User Profile

[SussexSeagull]

I don't know why we go down this 'I am a better contractor than you' purity test from time to time. I hear a lot about these fabled niche skills but the problem is with them is if there was a large market for them then they wouldn't be niche. We all (or at least should be) maintain and develop a network....

[SussexSeagull]

There isn't really a modern way of testing. The Agile manifesto was agreed in 2001 and Agile was around before that.

Putting aside the full on testing tools, Selenium, etc., to one side I have been using SQL for a couple of decades and whenever I need to use something new to me like, for...

[SussexSeagull]

I am not convinced there is a niche you can occupy that will let you escape the current storm other than being in a contract and holding on to it!...

[SussexSeagull]

I don't put my DOB but my age can be roughly worked out from my experience. The challenge for me is a lot of clients want experience and are perfectly aware you won't be there in 6 months or a years time so age isn't a problem.

I had an interview with two people who were probably in their...

[SussexSeagull]

The fact is the retirement age was raised, partially to allow people to work longer and build up a larger pension pot. If people are being turned down for permanent jobs due to age then that is a real problem....

[SussexSeagull]

Always was the case that the Summer school holidays and Christmas were quiet but you used to get a bounce in October, New Year and financial New Year. They don't seem to happen anymore....

[SussexSeagull]

I can only speak from my experience of being a 50 year old straight (although never having been quizzed on my sexuality that isn't really relevant) white guy who has never tried to be a fighter pilot or, to quote The Clash, make tea at the BBC and have largely been in the private sector.

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[SussexSeagull]

Just had feedback from my interview on Friday and apparently my 'testing experience isn't modern enough'. To be fair I did trip over a technical question (admittedly on something that wasn't on the job description so was blindsided over) but both interviews were probably 30 and under.

[SussexSeagull]

I am a tester so trends tend to be a little bit slower to come and go but I suspect 50 my days in start ups might have come and go (not that I have seen any adverts for them of late now I think of it). That said I tend to contract with small to medium sized companies who buy into my 25 years experience...

[SussexSeagull]

Good news is I had an actual interview on Friday but the bad news is I don't think it went well after I got blindsided with a question on something that wasn't on the job description.

Also had another agent ring me last week. None of this pays the bills but is hopefully a sign the market...

[SussexSeagull]

I once had a reverse furlough when working for a national bookmakers in 2012. It was coming up to Christmas and I assumed I wouldn't be working until we all got pulled into a meeting about a week before and I was told they wanted me to work. Firstly I pointed out the trains weren't running so I couldn't...

[SussexSeagull]

Isn't it to do with fraud? The thinking is if you have a scam going it will unravel in a fortnight.

You used to have to have two weeks off together when I worked in Share Registration 25 years ago.

[SussexSeagull]

Whisper it but might have been a bit of a dead cat bounce in the last few days. Actual suitable jobs are appearing.

[SussexSeagull]

His popularity with the public might very well go down but the Labour Party do tend to stick with leaders....

[SussexSeagull]

To answer the original question, there is an intake of new Labour MPs who were carefully vetted and owe their seats to him. I doubt they will rock the vote for a considerable amount of time.

Famous last words but he does seem fairly whiter than white so a scandal seems unlikely so I would...

[SussexSeagull]

Another week and I could say another week to being no nearer to getting a contract but as the last couple of contracts I got came out of the blue I am not sure you can say that anymore.

[SussexSeagull]

You saw the same a few years back when one back announced mass redundancies and the others soon followed. You almost got the impression they felt they had to so as not look out of place to the stock market.

As you say there must be a lot of work tucked away on spreadsheets and PIDs that...

[SussexSeagull]

It's encouraging but getting approached for a role and having your feet under the (virtual) desk can be a long journey full of pitfalls. Although an academic point in your case....

[SussexSeagull]

My last two contracts - one private and one public sector with no real overlap between them - both needed external help to get done but in both instances they started to cut back on contractors for financial reasons before they were anywhere near finished. Last I heard the private sector one was getting...

[SussexSeagull]

There is no such thing as one job market as we are all involved in different sectors and have different skillsets but we are all in influenced by macro economic factors which are in turn at least in part influenced by world events. Admittedly I am not sure it is easy to quantify that.

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