Reply to: Market condition so far in 2012

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

One thing is for sure - this January as a whole is a lot worse than last January - I know as I have been applying this year just as I was last year and I was receiving a lot more calls and I saw a lot more roles coming through. Let's hope this doesn't continue into 2012.....

[The Spartan]

Got rung about a contract on Thursday, did a phone interview with an hours notice on Friday and signed a six month contract* at a good rate today.

It can be done.

* Yes I am aware a contract is only as long as it's notice period, before anyone reminds me.

Congratulations that's good skills

[MyUserName]

My contract expires next month and I have been offered a renewal, I have also been offered another contract at a different company and have had phones calls about another one that wanted to interview me.

Although the market might not be as good as it was last year it does not seem that bad.

[SussexSeagull]

Got rung about a contract on Thursday, did a phone interview with an hours notice on Friday and signed a six month contract* at a good rate today.

It can be done.

* Yes I am aware a contract is only as long as it's notice period, before anyone reminds me.

[SimonMac]

I'm not looking but have had a fair few emails about gigs, rates are lower than what I would have expected but I dunno if thats because I have had quite a jump on my rate for this current gig so I expecting more now

[ChimpMaster]

Market is sh1te for me but this is my last few months of contracting - assuming I get this extension I'm looking at.

There's just no demand or work left in my field ...though ironically I'm on my best rate ever because no one else is doing this work as well as I am (while it winds down I mean)... even though there are a few Bobs in the game now.

Generally though I expect a much better year for everyone - it's when things look their worst that they start to turnaround.

[The Spartan]

Jobswerve doesnt support your theory with only 23,000 jobs live and many of them will be the same role with many agents. Hardly any BA or testing roles around.

I agree as these are the roles I've been looking at recently

[BolshieBastard]

Market is looking better than December but still very poor when compared to Jan last year when I was also looking. Anybody else finding it the same?

Jobswerve doesnt support your theory with only 23,000 jobs live and many of them will be the same role with many agents. Hardly any BA or testing roles around.

Im hooked up but this was from a enquiry by an agent early December last year with the client dragging their feet.

I dont think anyone could describe the market at booming or good tbh.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Seems about ok to me - think I'm getting used to the pattern.

Little bursts just before and over Christmas from the well organised/sad/anti-xmas hiring managers and now its really ramped up to full panic mode this week from the latecomers

Not staying where you are OP?

Still where I was 6 months ago - you will know where that is. But rate cuts have seriously peed me off. Had 2 interviews so far in the last month but the roles were not right for various reasons. I have contract until June but want to move asap (I have said previously I have a short notice period which I forced into contract after the rate cuts).

[Mephisto]

Seems about ok to me - think I'm getting used to the pattern.

Little bursts just before and over Christmas from the well organised/sad/anti-xmas hiring managers and now its really ramped up to full panic mode this week from the latecomers

Not staying where you are OP?

[northernladuk]

Can't get enough of your comments - seems you like following me around on here.

It's not just you so don't flatter yourself Slow gig and all that...

[Regent]

Please refer to my earlier post.

Plenty doing in the market (always will be for skilled IT contractors).

Thanks, Regent

p.s. If a bit of advice is required, feel free to PM me.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

7 working days in to the New Year is a little soon to be making general comments across the entrire contracting market isn't it?

Can't get enough of your comments - seems you like following me around on here.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I agree - there are roles out there but a noticed a larger than usual ratio of permie roles.

In the finance sector where i've been looking - rates are a bit below average, too soon for me to tell if the number of roles are high/low as we're still 2nd week of Jan.

But hearing about RBS IB shedding jobs, a whole heap of other IB's cutting contractor rates by 10% i'm expecting finance to be not so good in the first quarter.

Yes that's my feeling. I have so far been going for the financial sector and it isn't looking good.

[yamamma]

Don't believe the doom and gloom (unless you contract mainly in the financial sector).

I agree - there are roles out there but a noticed a larger than usual ratio of permie roles.

In the finance sector where i've been looking - rates are a bit below average, too soon for me to tell if the number of roles are high/low as we're still 2nd week of Jan.

But hearing about RBS IB shedding jobs, a whole heap of other IB's cutting contractor rates by 10% i'm expecting finance to be not so good in the first quarter.