Reply to: Contract was cancelled and I'm left in a situation

[hairymouse]

My advice is to batten down the hatches for a long stint on the bench. I was looking for 6 months before taking a permanent job in a salary much lower than I would have liked. I turned down lots of roles over those 6 months that seemed bad compared to my expectations from 2 years ago, but in hindsight were pretty good compared to reality now.

[hungry_hog]

For anyone looking at the LinkedIn application count and thinking of god, don't!

First, the job section on LinkedIn is rubbish, in fact it's worse than rubbish and I wouldn't be surprised if the count was incorrect. Most of the jobs seem to be generated automatically by some kind of screen scrapping tech that LinkedIn are using.

Second, lots of the applicants will be from overseas and unable to take the position.

Third, Apply you might just get the role!

It's a minefield. Bitter experience from last summer which I don't want to repeat.

- Any job with the 'easy apply' button will be swamped. Hence scary 4000 apps per position type stats
- Roles with 'agencies' which link off to a job board on ones of Saturn's moons, which then link to Alpha Centauri.
- Expired roles
- Roles which are filled internally and only advertised to tick a box

Sadly it's the best resource available, as boards like indeed and jobswerve are even worse. For those you would be better off applying for a job as an alchemist.

[ladymuck]

For anyone looking at the LinkedIn application count and thinking of god, don't!

First, the job section on LinkedIn is rubbish, in fact it's worse than rubbish and I wouldn't be surprised if the count was incorrect. Most of the jobs seem to be generated automatically by some kind of screen scrapping tech that LinkedIn are using.

Second, lots of the applicants will be from overseas and unable to take the position.

Third, Apply you might just get the role!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[coolhandluke]

For anyone looking at the LinkedIn application count and thinking of god, don't!

First, the job section on LinkedIn is rubbish, in fact it's worse than rubbish and I wouldn't be surprised if the count was incorrect. Most of the jobs seem to be generated automatically by some kind of screen scrapping tech that LinkedIn are using.

Second, lots of the applicants will be from overseas and unable to take the position.

Third, Apply you might just get the role!

[pegzyisdeed]

150 for each role ????? That’s amazing good

More like 4000 in last 6 months

To be honest maybe I've been living under a rock, however last few contracts I've had I was headhunted and never had to apply via Linkedin. So seeing a role that's only a few hours old with 100'odd applicants has been a shock to the system for me.

Appreciate the advice and words of support on this thread, I'm just looking to speak out and try to gauge the current state of play. Its good to talk and all that.

x

[GhostofTarbera]

150 for each role ????? That’s amazing good

More like 4000 in last 6 months

Do you have ipse+ membership claim on the insurance


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[NotAllThere]

... and since I've moved cities my old role is a non-starter. ...

I've commuted weekly into different countries, never mind different cities - but rarely have I had a daily commute. If you can still make some money working away from home, then you may need to bite the bullet. (WFH during lockdown notwithstanding).

[GigiBronz]

apply for gov loan, look into the terms, it might not be designed to be used that way.
But worst case scenario you could take it out(if this year income is low) and repay it next year. effectively having a cash buffer and being able to differ some of your tax allowance from this year to next.
check with accountant though. this might not be valid financial advice.

hth. keep positive and keep applying, as everyone said it is a numbers game.

Don't feel the need to compromise, not at least for too much, you'll be affecting your mental heath, future prospects etc.
And most important, stop and smell the roses for a bit.
It's hard not to get the rat race get to you, be comfortable with it, it was probably designed this way, otherwise how would you do people to do what they don't want to?

[Lance]

1) find a new contract anywhere and commute
2) the Mrs. decided you had to move, get her working
3) everyone is working from home anyway so what difference does location make?
4) make your CV better and get a role rather than lose out to someone else
5) get a job doing the governments track and trace

[PCTNN]

So I was happy enough in one role (London), however my Mrs wanted to relocate back home (Edinburgh). I secured a new contract with a very large firm and we moved back. Only for it all to get canned with about 1 working day before I was due to start. According to the recruiter I have zero recourse and since I've moved cities my old role is a non-starter.

So my new reality, newly advertised roles are having >150 applicants, of which there are very few of them. Hearing very little back from anyone and it's looking very grim up north :-(

Please give me hope.

Assuming you have had previous roles in London, you can look for roles that are based there as well. All the job ads I'm looking at are for working from home to start with and going to the office when the pandemic is over. Who knows how long offices will stay close, could be 1/6/12 months....

You can play a bit dirty and get a role "in london", lie about being able to go to the office when the pandemic is over and hope that you'll be able to work the whole contract remotely. In the event the client opens up the office before your contract is over and you're asked to go in, just give notice and that's that.

Unethical? Probably yes, a bit. But better than burning through your warchest waiting for this to be over. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[Old Greg]

Sorry to hear it.

[ladymuck]

I am very sad to see your situation and it is an extremely tough time out there.

You haven't really said much about what you do and what the contract was for?

The harsh reality is that over the past few months, the contracting industry has went through the toughest times. There is nothing any of us here is going to say that will find you the next contract. I know the feeling of moving and to have things fall apart due to one thing or another.

What I have seen over the past couple of days on LinkedIn is more and more new roles starting to come out. Get in touch with Head Resourcing. I have seen them post up 3 new BA roles this morning and they are busy. I also highly recommend them. Graeme Cox leads up the contracts team.

Best of luck, try and guilt trip the missus in to doing stuff she wouldn't normally do in the bedroom to make up for it*

*A wee joke to try and make you laugh

+1 for Head Resourcing - really good team there, I've spoken to Eryn often (but she's just been furloughed!) I follow a number of the team on LI and they are regularly posting roles in the Glasgow - Edinburgh corridor.

[ContractorHardman]

I am very sad to see your situation and it is an extremely tough time out there.

You haven't really said much about what you do and what the contract was for?

The harsh reality is that over the past few months, the contracting industry has went through the toughest times. There is nothing any of us here is going to say that will find you the next contract. I know the feeling of moving and to have things fall apart due to one thing or another.

What I have seen over the past couple of days on LinkedIn is more and more new roles starting to come out. Get in touch with Head Resourcing. I have seen them post up 3 new BA roles this morning and they are busy. I also highly recommend them. Graeme Cox leads up the contracts team.

Best of luck, try and guilt trip the missus in to doing stuff she wouldn't normally do in the bedroom to make up for it*

*A wee joke to try and make you laugh

[BigDataPro]

Sorry to hear that. If it's of any consolation, my contract got canned this week as well just after a month of starting. Being the only earner, it is tough for me but I am confident that I can manage and tough times will pass quickly like the British summer.

The current situation is nasty for many but we will prevail!

[pictavia]

Sorry to hear your contract has been cancelled, I hope you get sorted out with something soon. Edinburgh is a great place to live but companies up here can be very risk-averse as many of us found out during the financial crash of 2008-2009. The Barnett formula and consequentials often mean delayed investment in Scotland and an economy lagging behind England and especially London, I can't see the situation improving any time soon.