Reply to: Market improved a lot recently..?

[Fred Bloggs]

I am seeing a few jobs now in Aberdeen and London (process engineering), where there were almost none a few weeks ago. The rest of the country is still dead quiet, but that's the first sign I've seen so far that things are improving. It'll take a while for the benched guys to be employed, then things might get back to business as usual.

Boomed I tell you, yes, BOOMED!!!!

[cojak]

Yep

Just come off the phone to an agent.

When I told him that I wanted £50 more than he was offering he admitted that the market was looking up and that the original rate was priced for 6 months ago and that he'd give me the extra.

I didn't get the contract because I didn't want the work to start next week.

But I'd thought I'd give you the good news...

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I have definitley noticed what appears to be an improvment in the market. I am actually getting calls about real jobs rather than lying agents pretending to have 20 roles available.

1 month ago there were no jobs appearing on the job sites now they are coming up regularly and the agencies are actually calling me after I post my CV which is a real turn around!

Let's see if I can get a gig in the next couple of months.

[Not So Wise]

After 3 weeks away just did my normal daily jobserve checks, most of the search's resulted in double the amount of results i have been getting for last 18 months, so yes things are looking up*.

Makes me optimistic about my prediction of a solid upward turn after Apr next year, pray i am right because really ready to get out from my current gig


*But that double is still only about 1/3 the amount from 2 and half years ago and rates seems down across the board

[GavinR]

I found that 4 months ago in my field I could barely find much. Now I am getting 2 calls a week minimum and I'm going to have to take my CV offline again as I have a good solid 6 monther.

In short - I think it has picked up a bit.

Maybe department heads want to use up all their budgets (if they have any fat left in them) to secure what they need next year.

Kind Regards,

Gavin

[northernladuk]

It's a dog eat dog world out there.

Aye I guess so. Maybe it's the people that do this and then cry about it on here when it goes wrong that annoy me rather than the actual tactic itself. But anyhow, back to the topic....

I am getting more agency calls nowadays compared to months earlier.

Interestingly I am starting to get this as well. I have had a lot more response from agents finding my CV online in the last 2 months than in the last year in a calls/month comparison. I am not deluged but any calls compared to 0 in the past makes it noticeable.

I never followed up so if there was a solid role behind these I couldn't comment.

[SueEllen]

Either that or lot more people are finding the need to 'alter' or what ever BS term they use to justify lying on their CV's just to get a gig as per a couple of discussions recently.

It's a dog eat dog world out there.

[mobi]

I am getting more agency calls nowadays compared to months earlier.

However, nothing materilized yet - still no offer.

But I wonder why suddenly openings have increased. Usually mid November to mid January is very quiet market, even on good times.

[nomadd]

Either that or lot more people are finding the need to 'alter' or what ever BS term they use to justify lying on their CV's just to get a gig as per a couple of discussions recently.

7 months on the bench and 300-350 unsuccessful job applications via Jobserve left me with no scruples when it came to updating my cv...

Nomadd.

[northernladuk]

My conclusion? I'm thinking that there must be some very highly skilled and highly experienced contractors in my field of work still waiting to get off the bench and maybe accepting lower than normal rates to do so?

Either that or lot more people are finding the need to 'alter' or what ever BS term they use to justify lying on their CV's just to get a gig as per a couple of discussions recently.

[Fred Bloggs]

600 Euros is not far off £600 a day. I wouldn't call that exactly a bad market if that's all you can scrape together these days.

Yes, that's why I was reflecting on the state of the £. Sadly I'm reduced to £360 a day, it is only 25 minutes from home though, can't win 'em all I guess.

[DimPrawn]

Yes, fair summary. Jobs in Euroland that were offered at 850 Euros a day two years ago are now being offered at 600 Euros, it seems. Mind you in £ terms I suppose that's about the same rate, actually!

600 Euros is not far off £600 a day. I wouldn't call that exactly a bad market if that's all you can scrape together these days.

[Fred Bloggs]

Rates seem to be key.

Amsterdam roles are being offered 45 - 55 euros an hour.

A large blue company makes no bones about it all being about price - not quality.

If I was willing to work for buttons then I would be in work right now.

Yes, fair summary. Jobs in Euroland that were offered at 850 Euros a day two years ago are now being offered at 600 Euros, it seems. Mind you in £ terms I suppose that's about the same rate, actually!

[bren586]

Rates seem to be key.

Amsterdam roles are being offered 45 - 55 euros an hour.

A large blue company makes no bones about it all being about price - not quality.

If I was willing to work for buttons then I would be in work right now.

[Fred Bloggs]

No it's dire. My CV usually elicits a very positive response from prospective clients. I have submitted it 4 times in the last three weeks and not even a glimmer of interest resulted. And, yes, they were actual live gigs too I believe.

My conclusion? I'm thinking that there must be some very highly skilled and highly experienced contractors in my field of work still waiting to get off the bench and maybe accepting lower than normal rates to do so?