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[oliverson]

So, I missed out on a contract because the work can't be done offshore (I'm currently sat out in Spain).

The irony eh?

This latest visa issue with the US and Rachael (from accounts) Thieves, has pretty much nailed the coffin lid on the UK contract market now hasn't it?
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[oliverson]

So, had an interview yesterday and dare I say it, but it looks to me it could result in an offer, once some details are clarified. Happy days eh?

*** NOT ***

I should be happy right (assuming it comes off)? Jumping up and down even. Only I'm not. The part of me that decided...

[oliverson]

WTF !?!?!...

[oliverson]

Interviews would be nice!...

[oliverson]

The vast majority of the population didn't need an experimental 'vaccine' for what in essence was just the flu. Jabbing children and babies with experimental vaccines, FFS.

Talk stats all you like but my real world experience of the 'vaccines' in particular is the wife of a friend, forced...

[oliverson]

I've been with RBS for well over 20 years and they're pretty solid. Only annoyance is having to have a physical device (like a calculator) for setting up new payees, though it's not something one does too often.

I also had an account with Starling but I found this app-centric means of...

[oliverson]

That 'vaccine' was a flop and dangerous, hence the reason the Europeans stopped using it. Not only that but the vast majority of the population didn't even need it! I had two doses of it and then realised they were taking the piss. So lucky I didn't have any of that mRNA stuff. Ticking bomb.
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[oliverson]

I'm damn sure it's not brexit!

Around 8 years since the decision to leave was made and some people still can't get over it. There should be some kind of therapy for this condition....

[oliverson]

Stats are stats. Boots on the ground tell a very different story, at least for me as a software engineer/devops/platform guy....

[oliverson]

One is my traditional contracting company which I will possibly fold if I don't land anything before December. The other two are 'product' companies, each serving a very different market. Startups that won't yield a return for several months, hence the reason I'm pursuing contracts still....

[oliverson]

Maybe because I'm getting old, but I don't have time for idiots either and it definitely comes across at interview....

Round about April or May time, I had a zoom call for a large firm with offices quite close by. They needed somebody to work on rearchitecting some backend code. First...

[oliverson]

Who's said they were a webdev?

I have three Ltd companies, none of which do web development....

[oliverson]

That's not what I'm seeing, in fact I'd say it was quite the opposite....

[oliverson]

But is it 'inadvertently' or is it by intent? I'd say the latter....

[oliverson]

The market, or lack of, continues to shock me.

In my London banking years (2007-18 mainly) I had many interviews, even in the financial crash there were plenty. I remember these times with pain, anguish but fondness. Emails with so many contract. specs attached I had to ask the agents...

[oliverson]

Well, as suspected, they went with the other candidate. Very surprised really as interviews really don't go much better than that one.

The search goes on....

[oliverson]

Well, I didn't get too 'attached' to Tuesday's interview but still, end of play Friday and f**, all feedback. Never used to be like this.

[oliverson]

The £ 450 I was on in 2005 would now equate to £ 800.52 according to the Bank of England inflation calculator! This at a time when there was no such real dividend tax, no IR35 reforms, the Flat Rate VAT scheme was good for a few grand a year, personal tax allowances were more generous, new 4 bed detached...

[oliverson]

Sadly the rates on offer these days are from 20+ years ago. Less in some circumstances....

[oliverson]

That's what I'm seeing. I've had probably six cold calls from agents this week and one interview that I'm awaiting feedback on, though 2 days radio silence tells me all I need to know on that one I think.

On a side note, this forum has been slowing down markedly the last few days. Seems...