IT Contracting Market difficult at the moment?

[gremlin123]

Any other IT contractors out there having difficulty finding work?

I have been looking since March and not even an interview

[digger_R]

Which part of IT? I'm about to give up my contract and go travelling for a while hoping that the market will be a little healthier when I return in 6-12 months.
Looking around at the moment, the development market seems reasonably steady (even if it is a little thin on the ground).

[JonRB]

I was out for 7 or 8 weeks but just landed a local one at an ok-ish rate. There *is* stuff out there, but it's pretty grim and there's a lot of competition.

(I'm in Software Development, BTW. Specifically C++ under Windows)

[Big Rod]

After a spell of absolutely nothing for months, I've seen a bit of an upsurge in jobs in my sector, (CTI solution development and support.).

A lot of places seem to be advertising for permanent staff though or contract with an option to go permy. I guess it's to keep costs under control even though they have ot increase resource.

[JonRB]

Big Rod said:

A lot of places seem to be advertising for permanent staff though or contract with an option to go permy. I guess it's to keep costs under control even though they have ot increase resource.

You see, this is what I don't understand. In this period of economic uncertainty, a contractor on a 2 week notice period that you can get rid of with no questions is surely a far lower risk than taking on a permie with all their associated rights, benefits, protection from 'unfair dismissal' and other associated costs?

[gremlin123]

JonRB said:

Big Rod said:

A lot of places seem to be advertising for permanent staff though or contract with an option to go permy. I guess it's to keep costs under control even though they have ot increase resource.

You see, this is what I don't understand. In this period of economic uncertainty, a contractor on a 2 week notice period that you can get rid of with no questions is surely a far lower risk than taking on a permie with all their associated rights, benefits, protection from 'unfair dismissal' and other associated costs?

And work for lower rates since the Market is bad.

I'm a tester with 10 years UNIX and Oracle experience. Since I finished a 2 years contract at Barclays end of Feb I have had no interviews. Its getting boring.

[dcb]

JonRB said:

I was out for 7 or 8 weeks but just landed a local one at an ok-ish rate. There *is* stuff out there, but it's pretty grim and there's a lot of competition.

(I'm in Software Development, BTW. Specifically C++ under Windows)

There appear to be very very few software development contracts
out there.

In former times, I'd type in my skill set to the usual
websites and get a couple of thousand matches nationwide
and have to filter them down to my local district, up the rate
etc etc

These days, for the same skills, I get 20-30 matches nationwide.

Fortunately, the sun is shining and there is plenty to do
at home.

[prand]

I can't see it being too nice out there. We are scrutinising all our IT contractors and "Work Packages" at the moment. In three months there will be very few left and we won't be re-recruiting unless absolutely necessary.

Saying that, one of the contractors I had to let go recently had a job within a week of leaving so there is work out there.

[deckster]

I was benched from October to April; plenty of interviews but none that translated into contracts. Eventually I took the plunge and am now back working permie, and even that took a bit of trying!

It's bad, really bad...

[Big Rod]

So if I got the chance of a contract for a reasonable term would it be worth going for it or should I just stick with the permanent job I have?

[cappsy]

i know our company anyway massive worldwide It firm for the govt MOD,we are bringing more work in house ans offering overtime rather than getting contractors in

[ewenm]

cappsy said:

i know our company anyway massive worldwide It firm for the govt MOD,we are bringing more work in house ans offering overtime rather than getting contractors in

I'm on a MoD contract through a global IT company but only on 20hrs a week at the moment. The market does seem flat at the moment, not a good time to be looking for a contract.

[cappsy]

ewenm said:

cappsy said:

i know our company anyway massive worldwide It firm for the govt MOD,we are bringing more work in house ans offering overtime rather than getting contractors in

I'm on a MoD contract through a global IT company but only on 20hrs a week at the moment. The market does seem flat at the moment, not a good time to be looking for a contract.

dii ??? for atlas??

[bga]

The SAP contract market is pretty dire at the moment. The agencies aren't helping, a few of them are advertising roles at greatly reduced rates, despite their clients paying roughly the same.

[ewenm]

cappsy said:

ewenm said:

cappsy said:

i know our company anyway massive worldwide It firm for the govt MOD,we are bringing more work in house ans offering overtime rather than getting contractors in

I'm on a MoD contract through a global IT company but only on 20hrs a week at the moment. The market does seem flat at the moment, not a good time to be looking for a contract.

dii ??? for atlas??

No thank goodness although I do have a dii pc to use if need be...

Civilian payroll (PPPA) with IBM.

[cappsy]

i was at the PPPA today in cheadle doing a laptop build on a dii laptop

[ewenm]

cappsy said:

i was at the PPPA today in cheadle doing a laptop build on a dii laptop

I'm at the Bath site, with very rare trips to Cheadle

[cappsy]

gonna say u may have heard me arrive i took the ferrari!

[yellowtr]

Its rubbish for me. Been out since mid April and not a sniff of work. Rates are utterly dreadul and I hate agents saying "thats the best we can do". Well its not really mate, when I could work stacking shelves at John Lewis for more is it?

[gremlin123]

Three years ago I found a new contact within a week and my CV matched none of the required skills. If I can get the interview I can normally get the job. I have been looking since March and had no interviews.