I.T Contracting market: how is it for you?

[MattNM3E36]

Hi,

I'm a tester, good few years experience, SC clearance and experience in a wide variety of environments

Finding the market a bh at the moment, though this is the first time I've had to look at this time of year and I'm wondering if part of it is down to the lull after summer hols

Admittedly, I'm being a tad picky as I'm looking for something West Country based so I suppose if I went up the M4 corridor I might fare a little better

How's everyone else (I.T only) finding things?

Edited by MattNM3E36 on Sunday 14th September 16:32

[amir_j]

Can't comment on UK or testing as currently doing a stint abroad, but been keeping an eye on job boards and seems relatively busy in my skill area.

Still getting calls/emails too so hoping will be fine when get back in a few months. Mind you i'm much more flexible and work all over.

[rich1231]

testing is an off the shelf non niche skillset.

Expect to be raped

[bga]

Things are a bit quiet in the SAP market at the moment. Lots of contractors fighting over fewer roles & more of the agencies are now back to stty tricks to try and flog people.

Business picked up a bit in September as expected after the summer hols but (for us at least) the true test will be in January after new budgets are allocated.

[amir_j]

bga said:

Things are a bit quiet in the SAP market at the moment. Lots of contractors fighting over fewer roles & more of the agencies are now back to stty tricks to try and flog people.

Business picked up a bit in September as expected after the summer hols but (for us at least) the true test will be in January after new budgets are allocated.

bgs- how hard is it to break into sap? Is it as simple as getting SAP Dev network subscription and studying and doing the certificates and starting off with a few junior roles? As the rates seem to be much higher than anything else.

[bga]

amir_j said:

bgs- how hard is it to break into sap? Is it as simple as getting SAP Dev network subscription and studying and doing the certificates and starting off with a few junior roles? As the rates seem to be much higher than anything else.

Hi Amir,

Good question, one that often gets asked in places like SAPFans & SDN, there is no right answer & everyone knows exceptions etc.

If you want to be taken seriously then it's experience over certs every time.

If you really want to get into SAP with no experience then get a role in a company running or implementing SAP and show an interest into moving into their SAP operation. You will get hands on experience and they will likely pay for you to go on courses too. I am a trainer on 2 of SAP UK's courses so know how they work and SAP is unlikely to let you sit the cert exam unless you have done the courses. If you don't have some hands on experience then you will likely find the courses of limited value as they can be a lot to take in even if you are experienced.

Alternatively you could join a consulting firm where you will get trained up and get to see a few clients. People like Accenture, Axon, IBM, Atos, E&Y, Deloitte, CAP Gemini all have SAP practices.

Whichever route you take, you need to choose what to do. Where do your skills lie? SAP is generally split between technical & functional.

Technical is generally either Basis - the technology which runs the show or developer. Basis needs knowledge of OS, Networking, scheduling etc & is the sysadmin role.

SAP development is generally done in ABAP which is an interpreted language with syntax akin to Cobol. Java is gaining ground but companies using that part of the Netweaver suite are limited. If you are a programmer then this would be a logical step.

If you don't want to do that stuff then there is the functional stuff. SAP is arranged into modules covering stuff like HR, Finance, Controlling (management accounts), Materials Management, Production Planning etc. If you have experience in one of these areas before, e.g. as a Business Analyst or even hands on like an Accountant, then it can be a logical step into these. Functional rates are higher than Basis or development because a lot of that is offshored and generally commoditised.

Another area which is in big demand is BI - Business Information. There aren't a lot of people with BI skills as it covers technical & functional areas & can get very complex!

If you want to hit the contract market then for the last 3 years or so you really need 3 years under your belt to get a decent rate. With 3 years then you could probably get £350 p/d if you are good.

£500 a day isn't unreasonable if you have around 5 years, a few implementations under your belt, are technically competent & have good functional understanding.

Generally certs don't equal better rates & in only a few cases are prerequisites to a role. I can honestly say that some of the most incompetent people I have interviewed have had certification.

Hope this is of some use, let me know if you have any other questions etc.

[amir_j]

bga said:

amir_j said:

bgs- how hard is it to break into sap? Is it as simple as getting SAP Dev network subscription and studying and doing the certificates and starting off with a few junior roles? As the rates seem to be much higher than anything else.

Hi Amir,

Good question, one that often gets asked in places like SAPFans & SDN, there is no right answer & everyone knows exceptions etc.

If you want to be taken seriously then it's experience over certs every time.

If you really want to get into SAP with no experience then get a role in a company running or implementing SAP and show an interest into moving into their SAP operation. You will get hands on experience and they will likely pay for you to go on courses too. I am a trainer on 2 of SAP UK's courses so know how they work and SAP is unlikely to let you sit the cert exam unless you have done the courses. If you don't have some hands on experience then you will likely find the courses of limited value as they can be a lot to take in even if you are experienced.

Alternatively you could join a consulting firm where you will get trained up and get to see a few clients. People like Accenture, Axon, IBM, Atos, E&Y, Deloitte, CAP Gemini all have SAP practices.

Whichever route you take, you need to choose what to do. Where do your skills lie? SAP is generally split between technical & functional.

Technical is generally either Basis - the technology which runs the show or developer. Basis needs knowledge of OS, Networking, scheduling etc & is the sysadmin role.

SAP development is generally done in ABAP which is an interpreted language with syntax akin to Cobol. Java is gaining ground but companies using that part of the Netweaver suite are limited. If you are a programmer then this would be a logical step.

If you don't want to do that stuff then there is the functional stuff. SAP is arranged into modules covering stuff like HR, Finance, Controlling (management accounts), Materials Management, Production Planning etc. If you have experience in one of these areas before, e.g. as a Business Analyst or even hands on like an Accountant, then it can be a logical step into these. Functional rates are higher than Basis or development because a lot of that is offshored and generally commoditised.

Another area which is in big demand is BI - Business Information. There aren't a lot of people with BI skills as it covers technical & functional areas & can get very complex!

If you want to hit the contract market then for the last 3 years or so you really need 3 years under your belt to get a decent rate. With 3 years then you could probably get £350 p/d if you are good.

£500 a day isn't unreasonable if you have around 5 years, a few implementations under your belt, are technically competent & have good functional understanding.

Generally certs don't equal better rates & in only a few cases are prerequisites to a role. I can honestly say that some of the most incompetent people I have interviewed have had certification.

Hope this is of some use, let me know if you have any other questions etc.

Many Thanks- much appreiciated- have sent to a colleague who is also interested.

[fade2grey]

Matt, testing & SC cleared - you want to mooch along the M4 towards reading then.

[MattNM3E36]

Quite, I do, but...........

Previously worked on a SC up there but the recent end to FJ's contract with the NHS southern cluster has led to a glut of FJ perm's needing work and being given it in just the type of role I was planning on filling

I have a feeling you may know where I'm talking about F2G?

Edited by MattNM3E36 on Sunday 14th September 23:45

[drivin_me_nuts]

.. if you are going to go down the ABAP routs and learn the programming language and also the Basis side then take the time and the money to learn how to do it properly. It takes precisely 2 seconds to spot someone who is blagging in these areas and you won't get a second chance.

[amir_j]

5000 Lehman staff in UK- a large percentage will be IT...

[bosshog]

I'm currently hiring junior java (and web) developers if anyone wants a stint on the French Riveria.

Edited by bosshog on Tuesday 16th September 15:27

[IainT]

Current contract keeps getting extended (transport in london for a london transport provider) but I'm hoping it'll come to a proper end soon - maybe string it out until the end of the year and take jan/feb/march off and ski a bit

As a Java Architect/Team Lead the market is variable but having a specialisation in Spatial stuff (mainly Oracle) it really helps nailing down positions.

From experience it's better to be looking at this time of year rather than Nov/Dec/Jan...