Here is an alternative view about how contractors might find work in a downturn.
1. Go to those that know you. It is vitally important that contractors build and maintain a network of contaccts beginning with those who are likely to be in a position to hire and then agencies you have worked for in the past.
2. Know as much about your market (Geographical and or technical) that you can. Instead of getting home and playing Warcraft or posting drivel here build a database about companies IT departments and even how they are structured.
3. Know what you can actually do to benefit a client
4. Always have a few tit bits to throw at agents when you speak to them (make them up) and dont give anything away unless they give you some information in return. Try asking them questions about their clients pretending to throw some knowledge about yourself. For example you may invent jobs at some key clients in order to open the agent up into boasting where he has business, then go to a friendly agent and ask him to target particular clients for you.
5 Find out who is on the PSL of companies that you wish to work for and then track their job ads.
6. The deal on references is dont give them until the job is in the bag. No agent is going to turn you down if you refuse to give references, if they do they dont have a job. If you need to give references then do so in return for information, but try and give them spoof ones of someone you know who used to work at a particular company or a senior director off the companies board (they will never get through and they will be impressed by your level of contact)
Good luck
DA
