Reply to: Market right now

[d000hg]

I get similar newsletters every few days from them, and ignore them. Unless you can see these new contracts appearing, it's meaningless.

[MPwannadecentincome]

cwjobs just emailed me to say...

"Wise firms are bucking the trend towards permanent recruitment and beefing up their contractor workforce in order to keep costs visible. Group financial director of Harvey Nash explains that contractors are flavour of the month at the recruitment company during current straitened times.

CWJobs has over 3,000 contracting opportunities across all regions and sectors and spanning a range of ICT skills. If you’re a CRM specialist, a database expert, an electronics guru or have an entirely different skill set, we’ve something to suit.

Once you’ve checked how much pay you’ll take home using our contract calculator, spotting your next contracting job is easy with CWJobs so start your search today. "

[cykophysh39]

I think now is probably the worst time to start contracting. I have been keeping an eye on the job boards ( I am in a gig which should see me through till march anyway) but I see the same jobs every day, with the rates going down. This is because the agents are just not putting the real jobs up anymore, the competition is quite fierce out there. Agents are calling each as they responding to other agents adverts trying to find that elusive lead. All experienced contractors are passing around "mates" CV's to try get jobs for mates, I know as I have done this several times. Companies will not be taking contractors on just yet, as they have to make permies redundant, so in order to do that they have to put a hold on the contractors. Some contractors are willing to drop the rates just to get a gig to see them through. It's fairly nasty out there. I wouldn't say it's impossible to find a gig, but I think it will take a bit more than CV tweaking. It's time to get the black book out and call every one you know, spread the word. I think it will pick up about Feb, it always does.

[Turion]

This is not a game of double your money for nothing. Real contracting does mean going through all that again, and again and again every few months, working away from home sometimes/often, now in current climate months on bench are likely, and that's all part of the experience.

Some contractors are 'lucky' and stay for years with the same client but that itself risks stagnation and tax attacks (IR35).

[blitter]

I too recently took the jump from permieland, leaving my permie job a few months ago to look for a contract. It took me 3 months of searching, talking to countless agents every day, CV tweaking, and I finally landed a contract to take me through until Feb 09. I actually got the gig through a contact from my old permie job though, and went direct.
Nearly all of the opportunities through agents I either didn't hear back from the agent after the initial contact was made (despite chasing) or the interview was cancelled on the day it was "due" to take place.

I even got another permie job offer in the middle of it all but couldn't bring myself to accept.

We'll see what the market is like in February, I don't know if I can face going through all that again every 3 months or so! Hopefully having that first contract on the CV will help things...

[Saj]

I'm about half way through the rainy day money so it's not urgent that I get work straight away, but I'd rather start trying now than let the funds get too low...


cheers
H

Hi H - for what its worth I think you're doing the right thing trying now. I was getting a bit worried a couple of weeks ago as Ive recently moved into the contract market and was cursing my bad timing! .. but after much perseverance, cv tweaking (and reading of this forum to learn how to tell the agents just fishing from those with a real catch!) I have landed a contract now which will take me through to March. It took me longer than I was expecting but if you are keen to contract and can afford the wait then keep trying. hth - Good Luck!

[helenst]

Thanks to all who replied. I probably didn't explain very well - for the record, I haven't jumped into anything feet first, I left my last permie job voluntarily over two years ago to go travelling, and since then have done various freelance and personal projects to keep my skills up to date. I'm about half way through the rainy day money so it's not urgent that I get work straight away, but I'd rather start trying now than let the funds get too low...

I decided against going after the permie jobs in the end, call it a moment of weakness, it just doesn't suit how I want to spend my time. No luck yet but will keep trying and tweaking the CV... it may not be the easiest time but that doesn't make it impossible. Thanks for the advice all.

cheers
H

[chef]

scary scary reading that you havent done research before jumping in with both feet but i'll try to be constructive..

assuming you don't get any work, how long can you live?
what area/field of work are you looking for?
are you prepared to travel?

the general fact is, most people with years and years of contract experience are struggling to find work right now in my area of expertise, therefore rates fall and ALL contracts are sought after from several companies/contractors, because of this overwhelming choice, companies can afford to be picky if they require work, therefore people with little to none contract experience are usually bottom of the list unless you are very niche market or have specialist skills

good luck, sincerely

and let us know when your succesful

[jim2406]

talk to everyone you have ever worked with to find out if there's anything happening - i'm assuming after 7 years you have a decent network of contacts?

you're more likely to find work through word of mouth than over-subscribed jobsites / agencies, i reckon.

good luck

[rootsnall]

Keep plugging away, with a low rate, flexible location and immediate availability you'll get something. You can worry about getting something better once you are up and running.

[norrahe]

a lot of contracts are now being canned to start in a couple of months

[Lewis]

It's a terrible time to be looking for contracts. In times like these you stay where you are and only move if absolutely necessary - even when forced to take rate cuts which is affecting a lot of us.

[BlasterBates]

Hi all

I'm looking for my first contract and just wondering how everybody's finding the market right now.

I went into this a couple of weeks ago thinking that businesses would be wanting contractors right now what with it being less commitment... now I am getting quite a few agents (including one very persuasive guy this morning) telling me that businesses can't afford contractors right now so there are far more permanent opportunities. I guess maybe it does work out cheaper if you can just make somebody redundant a couple of months down the line.

I've got 7 years permie programming experience plus two running own business and doing various freelance projects via Rentacoder, and I have immediate availability. I've put my CV forward for lots of suitable looking contracts over the last 2 weeks and had a few calls from agents, but nothing actually followed up with an interview. Does that sound like a typical experience right now?

Any advice appreciated, I'm just trying to weigh up my options here, I had it all figured out for contracting - a few months working, a few travelling, etc. but am not sure how realistic that is.

cheers
Helen

Doesn't look good, which may be something to do with the worst economic downturn since WWII. You should take any job you can right now.

[Ifrit]

I can't really offer you much advice, but can say I am also looking for a first contract. I have had a few calls and one interview so far but apart from that there isn't much going on.

[swamp]

I went into this a couple of weeks ago thinking that businesses would be wanting contractors right now what with it being less commitment

The only contractors that businesses want are their existing ones. And they'll be ditched the moment they're no longer needed