Reply to: Seasonal Trends

[norrahe]

same in insurance

am expecting to be on the bench till at least jan, if not feb, all projects are on hold till next year now

[deano]

Interesting findings. My current contract finishes Jan 8th (although I have a vague feeling it may be extended because some new projects are cropping up). The only thing worrying me is that in April I’ll be in the US for a 3 week family holiday, which might put off some potential clients looking for 3-month contracts, so I may be benched from Jan until May.

Ah well, I suppose it will be a good opportunity to get the garden shipshape before summer!

[BrilloPad]

I usually find March until October (inclusive) are busy - to do with the way budgets works in banks.

[Stan.goodvibes]

Mine ends June 30th 2009. Was gonna peel over to the UK and start looking July 2009, but if its really going to be slow over Summer I might stay in Thailand longer, til mebbe end September.

Hmmmmm

[lightng]

Nae bother. I have had two juicy gigs in January over the past three years.

Makes me feel better about mine ending in January.

[fadanoid]

Nae bother. I have had two juicy gigs in January over the past three years.

[Advocate]

I'll be on the bench early Jan...

[swamp]

Interesting question actually, because really:

market = contracts / candidates

Early Jan is dead as a dead dog, but there are no candidates mad enough to be on the bench either, so actually not a bad time to look -- I got a good contract this Jan in these circumstances

[Cheshire Cat]

From my limited experience, I would say that it's not a good idea to end a contract at the start of the kids summer hols, or in the month or so before xmas.
Ideally, you'll be on a contract that ends around march/april or sept/oct, in time to pick up another 6 monther, and work through the lean summer and xmas periods.

[fadanoid]

Just done some quick analysis over the last 10 years and the complete months I have had on the bench are reasonably consistent. I have had 17 months on the beach out of 120 and I have had one March one February and three January's out. Most of the others are two monthers. Had approx 6 contracts over this period. Not always actively looking over these 17 months. Hmm. Interesting...........

[Liability]

You better pray they don't win it next time, you'll be out of work for 3 decades.

LOLOL very good.

[Diestl]

WHS.

I've found that world events can kill a market. i was looking for work over 2006 World Cup and got nothing until the day after England were kicked out, then the phones didn't stop ringing.

You better pray they don't win it next time, you'll be out of work for 3 decades.

[lightng]

Darn it! My contract end date clashes with ... http://www.worldconkerchampionships.com. I'd better start saving now.

Thanks for the replies.

[TheBigYinJames]

Generally (i.e. not sector specific) I've found that late Jan through to May is resonably busy with the busiest period being at the end of march/beginning of April. Summer months (Jun to Aug) are dead trade picks up a bit in september through til October time then dead again over Christmas.

WHS.

I've found that world events can kill a market. i was looking for work over 2006 World Cup and got nothing until the day after England were kicked out, then the phones didn't stop ringing.

[Ravello]

Generally (i.e. not sector specific) I've found that late Jan through to May is resonably busy with the busiest period being at the end of march/beginning of April. Summer months (Jun to Aug) are dead trade picks up a bit in september through til October time then dead again over Christmas.