Reply to: My phone nearly rang off the hook yesterday....

[BrowneIssue]

Dunno, sounds like it might of happened sooner or later. If a marriage or relationship can`t survive bench time it really isn`t built on the best of foundations.Should be happy not sad

I was thinking much the same - it would be one of those marriages where she clears off as soon as he retires.

[SuperZ]

Unfortunately many contractors found themselves single after the last down turn; most of the wives/gfs couldn’t stand their partner being out of work, it was really sad, most of the guys could’ve done without the extra knock.

Dunno, sounds like it might of happened sooner or later. If a marriage or relationship can`t survive bench time it really isn`t built on the best of foundations.Should be happy not sad

[gingerjedi]

I do Windows 2nd / 3rd line. My last contract finished Feb, was back in working elsewhere 3 weeks later. However, last year I did LOTS of training. I also took what amounted to a 30% cut to my current contract, taking travel costs into account, as well as drop in rates. However, on the positive side, I have what amounts to an indefinite length contract - keeping my post even after they recruit a permie alongside, and it pays enough to pay the bills etc. Not the increase I would have hoped for, but the training & certs DID make a difference for the contract I got.
Hope your situation picks up - it is a real pig sitting at home contract hunting for extended periods. And for those who wonder about agency stories, the teaam next to me were recruiting for a permie DBA. Last count I heard, the manager had 51 CVs to go through. NHS rates as well. Yes, there may well be a lot of dross in there, but you still have to try and shine out from that number, and that can be hard

It sounds like you've got a good gig but please don't be too complacent, my last gig wasn't paying the best rate but it was close to home (15 miles) so I thought I'd stick it out there until the market improved as there seemed to be plenty of work.

Out of the blue they gave me a weeks notice leaving one permy person to do all the work, I can only guess a bean counter somewhere worked out they'd be better off missing the odd SLA and getting penalised rather than keeping a contractor.

[dmini]

I'm a 2nd/3rd line support guy, the rates over the past few years have been barely better then perm so working 6 months of the year isn't an option, If I could command £400pd then obviously it would! You’d be surprised how many support people turned to contracting purely because the pay was little better than perm, probably more of a reflection on how badly paid perm work is rather than personal greed and of course the big players love having the expertise without the hassle of employing someone.

I do Windows 2nd / 3rd line. My last contract finished Feb, was back in working elsewhere 3 weeks later. However, last year I did LOTS of training. I also took what amounted to a 30% cut to my current contract, taking travel costs into account, as well as drop in rates. However, on the positive side, I have what amounts to an indefinite length contract - keeping my post even after they recruit a permie alongside, and it pays enough to pay the bills etc. Not the increase I would have hoped for, but the training & certs DID make a difference for the contract I got.
Hope your situation picks up - it is a real pig sitting at home contract hunting for extended periods. And for those who wonder about agency stories, the teaam next to me were recruiting for a permie DBA. Last count I heard, the manager had 51 CVs to go through. NHS rates as well. Yes, there may well be a lot of dross in there, but you still have to try and shine out from that number, and that can be hard

[zamzummim]

Unfortunately many contractors found themselves single after the last down turn; most of the wives/gfs couldn’t stand their partner being out of work, it was really sad, most of the guys could’ve done without the extra knock.

[TheRefactornator]

I had a call from my client yesterday asking me to come back onboard on Monday until at least the end of June. This thing could see me right up to my holiday at the end of July at this rate.

Boomed!! Well done

[PaulCD]

I had a call from my client yesterday asking me to come back onboard on Monday until at least the end of June. This thing could see me right up to my holiday at the end of July at this rate.

[gingerjedi]

Had a couple of calls today. Yep my local BMW dealer kept phoning me about the new Z4 I'd expressed an interest in!

This isn't a hairdresser’s forum.

[BolshieBastard]

Had a couple of calls today. Yep my local BMW dealer kept phoning me about the new Z4 I'd expressed an interest in!

[SuperZ]

Just got home from a 3 hr interview including 2 written tests (one Java, which I haven't done for a while) ! Looking like I may be back next week for another 2 interviews ! All this for an initial 3 month gig (but there will be extensions). Tough, but felt good though.

Mind me asking what sector that is in? Banking or public sector etc?

That`s way OTT in my opinion. Good luck though

[Fred Bloggs]

UK petrochem and pharma industries which have supported me for most of my working life (>30 years) are now 100% dead. Since May 08 I have been working in nuclear but the current gig is coming to an end soon. There is some work in nuclear but the rates have dropped by 30% or more. It's loooking pretty grim to me. I have applied for a couple of gigs lately to test the water but my CV submissions have been ignored by the pimps. Last year I was getting a call within 10-20 minutes of submitting a CV to a pimp.

:-(

[PM-Junkie]

I don't believe what the pimps are saying at all. Yes there are a lot of applicants out there but also a lot of dross. If you're curious you could try advertising your own skillset on one of the boards to see what the competition CVs are looking like.

Absolutely right. Remember the contractor market has also been flooded with redundant permies who's CVs are going to be weak from a contract perspective.

I almost feel sorry for pimps in that they have to wade through masses of crap CV's to get the half dozen or so that are worth investigating further.

Almost, but not quite

[moorfield]

The wife is giving me a hard time about it too It's not for the want of trying but she doesn't seem to realise that even the worst case scenario stopgap gigs are few and far between with fierce competition.

My only beef with Missus M is that she has gone round the whole village telling everyone "I've lost my job" so I've had to go round the whole village correcting her "Not lost my job, contract not renewed" !

On the plus side I get to check out the hot mums in the school playground at the moment.

[moorfield]

I think the days of walking out of an interview with the 'got it' gut feeling are long gone,

Just got home from a 3 hr interview including 2 written tests (one Java, which I haven't done for a while) ! Looking like I may be back next week for another 2 interviews ! All this for an initial 3 month gig (but there will be extensions). Tough, but felt good though.

[moorfield]

I know I have to take the rough with the smooth as a contractor but the market is so dead the gigs I previously balked at just aren't there, also every contract opportunity I see is being chased by 50+ other people if you believe the agents.

I don't believe what the pimps are saying at all. Yes there are a lot of applicants out there but also a lot of dross. If you're curious you could try advertising your own skillset on one of the boards to see what the competition CVs are looking like.