Reply to: State of the Market

[Cookielove]

That’s simply not true! As others have said disadvantaged working class and suicide rates …

[BlueSharp]

You know, on balance, I think white males do quite well in society compared to others.

Rubbish, white working-class boys are one of the most disadvantaged of all.

[northernladuk]

You know, on balance, I think white males do quite well in society compared to others.

That's a very sweeping statement backed up with zero facts and figures if you don't mind me saying. Bunging an unqualified statement like that out there just opens a can of worms and will lead to an endless discussion no one wins.

Let me throw one out. Yes they do, they top all the charts, including highest suicide rate by gender and by race. Trophy for the white males.. Hurrah.

[SussexSeagull]

You know, on balance, I think white males do quite well in society compared to others.

[SussexSeagull]

Received a contract extension until the end of May last week. Then got a phone call this week telling me they weren't extending me past the end of April. Asking why they gave me a contract until the end of May it turns out it was a mistake.

Got an e-mail today asking me to stay on until the end of May.

I am at the smile sweetly and keep billing stage.

[SchumiStars]

Another week, another load of applications and another load of no interviews, no agencies calling and absolutly no opportunities of any kind.

May next week. Month 5 of the year. I can't imagine this turning around anytime soon. Even the weather is tulip, far too cold to cycle. Nevermind, lots of gym.

[Fraidycat]

Oh, when will the downtrodden white male finally get a break?!

If you think DEI is bad now, wait till Labour get in.

[Cookielove]

My post wasn’t loading first time and ended up appearing twice!

[northernladuk]

Ageism is a thing!!! I’m in a role but they have brought a perm person in, 20 years younger …not experienced but they seem to want younger people not folks in their 50s with experience! I’m sticking it out but am not enjoying it …once they permie gets their feet under the table they won’t need me…it’s grim! Feel am on the scrap heap…I tried to get perm roles but got nowhere fast even though the roles were well within my capabilities…feel at a loss. Half tempted to down size now and opt out the corporate world…it’s getting increasingly tough

Bearing in mind you posted this twice maybe it's because us 50 year olds are getting a bit doddery and forgetful

[Cookielove]

Ageism is a thing!!! I’m in a role but they have brought a perm person in, 20 years younger …not experienced but they seem to want younger people not folks in their 50s with experience! I’m sticking it out but am not enjoying it …once they permie gets their feet under the table they won’t need me…it’s grim! Feel am on the scrap heap…I tried to get perm roles but got nowhere fast even though the roles were well within my capabilities…feel at a loss. Half tempted to down size now and opt out the corporate world…it’s getting increasingly tough

[Cookielove]

Ageism is a thing!!! I’m in a role but they have brought a perm person in, 20 years younger …not experienced but they seem to want younger people not folks in their 50s with experience! I’m sticking it out but am not enjoying it …once they permie gets their feet under the table they won’t need me…it’s grim! Feel am on the scrap heap…I tried to get perm roles but got nowhere fast even though the roles were well within my capabilities…feel at a loss. Half tempted to down size now and opt out the corporate world…it’s getting increasingly tough

[fiisch]

What makes you think it's a no?

In interviews when I get asked if I have any questions, one of the ones I normally ask the interviewers is along the lines of:
"Have you any concerns/reasons why you would NOT give me this role?"

I was once told to ask the same by an agency - I think this depends on the interviewer. It's a great technique to front-up objections in the interview, and gives you an opportunity to lay to rest any doubts in the interviewer's mind.

However, it can also come across as pushy, and a bit dominant. Depending on how "alpha" interviewer is and how the interview has gone, I might drop this one in but equally I think it can put some people off. I was once the second interviewer when a candidate asked this, and it become a bit tense as the candidate argued against the other interviewer's objections and basically told him his opinion was wrong. She was not offered the job.

Another option is to front-up obvious concerns on your CV as part of your answers e.g.: as a long-time contractor, talk about your motivations for a "long-term role" and to "develop within a particular role" etc.

In my opinion, current slump is linked to certain industries - I am not seeing a drop off in roles in London for insurance change (appreciate that can have a high barrier to entry experience-wise), and there seems to be plenty of current open contract roles in my nearby town which is not renowned for IT change roles. Think it's a mixed bag out there at the moment depending on where your specialisms lie, but it's certainly not (yet) recessional.

[ensignia]

I know one big company is discriminating against white males, they never say that, but even coming top in their recruitment process is unlikely to lead to an offer.

Oh, when will the downtrodden white male finally get a break?!

[CoolCat]

I know one big company is discriminating against white males, they never say that, but even coming top in their recruitment process is unlikely to lead to an offer.

[tsmith]

It really isn't so easy when you have been contracting for such a long time. I have been contracting 27 years. Been applying for permie roles since 2020. Barely had an interview, lost count of how many roles I have applied for. Did have a second interview last week for a role that is ideal. Interviewed really well but think it's a no again.

Go perm after that long contract is going to be a huge challenge. It is for me with 10 years.

Interviewing for perm is very different to interviewing contract roles.

One thing that usually gets me is the perm normie/NPC interviewers always says: 'have you got experience with [insert X blatantly obvious thing you will have done 100 times]?'

And then you dont agree that approach is optimal and you prefer Y different approach. Never do that. Its always YES then go on to explain only positive experiences with X

Also Ageism is real. An interesting experiment. Go to the team photos on https://cord.co

Try and find a receding hairline on any of the guys in the photos. Or anyone that looks over 40. A wheres wally exercise

Its literally all photos that look like recent grads with maybe a couple of 30 somethings.