Reply to: End of Year contracts

[kaiser78]

I was offered a contract role 2 years ago at this time for a blue chip corporation, only for the offer to be withdrawn between Xmas and New Year due to budget issues. I guess keep an eye out but don't be too expectant until Jan.

[yasockie]

December - clients are on wind-down for Christmas so don't recruit
January - clients are on a post-Christmas downer so don't recruit
February - clients are clearing up January so don't recruit
March - clients are waiting for the budget in April so don't recruit
April - clients are trying to understand the implications of the budget so don't recruit
May - clients might do a little bit of recruitment
June - clients are thinking about the summer holidays so don't recruit
July - clients are on holiday so don't recruit
August - clients are either on holiday or just back and showing off their tan and photos so don't recruit
September - clients might do a little bit of recruitment
October - clients are thinking about half-term so don't recruit
November - clients start thinking about Christmas so don't recruit

That sums up my year

It is suprisingly close to the truth, expect in my case I was told that in Sept they were waiting for the new US tax year/budget so go figure.
On the other hand earlier this month, I secured a contract but I was told that they didn't want to start until the new year.
I wnet rude and said that I'm actually not ok with that as unlike them permies unless I'm invoicing, I am not getting any money.
When they realised that I got some 10 days of work in Dec, so it worked.

[TheFaQQer]

So you landed a gig in May. And then another in September. Nothing to complain about, then.

Or landed a gig in May which ran until October and then had nothing for a few months....

[nomadd]

December - clients are on wind-down for Christmas so don't recruit
January - clients are on a post-Christmas downer so don't recruit
February - clients are clearing up January so don't recruit
March - clients are waiting for the budget in April so don't recruit
April - clients are trying to understand the implications of the budget so don't recruit
May - clients might do a little bit of recruitment
June - clients are thinking about the summer holidays so don't recruit
July - clients are on holiday so don't recruit
August - clients are either on holiday or just back and showing off their tan and photos so don't recruit
September - clients might do a little bit of recruitment
October - clients are thinking about half-term so don't recruit
November - clients start thinking about Christmas so don't recruit

That sums up my year

So you landed a gig in May. And then another in September. Nothing to complain about, then.

[TheFaQQer]

December - clients are on wind-down for Christmas so don't recruit
January - clients are on a post-Christmas downer so don't recruit
February - clients are clearing up January so don't recruit
March - clients are waiting for the budget in April so don't recruit
April - clients are trying to understand the implications of the budget so don't recruit
May - clients might do a little bit of recruitment
June - clients are thinking about the summer holidays so don't recruit
July - clients are on holiday so don't recruit
August - clients are either on holiday or just back and showing off their tan and photos so don't recruit
September - clients might do a little bit of recruitment
October - clients are thinking about half-term so don't recruit
November - clients start thinking about Christmas so don't recruit

That sums up my year

[fraymond]

I've had mixed experiences, but Dec has been good for me on 2 occasions. I once had a interview at a large IB on 23rd of Dec, offered on the spot for a 3rd Jan start so that they could finished the project before financial year end. Similar story another year, two offers for a Jan start on a critical IT project. Don't pin your hopes on it, but it's defo worth still applying and putting your CV out there. Even for the fact that when agents return to work in Jan, they will know you're ready to go.

[SueEllen]

Thanks for all the replies. Message seems to be: Get fat and drunk over Christmas and dont worry it until NY.

Doesn't stop you sending your CV out to all and sundry this week. Just don't expect anything to happen until after the kids go back to school.

[Hurricane]

Thanks for all the replies. Message seems to be: Get fat and drunk over Christmas and dont worry it until NY.

[Scoobos]

I go by a rule that usually works for me, that if starting from scratch, expect 12 weeks to gain a new contract.

It's often earlier, but the first month you're just really getting your CV into agencies via gigs that are advertised but already gone.

[curtis]

This time last year I had been told that my contract that was due to run till the end of March was now finishing at the end of the year due to the Project being cancelled.

I managed to line a job up to start in the Jan but I saw that as pure luck and I was preparing myself to be out at least till end of Jan.

Unfortunately like any other time you can do nothing more than keep looking and see what happens. Just enjoy the extra break over this time. For me there is always loads I can be getting on with at home.

[NickNick]

I find Jan picks up a bit. Like someone said, no-one can be arsed before xmas.

the problem I've found in January is that loads of people apply for roles then. New Year's resolutions and all that. Hasmade it a bit more difficul to get noticed, but not impossible.

[SimonMac]

I have never really looked in December, first time I was out of work during the month I just kicked back and spend time with the kids etc, come January had two offers almost back to back so worked out nicely

[psychocandy]

I find Jan picks up a bit. Like someone said, no-one can be arsed before xmas.

[nomadd]

Hi guys, great site.

I have been an FS Contractor now for 2.5 years working in the Change Management space in London. I have been fortunate enough to be 100% billable until now, but with the end of year approaching it looks like that is about to end.

What are your experiences of trying to secure work in December – is usually a bit like trying to ice-skate uphill? Do clients tend to organise themselves in the early stages of January? Or later??...

Although there does seem to be some demand for my skills set, clients seem to be deferring meetings/interviews until next year.

Thoughts welcome…

Usually dead this time of year, at least in my experience. Wasn't expecting to find a new gig until March myself. And then a six month'er came up out of nowhere. Start next week. Just goes to show that you never can tell.

Still, my phone has been very quiet this week, so the market doesn't exactly seem to be booming at the moment.

As ever, YMMV.

[northernladuk]

This site will do a graph showing the seasonal change for your skillset. It is just scraped from the boards so isn't accurate, many roles are filled without hitting the boards and some on the boards are just agents fishing but might help give you an idea...

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