Anyone shat themselves at the lack jobs on offer?

[mattikake]

Holy moly!

Now I'm an I.T. contractor, which of the past few years has been such a lucrative market that the government have been finding ever more inventive ways of shafting us and effectively taxing us more and more... You know that's a measure of success in this world of greed.

My contract finished last year. It reached end of term, but also was never going to be extended due to the collapse of capitalism. Now usually I look for stuff in my City, Milton Keynes and over the last few years of work I've been spoilt for choice. Easily 30+ contract positions being added to online jobsites per day.

I look today. 4! That's FOUR new jobs.

I do an immediate involuntary st where I sit.

I add permanent jobs to my search. 1! ONE frickin job!

I can count the number of new jobs in my 250,000+ resident city on one hand!

I've walked from one contract straight into the next, the next working day for the past 2 years. Now I've been out of work for 2 months and still nowt. I canlt even find anything to apply for. This is BEFORE you factor in the supply-demmand issue for a country flooded by unemployed and hardly any jobs.

Anyone else looking around and coming to the same realisation that, bscially, we're fked? I give it a month, then I'm turning to crime.

[elster]

I do industrial electrical work.

I don't need a job, as fine with what I am doing. However still get a call ever week from at least one recruiter trying to line me up for an interview.

So I guess just depends on the industry.

[ukwill]

mattikake said:

Holy moly!

Now I'm an I.T. contractor, which of the past few years has been such a lucrative market that the government have been finding ever more inventive ways of shafting us and effectively taxing us more and more... You know that's a measure of success in this world of greed.

My contract finished last year. It reached end of term, but also was never going to be extended due to the collapse of capitalism. Now usually I look for stuff in my City, Milton Keynes and over the last few years of work I've been spoilt for choice. Easily 30+ contract positions being added to online jobsites per day.

I look today. 4! That's FOUR new jobs.

I do an immediate involuntary st where I sit.

I add permanent jobs to my search. 1! ONE frickin job!

I can count the number of new jobs in my 250,000+ resident city on one hand!

I've walked from one contract straight into the next, the next working day for the past 2 years. Now I've been out of work for 2 months and still nowt. I canlt even find anything to apply for. This is BEFORE you factor in the supply-demmand issue for a country flooded by unemployed and hardly any jobs.

Anyone else looking around and coming to the same realisation that, bscially, we're fked? I give it a month, then I'm turning to crime.

But considering you've earnt well above that of your permie contemporaries, you will no doubt be able to sit through this downtime until something good comes up. Right?

[ewenm]

Since you've been contracting fulltime for a couple of years you should have enough saved up to tide you over the barren periods - that's why (well, one of the reasons why) we contractors get paid well.

December-January is always a rubbish time for looking for new contracts anyway.

[croyde]

Similar situation as a Freelance TV Cameraman. Most of my regular clients closed shop or just stopped using Freelancers in Dec. I have had quiet times before but then there was always someone to ring and offer your services too.

Now I am just hoping for last minute stuff, sickness cover etc but then there are a lot more of us sitting at home.

BTW as a Freelancer, at what point can you claim to be unemployed, officially in the eyes of the DHSS or whatever they are called these days.

[robm3]

Ah, I typed IT Consultant into Monster.Co.UK and it came up with 705 positions ???

[Yugguy]

Been looking myself now it's outsourcing year, just in case.


There seem to be two jobs available - fk and All.

[quotemehappy]

Abbey head office in MK are currently hiring, customer service and call centre positions.

[Munter]

ewenm said:

Since you've been contracting fulltime for a couple of years you should have enough saved up to tide you over the barren periods - that's why (well, one of the reasons why) we contractors get paid well.

Surprising though isn't it the number of people who started contracting and fail to do this. Even when they know they should.

[singlecoil]

croyde said:

BTW as a Freelancer, at what point can you claim to be unemployed, officially in the eyes of the DHSS or whatever they are called these days.

Don't know exactly, but I think the pen pushers at the DSS rub their hands with evil glee when a previously self employed person comes in and tries to get some benefits.

[mattikake]

I have some cash saved-up, but consider how fast they go when you have zero income. 4 months is good to last, but it's the relative change. Unbelievable! It's more a panic about how little work there is, especially if this downturn lasts for another year...

I've run out of st and am now starting on my rse muscles.

[mattikake]

quotemehappy said:

Abbey head office in MK are currently hiring, customer service and call centre positions.

Got a link? On their webiste? A jobsite?

Any old crap will do for now!

[Sheets Tabuer]

singlecoil said:

croyde said:

BTW as a Freelancer, at what point can you claim to be unemployed, officially in the eyes of the DHSS or whatever they are called these days.

Don't know exactly, but I think the pen pushers at the DSS rub their hands with evil glee when a previously self employed person comes in and tries to get some benefits.

I'm not working either at the minute, been a few months since I did any IT work, spoke to a mate who went to sign on and he said they are offering IT courses to the unemployed to fill the skills gap.

[croyde]

Sheets Tabuer said:

singlecoil said:

croyde said:

BTW as a Freelancer, at what point can you claim to be unemployed, officially in the eyes of the DHSS or whatever they are called these days.

Don't know exactly, but I think the pen pushers at the DSS rub their hands with evil glee when a previously self employed person comes in and tries to get some benefits.

I'm not working either at the minute, been a few months since I did any IT work, spoke to a mate who went to sign on and he said they are offering IT courses to the unemployed to fill the skills gap.

Ha ha very useful.

[isv]

You've been lucky but now you need to be prepared to travel. Getting contracts in your home city is a luxury that might not last much longer.

If you take a country-wide view then there are far more contracts out there... and if you can look further afield then plenty of work to be had in mainland Europe still. BUT it is getting competitive - the contractors with solid skills/experience are the ones getting short-listed for interview.

Contract rates normally reflect the fact that travel and/or bench time are the norm for many contractors.

What's your skill set/experience btw?

[Big Rod]

singlecoil said:

croyde said:

BTW as a Freelancer, at what point can you claim to be unemployed, officially in the eyes of the DHSS or whatever they are called these days.

Don't know exactly, but I think the pen pushers at the DSS rub their hands with evil glee when a previously self employed person comes in and tries to get some benefits.

If your contract has run it's course and you haven't had a renewal then it's tough.

If however your contract was terminated even one day early, then you're entitled to the whole £54 pw or whatever it is these days. (It does help in the downtimes though for claiming mortgage insurance and stuff like that!)

[Eric Mc]

Ahh.. but very few are actually self employed, are they. They operate through their own limited companies and have been paying their Class 1 NI contributions - or have they?

[quotemehappy]

Reed Employment. Kelly services or Hays in MK are the agencies they use, i got in through reed. You can apply online also at www.abbeyjobs.com, however with agency you are right in after completing all the paperwork.

[Munter]

mattikake said:

quotemehappy said:

Abbey head office in MK are currently hiring, customer service and call centre positions.

Got a link? On their webiste? A jobsite?

Any old crap will do for now!

www.jobsatabbey.com

at a guess.

[marshalla]

robm3 said:

Ah, I typed IT Consultant into Monster.Co.UK and it came up with 705 positions ???

I'll bet most (all) of those are "sales consultants" though