Reply to: City job/contract market

[SantaClaus]

me! me! me! me! me! Got any roles going? Get me out of clientco - please.......

Dont listen to Brillo. He loves it there!

[bobsmithldn]

AnotherDodgyAgent is right, the roles are very, very specific.

I'm looking at Europe instead, particularly Switzerland.

[eliquant]

The thing is that I find working in finance suprisingly interesting, however you in finance there seem to be two types of IT contractors .. those that get stuck in a rut and those that work on parts of the system that the business actually views as being important.

I know which one I prefer.

[BrilloPad]

IT Recruitment in the City, is super busy, so many outsourcing deals going on, budget spend already approved, very, very busy. Downside, is roles are very specific, however if you have fund accounting, custody, fund admin, OTC/exotic derivatives, transfer agency experience then you will be in high demand on the contract front for at least the next two years.

me! me! me! me! me! Got any roles going? Get me out of clientco - please.......

[BrilloPad]

I gain the impression that you're not really enjoying the culture of IT in the city - does anybody ?

Yes - I do. If I did not enjoy working with the sort of morons that pass for our users then I would not have stuck around cuk-general for so long.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

It gets harder every single year. The City in the 1990s was an easier place to work in than in the 2000s and apparently the 1980s it was much easier and IT were better respected back then.

IT Recruitment in the City, is super busy, so many outsourcing deals going on, budget spend already approved, very, very busy. Downside, is roles are very specific, however if you have fund accounting, custody, fund admin, OTC/exotic derivatives, transfer agency experience then you will be in high demand on the contract front for at least the next two years.

[eliquant]

I spent 4 years at a Fund Management company in the City in the late 90's (on a 3 month contract LOL). Loved every day of it (well, mostly). It was the best place I have ever worked - the job was great, the pay was great, the people were great. Only left to come back to NZ.

Was that just luck or have things changed a bit since then?

It gets harder every single year. The City in the 1990s was an easier place to work in than in the 2000s and apparently the 1980s it was much easier and IT were better respected back then.

[Stan.goodvibes]

It would seem the city is finished, say goodbye to 20% of GDP.
But it will make a good Olympic village for 2012.

A bit pre-emptive there IMHO. The City was there long before the Investment banks turned banking into an Investor-Funded Casino, I'm sure it will survive through this period of 'restructuring'. People still need banks, banks still need banks, and I'm sure human greed will triumph again and usher in another great financial playtime ;-)

Lets not forget that the ability to get cheap credit has driven a huge surge in productivity, I saw a report last week that stated we are all about twice as well of as we were in the 80s. Capitalism feeds off cheap credit, the banking system needs to work out how to keep money moving cheaply *without* gambling it all on speculative investments.

The City will rise again phoenix-like from the ashes of the credit-crunch.

[Stan.goodvibes]

Aye EQ
I gain the impression that you're not really enjoying the culture of IT in the city - does anybody ?

I spent 4 years at a Fund Management company in the City in the late 90's (on a 3 month contract LOL). Loved every day of it (well, mostly). It was the best place I have ever worked - the job was great, the pay was great, the people were great. Only left to come back to NZ.

Was that just luck or have things changed a bit since then?

[AlfredJPruffock]

It aint good out there and after 1 week if I don't get a look in, then I'm focusing on plan B and putting the finance jobs on the back burner, which is a shame as I have years of relevant experience.

Ah well it was ok whilst it lasted I suppose.

One thing is that there is no point in being permie in IT, they all drop you at a moments notice and then you get the stigma of having been made redundant. Also moving from one finance permie IT job to another is extremely risky .. no employee rights effectively for a year and small marginal wage increased in the next role... forget it it aint worth it not for the long hours, difficult people etc.

Aye EQ

Interesting comments - perhaps, if nothing comes up jobwise - it could be a blessing in disguise for you if you now focus on your plan B.

I gain the impression that you're not really enjoying the culture of IT in the city - does anybody ?

I am fortunate enough to work in the more sedate yet interesting world of research and development which is thankfully the opposite to what you describe- eg 35 hour week , wokring from home, genuine friendly people.


Whatever you do - good luck.

[Bumfluff]

Just renewed to end of April 2009, no rate cuts at all actually 15% above market rate to be honest, but been asked to go permy after April. Exposure Management is where its happening

[SandyDown]

suppose all them unemployed finance contractors will be moving to europan banks now !!

[swamp]

All those offices could become buy-to-let flats.

Boomed

[ace00]

It would seem the city is finished, say goodbye to 20% of GDP.
But it will make a good Olympic village for 2012.

[eliquant]

It aint good out there and after 1 week if I don't get a look in, then I'm focusing on plan B and putting the finance jobs on the back burner, which is a shame as I have years of relevant experience.

Ah well it was ok whilst it lasted I suppose.

One thing is that there is no point in being permie in IT, they all drop you at a moments notice and then you get the stigma of having been made redundant. Also moving from one finance permie IT job to another is extremely risky .. no employee rights effectively for a year and small marginal wage increased in the next role... forget it it aint worth it not for the long hours, difficult people etc.