How is testing & test management contracting mkt..??

[Sausage Surprise]

Go to Jobserve and search on test, contract, last 2 days. There's a boat load of jobs.

[DiscoStu]

Can't comment on the market in general because I'm not looking.

Personally I've been with a large UK bank since last Sept but its a regulatory project i.e. they HAVE to complete it. Just been shown a project plan running until mid December...

From the comments here it doesn't sound too good out there ATM.

I'm just crossing my fingers for another 6 months come June...

[gadgetman]

Can't comment on the market in general because I'm not looking.

Personally I've been with a large UK bank since last Sept but its a regulatory project i.e. they HAVE to complete it. Just been shown a project plan running until mid December...

From the comments here it doesn't sound too good out there ATM.

[bobsyouruncle]

UAT is the way forward I think. Lots of system/integration and non-functional testing is being offshored. Good soft skills and being able to hand-hold clients through UAT is going to be more and more important I think.

Yeah i agree, i come from more a UAT background anyway as i was previously an end user. My specific testing experience is a bit limited though so may need to go permie for a while to build that up.

[DiscoStu]

I'm in the same boat as you. I seem to have seen a big drop off in the number of ads on jobserve. My testing experience is in quite a niche area which doesnt help. Thinking of either branching out from testing to other areas, or going permie for a bit. We'll see. Good luck

UAT is the way forward I think. Lots of system/integration and non-functional testing is being offshored. Good soft skills and being able to hand-hold clients through UAT is going to be more and more important I think.

[bobsyouruncle]

lol - been on a few gigs like that myself...

Thanks for the replies guys.

You see, thats part of the quandry I find myself in. About 50-50 ratio. Half say they don't have a problem, have not been on the bench and jump straight into the next contract, the other half I know are in the same position as me. Swings and roundabouts. I shall persevere.

I'm in the same boat as you. I seem to have seen a big drop off in the number of ads on jobserve. My testing experience is in quite a niche area which doesnt help. Thinking of either branching out from testing to other areas, or going permie for a bit. We'll see. Good luck

[Tyler]

lol - been on a few gigs like that myself...

Thanks for the replies guys.

You see, thats part of the quandry I find myself in. About 50-50 ratio. Half say they don't have a problem, have not been on the bench and jump straight into the next contract, the other half I know are in the same position as me. Swings and roundabouts. I shall persevere.

[DiscoStu]

Testing? What for? Surely it was written by proper C# non English-speaking coders based on some very brief pencil-drawn UML use case diagrams and a phone call requirements capture.

Are we on the same gig?

[beercohol]

Testing? What for? Surely it was written by proper C# non English-speaking coders based on some very brief pencil-drawn UML use case diagrams and a phone call requirements capture.

There's no need to keep on tes........(oops have to slope off to the pub again, users are complaining again about our new big bang deployment of the entirely bespoke ERP system we pulled together in just 2 months).

[MickeyP]

I was recently renewed (Telecoms) and the 2 guys who weren't, both got new gigs without any break in employment. Don't see the problem.

Yep. Only real change is that I'm getting shorter rolling contracts (3 monthers) now.

[Sausage Surprise]

I was recently renewed (Telecoms) and the 2 guys who weren't, both got new gigs without any break in employment. Don't see the problem.

[Tyler]

Absolutely dire.

I have never seen the test market as bad as it is now. Last year I finished my current contract in July, I was offered a renewal for a month, I turned it down as I had a months holiday booked for August and the renewal requirement was very short term with no indication of where the project was going. They were getting rid of contractors left, right and centre due to budgetry restraints. I caught an ear infection in both ears on holiday and this put me out another month. Started looking pro-actively from end of August last year, (then caught a flu bug) but carried on networking, with agents I'd previously worked through, called up previous PM's and TM's I'd worked with before, sent CV's off, had pimps messing me about no end, hopes raised and dashed and am really despondent at the moment. Check the jobsites daily, nothing much around or skillset particular. I'm a Test Analyst, have done Test Lead Positions and once done a Test Manager role for a 3 month contract. I've worked in Investment Banks, Finance and Logistics. I read Darren_Test's thread with great interest. Seems like there are many in the same position at the moment with agents telling me they get about 400 applications in for the one role.

I've been on the bench now for lets say almost 9months and I believe in the current market it is not what you know or even how good you are, its who you know.

[DiscoStu]

You are Darren_Test and I claim my 5 re-written CV's.

[Martin2007]

its seems to be very bad now..especially telecom mkt...
Not sure telecom guys can get in to Finance with out experience in that domain..

- Martin

[Gordon NOT Brown]

go