Reply to: Support petition to scrap ICT (Intra Company Transfer) Visa in IT sector

[SueEllen]

These online petitions are worthless.

Even if you had 10,000,000 "signatures", you would get a stock response from the govt saying:

We already have a work permit system
The system is perfect and works in everyone's best interests
The market and economy is constantly monitored
The number and type of visa available perfectly matches what is required
We see no reason to change anything.


Basically the same stock answer to every petition put before the government.


Don't waste your time, the only small effect we have as concerned citizens, is at the general election.

And if you have a by-election you can really have fun...

[DimPrawn]

These online petitions are worthless.

Even if you had 10,000,000 "signatures", you would get a stock response from the govt saying:

We already have a work permit system
The system is perfect and works in everyone's best interests
The market and economy is constantly monitored
The number and type of visa available perfectly matches what is required
We see no reason to change anything.


Basically the same stock answer to every petition put before the government.


Don't waste your time, the only small effect we have as concerned citizens, is at the general election.

[SussexSeagull]

If there is an immigration related problem for contractors I would have thought it more the Indian's who came in a few years ago and now have leave to remain. That said it is only one of a few contributing factors including offshoring and the market being swamped by native born contractors sick of wage stagnation.

That said, I think ICTs cause a problem with people trying to start off in the industry.

[SueEllen]

The thing is that this isn't true for everyone - I know I'm not having problems but that's because I've moved towards a carefully picked niche rather than remaining a straightforward developer.

The manta from a lot of people around here for years has been to get up the food chain, specialise or ensure you are 100% customer facing. And if you haven't done one of those three you really are going to have problems.

+1

The advice (and rants) from posters on here over the years has been very helpful.

[MrMarkyMark]

The thing is that this isn't true for everyone - I know I'm not having problems but that's because I've moved towards a carefully picked niche rather than remaining a straightforward developer.

The manta from a lot of people around here for years has been to get up the food chain, specialise or ensure you are 100% customer facing. And if you haven't done one of those three you really are going to have problems.

I have always done all three of those, especially when I saw the way things were going with offshoring.

[eek]

However, in my experience it has certainly become a lot more difficult to get contracts in the last 18 months than at any point since start of the financial crisis.

The thing is that this isn't true for everyone - I know I'm not having problems but that's because I've moved towards a carefully picked niche rather than remaining a straightforward developer.

The manta from a lot of people around here for years has been to get up the food chain, specialise or ensure you are 100% customer facing. And if you haven't done one of those three you really are going to have problems.

[ShandyDrinker]

It has become almost impossible to find IT jobs and contracts in UK.

Has it? News to me.

Is it just me, or are many of the "there are no jobs, ban ICT's" posters on this thread struggling with basic grammar in their posts? (Not just the OP). Perhaps this is hindering their ability to find roles

FWIW, some organisations do appear to abuse ICT's. In my experience it has created as much work recovering failed projects as it has taken away.

I think the OP was perhaps over-egging it with the statement that it has become almost impossible.

However, in my experience it has certainly become a lot more difficult to get contracts in the last 18 months than at any point since start of the financial crisis. Some of this may be attributed to immigration, ICT abuse and so on but many on here (me included) may have to accept that the market for your particular niche has moved to your disadvantage. Perhaps there's an oversupply of people for your skillset, perhaps clients are moving away from a particular technology.

To say it is all down to ICT abuse and immigration is far too simplistic but along with many I suspect than it certainly exacerbates the problem.

[Crossroads]

It has become almost impossible to find IT jobs and contracts in UK

Has it? News to me.

Is it just me, or are many of the "there are no jobs, ban ICT's" posters on this thread struggling with basic grammar in their posts? (Not just the OP). Perhaps this is hindering their ability to find roles

FWIW, some organisations do appear to abuse ICT's. In my experience it has created as much work recovering failed projects as it has taken away.

[RonBW]

Same problem that's been existing in the US (flooded by H1Bs) for years, and same causes: our "representatives" have sold us down the river to Big Business (the one that David Gauke loves so much)
Anytime you hear there is a "shortage" of skilled labor, what they really mean is that there is a shortage of DIRT CHEAP skilled labor.

All the rest is commentary.

Whether anyone believes it or not, Trump has implied that he will look at this

Trump Eyes Changes to Guest Worker Programs

[RonBW]

Do the government ever listen to a change.org petition? Maybe a government one would be better, but you'll need 100000 people to sign up to get anywhere (and probably not even then).

I don't see the government going for a complete axe ever though.

[SussexSeagull]

Or maybe the "lucky' ones are the good ones?

Problem is the market in some areas has been saturated with people coming in from India and gaining the right to stay and ex-permamnent employees sick of wage stagnation.

You can be as good as you want but if you can't get past an agent to get to an interview it doesn't help you.

[NotAllThere]

Or maybe the "lucky' ones are the good ones?

[ShandyDrinker]

Not sure it's quite all as simple as you summarize it.
Sometimes market conditions change quicker or more dramatically than you can adjust to. Doesn't necessarily have anything to do with being a good or bad consultant.
Often you just have to be lucky.

^^ These points.

[DotasScandal]

but a good consultant adjusts to market conditions to keep working.

Not sure it's quite all as simple as you summarize it.
Sometimes market conditions change quicker or more dramatically than you can adjust to. Doesn't necessarily have anything to do with being a good or bad consultant.
Often you just have to be lucky.

[DotasScandal]

Same problem that's been existing in the US (flooded by H1Bs) for years, and same causes: our "representatives" have sold us down the river to Big Business (the one that David Gauke loves so much)
Anytime you hear there is a "shortage" of skilled labor, what they really mean is that there is a shortage of DIRT CHEAP skilled labor.

All the rest is commentary.