Reply to: Jobserve pretty dead...Doomed??

[Bob Dalek]

Jobserve is one of the worst job sites these days.
I prefer CWjobs as a first point of call. Jobserve tends to be last on the list.

WHS. Although I always look on Jobserve, my last few gigs/permie roles were via Jobsite, IT Job Board (what a strange set-up that is these days), and CWJobs. But, even if just as a barometer, Jobserve is important.

[Bagpuss]

Jobserve is one of the worst job sites these days.
I prefer CWjobs as a first point of call. Jobserve tends to be last on the list.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Many of these agents are looking for leads and that is why more are calling IMO, as they get increasingly desperate. I had one last week that called and asked me all sorts of details about a previous company that I had worked for. They were quite blatant about about it and I was only too pleased to provide info.

No they were all genuine jobs - and they didnt ask for references.

I have said this before I am more than happy to provide leads at a fiver a pop - so PM me for leads.

[chef]

10 jobs listed in my area of expertise, 2 permie and 8 contract.. not great

[YHB]

to be honest, i haven't got as far as rate discussions with most agents.

i've asked a couple out of morbid curiosity and get the feeling that the 'going rate' (as far as agencies would like everyone to be concerned) for MS Dev stuff in the midlands now seems to be 200-250, i would hope its more like 250-300 in reality - the people i know in the same skillset all sit in this bracket.

my current rate is just shy of 300, for a long-ish public sector gig playing with the latest .NET stuff, based in the midlands. can't complain at all.

You really should complain as its that expectation which is keeping at that level. With <3 years experience I get offered £300 min for basic Access database work up north and wouldnt work for less than 350 in a cheap area/400 min london. My first gig when went contractinng at start of year was doing basic Excel reporting with sql for £360 in north Midlands, at renewal asked and was put up to 390.

Currently on a lot more because I held out for the right role rather than accepting 'a role'.

[jim2406]

What rates? as crap jobs are always there and not worth advert costs due to amount of money in question agent will make.

to be honest, i haven't got as far as rate discussions with most agents.

i've asked a couple out of morbid curiosity and get the feeling that the 'going rate' (as far as agencies would like everyone to be concerned) for MS Dev stuff in the midlands now seems to be 200-250, i would hope its more like 250-300 in reality - the people i know in the same skillset all sit in this bracket.

my current rate is just shy of 300, for a long-ish public sector gig playing with the latest .NET stuff, based in the midlands. can't complain at all.

[Liability]

Contractors are used when they find it hard to get the skillset in quick enough- with all the job losses now not the case.

Cheaper than contractors, and if have to let them go soon then little redundancy costs

Very true - but as I posted the other day - in my skill area even the contractors arent moving and the Permies arent even thinking about it - so I am seeing more roles appearing and rates going higher - a news agency called me directly last week for a role theyd only pay £500 a day - I was looking for £650 - which they said no. Agency then gets notified of the role - and guess what? She phones me sayind would I be interested - me being me, said I have already got a call from them and they cant pay my rate - to which she asks how much and confirms she can get it!

Now you want to hear something more messed up? The company fones me back Friday and then says they can match the rate and want to interview me this week.

Some companies ARE taking the piss - but even in this market there is alot of tulip people out there. More so in the contractor market who got used to their long stints and de-skilled.

[YHB]

my phone has been quiet for a while (I havent put a CV up for 3 months) but this morning, 5 phonecalls, 3 of which i think were geniune, upon finding out i was busy, rather than asking for leads they were asking if i could recommend anyone.

generic skillset jobs too - .NET, C#, AJAX etc etc... (midlands)

this does seem to be the exception though, and they probably all related to the same job - things do generally seem quiet.

one thing i've noticed which is odd is that some of the .NET adverts that do appear in my inbox tend to be asking for experience of the latest technologies (3.5, WCF, LINQ, Entity Framework, MVC etc). some of these were only released out of beta just over 2 weeks ago, so you have to wonder how realistic these are...

What rates? as crap jobs are always there and not worth advert costs due to amount of money in question agent will make.

[YHB]

Guess companies want Perm now thinking it's cheaper. .

Contractors are used when they find it hard to get the skillset in quick enough- with all the job losses now not the case.

Cheaper than contractors, and if have to let them go soon then little redundancy costs

[Liability]

my phone has been quiet for a while (I havent put a CV up for 3 months) but this morning, 5 phonecalls, 3 of which i think were geniune, upon finding out i was busy, rather than asking for leads they were asking if i could recommend anyone.

generic skillset jobs too - .NET, C#, AJAX etc etc... (midlands)

this does seem to be the exception though, and they probably all related to the same job - things do generally seem quiet.

one thing i've noticed which is odd is that some of the .NET adverts that do appear in my inbox tend to be asking for experience of the latest technologies (3.5, WCF, LINQ, Entity Framework, MVC etc). some of these were only released out of beta just over 2 weeks ago, so you have to wonder how realistic these are...

Same here - Alot for architect, citrix, infrastructure etc around and double for perm roles - wierd. Guess companies want Perm now thinking it's cheaper. Few companies I know only take contractors for set projects also are reeling in Perm's now.

[jim2406]

my phone has been quiet for a while (I havent put a CV up for 3 months) but this morning, 5 phonecalls, 3 of which i think were geniune, upon finding out i was busy, rather than asking for leads they were asking if i could recommend anyone.

generic skillset jobs too - .NET, C#, AJAX etc etc... (midlands)

this does seem to be the exception though, and they probably all related to the same job - things do generally seem quiet.

one thing i've noticed which is odd is that some of the .NET adverts that do appear in my inbox tend to be asking for experience of the latest technologies (3.5, WCF, LINQ, Entity Framework, MVC etc). some of these were only released out of beta just over 2 weeks ago, so you have to wonder how realistic these are...

[Moscow Mule]

There's one today for my particular niche.

Unfortunately, I know it's a fishing exercise as the project it's advertising for has been cancelled.

Fortunately I'm in contract here for some time to come and most people who would want me to work for them know my phone number.

[sasguru]

Pages and pages of SAS jobs. Boomed!

SAS - going strong since 1976.

[Cyberman]

Its the exception that proves the rule - Ive had more agents calling than normal - had to turn them down as Im more than happy at the mo.

Many of these agents are looking for leads and that is why more are calling IMO, as they get increasingly desperate. I had one last week that called and asked me all sorts of details about a previous company that I had worked for. They were quite blatant about about it and I was only too pleased to provide info.

[OwlHoot]

Looking at Jobserve & Jobsite, it appears there are currently only 2 perl contracts being advertised in the UK