Reply to: Anyone got a cushion...

[rootsnall]

COBOL, FORTRAN, or RPG.

An ex RPG mate was telling me only last week he'd been offered work at good rates lately, they can't get anyone to d oit anymore.

[Moscow Mule]

Any suggestions?

COBOL, FORTRAN, or RPG.

[rootsnall]

Erm... I'll be blunt. Unless you live in London, working away from home is the norm in my experience. (That too is likely to change in the current market) Maybe it's time to go permie if you want to be at home.

4 years and counting since I was last on the road

All in the IT wonderland that is the North West. Spread over 5 contracts, I think I've been a bit lucky to be honest.

[Jubber]

Some may see it as a way of getting wider experience, seeing more of the world (or at least the UK). They don't realise how soul destroying it is to live out of a suitcase away from your friends and family.

Though contracting in general can be like that anyway, if you haven't the luxury of being choosy about the location.

Erm... I'll be blunt. Unless you live in London, working away from home is the norm in my experience. (That too is likely to change in the current market) Maybe it's time to go permie if you want to be at home.

[PAH]

You should all re-skill to something particularly niche.

Any suggestions?

[rootsnall]

Quite right. Now, what should I do with myself when I finish here next week??

When I finally do get some time off I'm doing sod all for the first week or two.

[Xenophon]

Don't reconsider, have a rest !

Quite right. Now, what should I do with myself when I finish here next week??

[rootsnall]

All of this negative talk is making me reconsider taking some time off.

It's already costing me some valuable and much needed R & R Pre reading this board I could down tools at the drop of a hat. We've been DOOMED !

Don't reconsider, have a rest !

[Moscow Mule]

You should all re-skill to something particularly niche.

Then you won't have to worry about loads of people going for the same job on jobserve.

[Xenophon]

All of this negative talk is making me reconsider taking some time off.

[Zippy]

...the bench is starting to feel very uncomfortable.

I'll bring a few when I join you tomorrow.

[miffy]

When an agent starts banging on about how many other CVs he's received for a role I instinctively start thinking he's bulltulipting, to try to get me to accept a lower rate. Unfortunately, when the market is slowing down it's a tactic they can't lose with.

When applying for roles, I'm seeing this quite a lot...

We are currently experiencing significant interest from the marketplace in relation to this opportunity and the volume of response we have received is considerable.

I wonder how much of that is true and if they're blagging it.

Is there a way of getting stats on jobserve for the number of applications/emails sent via them for a particular vacancy?

I doubt it. Would be nice to have that though!

[PAH]

luckily the slump only lasted 6 months and some contractors don't even know it happened.

That was when I took a year off and made money refurbishing a property instead. Seeing fellow contractors accept tulip permie positions because there was so little work elsewhere told me to get out of the game for a while.

Unfortunately this time I'm not as prepared and will have to ride it out one way or the other.

[rootsnall]

When an agent starts banging on about how many other CVs he's received for a role I instinctively start thinking he's bulltulipting, to try to get me to accept a lower rate. Unfortunately, when the market is slowing down it's a tactic they can't lose with.

I think you'll find they hate it just as much as you. In the post dot com slump they were chasing each other down in desperation to get a contractor placed. I'd be talking to multi agents for one job and they'd ring back every hour or two asking if you'd lower your rate again. Clients who have been paying top whack for years probably enjoy screwing the others in the chain when they get chance.

Rates in my game went from £400+ to £250- in a matter of weeks, luckily the slump only lasted 6 months and some contractors don't even know it happened. Sounds like we are entering another slump, no signs in my game yet though.

[PAH]

Once you get the 20-30 scenario you are stuffed rate wise, the agents start chasing each other down and you have to join in or warm that bench.

When an agent starts banging on about how many other CVs he's received for a role I instinctively start thinking he's bulltulipting, to try to get me to accept a lower rate. Unfortunately, when the market is slowing down it's a tactic they can't lose with.

Is there a way of getting stats on jobserve for the number of applications/emails sent via them for a particular vacancy?