaited boost to the Broadmead shopping district. Not long after, Bristol’s robust eco-appeal got stronger as it was named the ‘most sustainable city in Britain’. Luxury consumerism and environmental sustainability look set to coexist in 2009.

[Cyberman]

Let's hope companies start to worry about the new 'millenium bug' once interest rates hit 1% this week. Even if rates never hit zero, they need to plan for it.

[padinka]

Bugger

http://jobstats.co.uk/
Strewth!
Padinka

I should have made this my first ever 'Oh Dear (tm)' thread. Then again, seeing the way things are going, I'll probably have plenty more opportunities...