Reply to: State of the Market

[pjt]

So what are all the recruiters doing during this downturn?

Usually, I would have expected them to phone me asking for 2 references.

By the look of the posts I'm seeing on LinkedIn a lot of them are looking for jobs themselves. Its brutal out there!

[SchumiStars]

So what are all the recruiters doing during this downturn?

Usually, I would have expected them to phone me asking for 2 references.

[SussexSeagull]

That's what I would have thought.

But then, actually, why wouldn't they?

It is a British trait that we don't like to boast about money. But when you are online and anonymous, perhaps this social norm has been removed?

The frustrating thing is that you don't have a clue who is being truthful, and who is full of BS. So it is impossible to learn anything about the market, mindsets, or anything really, to help one's own journey.

I have never worked in that sort of rarified air so I am not sure if people earning that sort of money rise above the current malaise or are in it with the rest of us.

[GJABS]

Would be surprised if the sort of people who earn four figures a day would boast about it on Reddit.

That's what I would have thought.

But then, actually, why wouldn't they?

It is a British trait that we don't like to boast about money. But when you are online and anonymous, perhaps this social norm has been removed?

The frustrating thing is that you don't have a clue who is being truthful, and who is full of BS. So it is impossible to learn anything about the market, mindsets, or anything really, to help one's own journey.

[Bluenose]

I don't know what I am missing but I find it it impossible to get LinkedIn to return meaningful job search results.

type in a one word job role and contract into the search box i.e.

1. 'Penetration Tester Contract' and then search for posts > restrict to 7 days and then trawl the top 10 results
2. 'Penetration Tester Contract' and then search for posts > restrict using additional filters and then SAVE the filter adding a notification.

I found my last 4 roles using method 1.

[oliverson]

I'm longing to do the same. Been on the platform since 2004 but these days I shudder at the crap I read. And these hard luck stories are pathetic. Bound to do more damage than good. I'm really relishing the day I can delete my profile completely. That day is coming soon I feel.

Little did I know when I was typing this that plans were underway to close the client company to which I'm contracted! It's been a decent spell but damn! All of a sudden I'm loving LinkedIn and that green border around my profile picture! :-(

[dsc]

Boom!...ish, got confirmed extension till end of March 25, I know the hiring manager asked for a year, so...yeah it's less, still a blessing in this tulip market, so I'll take it of course.

As for rates, £650pd is sky high for me, even 80% of that is sky high, although with inflation and cost of living going up, I'm fairly sure it's not as sky high as it was 3yrs ago.

[gables]

I'm looking at what I believe to be our "sister" site: ContractorUK on Reddit.
There is a thread on there:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ContractorU...o/daily_rates/
where contractors are saying what rate they are on.
The values are high, with an average of around £650/day.
Are these real? I'm surprised rates are so high at the moment with the market being so quiet.
Do we think some of these numbers are exaggerated?

Would be surprised if the sort of people who earn four figures a day would boast about it on Reddit.

I'd agree with SS and FWIW currently on £670/day which started June 2023 and just renewed for another year (Dec24-Nov25 if it lasts) and previous gig was £600/day both inside IR35 both banks.

[tjccjt01]

I don't know what I am missing but I find it it impossible to get LinkedIn to return meaningful job search results.

LinkedIn job search is hot garbage. It ignores keywords in searches and makes up skills that aren't in your CV when generating results.

[SussexSeagull]

I'm looking at what I believe to be our "sister" site: ContractorUK on Reddit.
There is a thread on there:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ContractorU...o/daily_rates/
where contractors are saying what rate they are on.
The values are high, with an average of around £650/day.
Are these real? I'm surprised rates are so high at the moment with the market being so quiet.
Do we think some of these numbers are exaggerated?

Would be surprised if the sort of people who earn four figures a day would boast about it on Reddit.

[GJABS]

I'm looking at what I believe to be our "sister" site: ContractorUK on Reddit.
There is a thread on there:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ContractorU...o/daily_rates/
where contractors are saying what rate they are on.
The values are high, with an average of around £650/day.
Are these real? I'm surprised rates are so high at the moment with the market being so quiet.
Do we think some of these numbers are exaggerated?

[Cookielove]

Latest is a recruiter asking for xmas ideas for a 1 year old....really!?! it is only gonna get worse with this rubbish and the begging posts as December looms

[rocktronAMP]

I don't know what I am missing but I find it it impossible to get LinkedIn to return meaningful job search results.

I have got it set up the other way, to send notifications out to me. I set up just two tags in the job profille

technical lead
solution architect

Originally, I had too much tags in my job profile. e.g.

full stack tech lead
java engineering manager
java javaee j2ee tech lead
...

It was just a nightmare of notifications. It is not easy as I said to actively to search for jobs, because of the bolt-on UX/UI. Basically, you are fighting the wood grain of the algorithm.

[Cookielove]

I'm longing to do the same. Been on the platform since 2004 but these days I shudder at the crap I read. And these hard luck stories are pathetic. Bound to do more damage than good. I'm really relishing the day I can delete my profile completely. That day is coming soon I feel.

Same for me the day is looming that I delete it entirely...only useful thing is if you get an interview you can look the person up...so much dross now to scroll through...

[rocktronAMP]

That's because Two Tier Starmer and Rachel From Accounts ****ed up any chance of recovery with their destructive budget and policies. Mark my words, there will be NO recovery while these clowns are in charge.

If only Liz Struss had gone to branding experts and stress tested that budget. It.Was.Not.A.Mini.Budget.
In the alternate reality, which you and I dream of, she could have repeal IR35 with a bottom of the cigarette packet disclaimer item. Just like in the same way Off Payroll Worker Rules were voted in. Sigh. It was nearly there. If she had been a project planner. Milestone M1 then M2 and then M3 might have worked (and before anyone cchimes in. I am not a Tory BTW)