How long before it is all over?

[Gonzo]

This doom story is a bit too close to home for comfort

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/7838078.stm

I was sure that there was a poll done on this not too long ago, but I can't find it and since I've never started a poll before it will be amusing to see how I do / me noddy it up.

So, how long can people last before they have to go down the benefits office?

[Liability]

£50k? it cant have been anything good!...

[Mich the Tester]

£50k? it cant have been anything good!...

I’m sure you could live very well for 50 grand a year in Scotland.

[London75]

Only been in the contracting game for 6 months and just been spending it all so far lol

Could actually survive 6 months but only because of savings from before contracting.

[Gonzo]

£50k? it cant have been anything good!...

I don't think that that is so bad outside of London and the South.

[Xenophon]

Well done for correctly spelling Andyw with a small 'w'...

I do like it when that happens.

[Gonzo]

Only been in the contracting game for 6 months and just been spending it all so far lol

Could actually survive 6 months but only because of savings from before contracting.

You had savings from before contracting ?

When I started contracting I had no savings and the large credit card debts that I ran up when I was a poorly paid permie. That was one of the reasons for me to start contracting was because it was the only way that I would ever be to get rid of them.

I have been very fortunate with my timing, but it could have gone horribly wrong.

[Mich the Tester]

You had savings from before contracting ?

When I started contracting I had no savings and the large credit card debts that I ran up when I was a poorly paid permie. That was one of the reasons for me to start contracting was because it was the only way that I would ever be to get rid of them.

I have been very fortunate with my timing, but it could have gone horribly wrong.

I had enough savings to last 3 months at permie salary equivalent when I started. Could now hold out for a year, much longer if I do a bit of translation and TEFL work, which is still moving along over here.

Remember that when the market improves we’ll be the first to notice it and start cashing in; businesses will start by hiring contractors when they need to increase capacity, which they will because their systems will start going to the wall before very long.

[Liability]

I had enough savings to last 3 months at permie salary equivalent when I started. Could now hold out for a year, much longer if I do a bit of translation and TEFL work, which is still moving along over here.

Remember that when the market improves we’ll be the first to notice it and start cashing in; businesses will start by hiring contractors when they need to increase capacity, which they will because their systems will start going to the wall before very long.

Hear hear - but this may be as far as next year. I think this year is survival.

Saying that - a particular Energy company is about to kick off a HUGE programe on their trading platforms which are going to be needed around 300 contractors so it seems. I think, as you allude to, companies will realise that the stuff that needs doing must go ahead and alot are actually realising that they need IT as an enabler to reduce cost.

[Mich the Tester]

Hear hear - but this may be as far as next year. I think this year is survival.

Saying that - a particular Energy company is about to kick off a HUGE programe on their trading platforms which are going to be needed around 300 contractors so it seems. I think, as you allude to, companies will realise that the stuff that needs doing must go ahead and alot are actually realising that they need IT as an enabler to reduce cost.

Permies that keep their jobs will miss the boat and miss out on a chance to earn good money because they just don’t take as much notice of the market as contractors; they sit there all cosy enjoying their false ‘job security’ while contractors (should) constantly have their eyes on the market to spot opportunities.

There could be an opportunity here too; businesses are saddled with testing approaches which are expensive, bureaucratic and clumsy and often entirely miss the point of testing. People who can bring experience of agile testing, context driven and exploratory testing can save them money while often doing a better job than the consultancy drones. Same goes for developers with RAD and agile experience.