State of the Market

[Shimano105]

Never been busier. Got a bit of a niche area which makes all the difference as the generic leads that I am getting are just as bad as they were a year ago.

Only working in small chunks rather than monolithic contracts with one client, but tbh I find that much more interesting - and IR35 friendly. When you have guaranteed 18 month contracts (as I used to have before banks collapsed) your motivation goes out of the window.

[Cliphead]

Never been busier either although not particularly niche. Moving to Spain at the end of the year with Plan B and still carrying on with current contract since I work at home anyway. Won't be sorry to leave here that's for sure.

Seems to be picking up in the Linux / UNIX sysadmin area given the increasing amount of email I'm getting.

[minestrone]

Many of the major places are taking on big but small places which I go to on occasion are stil struggling, many of these places are grant junkies and will struggle over the next few years as economic regeneration money gets totally butchered.

I'm just going to hunker down in the current place as I hear a 1 year extension is going to get offered, it's tulip and the 3.5 hour commute is a killer but I'll take it. I will demand a 15% increase which I expect to get.

[MarillionFan]

Many of the major places are taking on big but small places which I go to on occasion are stil struggling, many of these places are grant junkies and will struggle over the next few years as economic regeneration money gets totally butchered.

I'm just going to hunker down in the current place as I hear a 1 year extension is going to get offered, it's tulip and the 3.5 hour commute is a killer but I'll take it. I will demand a 15% increase which I expect to get.

Jeez. 3.5 hour. Thats a hotel room for a few days surely?

[minestrone]

Jeez. 3.5 hour. Thats a hotel room for a few days surely?

3.5 each day not each way.

I get to work on plan B on the train.

[MarillionFan]

3.5 each day not each way.

I get to work on plan B on the train.

Yep. I understood that. Whats wrong with a four dayer (later days) stay in a hotel get Friday off.

[minestrone]

Yep. I understood that. Whats wrong with a four dayer (later days) stay in a hotel get Friday off.

They pushed me down to an office on the other side of the town last month which takes it from 3 hours, to probably more like 4 hours. The team is very fexible on hours so I can do 4 days, I'm trying it this week and it is only a 7 hour day with 15 minutes lunch. I am also going to hit them with a request to work some of the days back in the old office as I am really the only person on the team now.

I like to get home though and if I was to do the hotel thing I would rather go down to london and use my IB experience to pick up another 200 a day.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

just wait till the libcons flood the IT market with axed contractors. We have another severe dip to come yet.

[TiroFijo]

Many of the major places are taking on big but small places which I go to on occasion are stil struggling, many of these places are grant junkies and will struggle over the next few years as economic regeneration money gets totally butchered.

I'm just going to hunker down in the current place as I hear a 1 year extension is going to get offered, it's tulip and the 3.5 hour commute is a killer but I'll take it. I will demand a 15% increase which I expect to get.

Holy cow, 3.5 hours!, Hope you are earning the big bucks for that...
Don't think I cold face it myself, even for a wad.

[OwlHoot]

Holy cow, 3.5 hours!, Hope you are earning the big bucks for that...
Don't think I cold face it myself, even for a wad.

My worst was 2.5 hours each way for a couple of months, driving from West London to Brentwood in Essex and back each day.

You do get used to it a bit, although it's pretty plum tuckering, and every few days there's an inevitable traffic jam that adds another hour to the journey