Weird Jobs Market

[Mikhail Liebenstein]

Having seen a rather flat growth in pay the last 2 years I decided to test the jobs market - not great timing really.

But the interesting thing is that in just over a month, I now look to be pretty close to securing 4 job offers. The biggest challenge I seem to face, is actually being able to bunk off work and this website for long enough to go to the interviews.

Now, I guess I am probably in quite a strong position, as I did go to a top University and have a good CV in terms of past and current employers, as well as a good mix of technical and commercial skills. But that aside it does seem there are still plenty of good technology jobs out there.

What experiences do others have? Does it depend on where you live?

I guess things wouldn't be so good if I was property expert.

[Si1]

blimey - I just checked my patch for my old skillset (career change - didn't like it)

and there were loads of technical oracle dev jobs

triple blimey, well paid too

could this be application of IT for business efficicency gains, presumably motivated by the recession to get profitable again??

[A.steve]

plenty of good technology jobs out there.

I'm contemplating career moves at the moment... What do you mean by the above? What do you think a "good technology job" constitutes?

I'm surprised by there not appearing to be a downturn in demand from financial services - though it is far from certain to be a good sector into which to move a career. There's a lot of public sector work - too... but that has its own drawbacks.

Are you looking in Livingstone (outside Edinburgh) or elsewhere? From what I remember, there are quite a few technology companies based up-there... but they never used to pay very well compared to companies in England.

Edit: Sorry - ignore my twaddle about Livingstone - you're in Surrey, right.

Edited March 6, 2009 by A.steve

[Si1]

my experience was that we have just had a practical recession in the field for 5 years or a bit more, certainly in my area.

Hypothetically, if company A was efficient and company B inefficient but surviving on expanding credit for years, now either having gone bankrupt or severly limited in growth due to paying down debt, then company A may be seeing an opportunity to expand and gain a competitive edge, at least in efficiency / process terms.

just a thought to explain this - the recession doing its work in this respect.

for me this is hiopeful news - I'm in a niche research area of IT and environment research, so if this happens in mainstream IT then less people will be tempted to come into my area and compete with me, which is less well paid (and deserves to be) but a job I enjoy much more.

Edited March 6, 2009 by Si1

[50%deposit]

im completely unskilled and no one has ever wanted to employ me other than call centers and warehouses. occasionally i look in the local paper..... cleaner, driving instructor, shopaholic (wtf), extended schools co-ordinator (they wont let me near children even though i pay taxes), plumber (upto £40k lol), out of school club manager, merchandiser?, sales person for 4x4's, legoland photographer... lol, photo people on the rides...

nah, all dead end jobs with not enough pay to buy a house.

most jobs they want people that are happy, bright, positive, team players. Im miserable, depressed, full of hate, a loner and really negative about most things. im totally unemployable.

i'd like to be a mercenary though, or an assassin. Or a serial killer, but i didn't see those vacancies in the paper. I supposed they are advertised in the same mystical place that movie star jobs, aerospace engineers, porn stars and CEO roles are advertised

[ralphmalph]

I agree there are a lot of jobs out there.

Unless you are a architect, estate agent, valuer, mortgage advisor, solicitor (property or commercial) or a prospect labour party MP.

[the end is a bit nigher]

My view from the contract / consultancy world is that there are very few jobs out there and the ones that are, are generally paying about 35% down on recent times. Many companies would still pay shite money and take on the dross, although there are a few that will still pay good money for someone with experience and skill.

[Old Eddy]

Sons in I.T. security has worked for Banks and top accounting firms...out of work since October just had two offers and I advised accept the one that seems most secure not the top salary....He used to be able to quit one job and have several job offers to take up but this was a real shock to him......he has also helped so many other people get jobs and when he needed help there was no-one to be seen ..welcome to the real world son...when the chips are down its look after number 1

[OnlyMe]

Interesting stats from Jobstats, rates doing a blip up big time. whilst total demand is down.

Bizarre.

http://www.jobstats.co.uk/jobstats.d/Rates.html

[porca misèria]

I'm contemplating career moves at the moment... What do you mean by the above? What do you think a "good technology job" constitutes?

I'm surprised by there not appearing to be a downturn in demand from financial services - though it is far from certain to be a good sector into which to move a career. There's a lot of public sector work - too... but that has its own drawbacks.

Are you looking in Livingstone (outside Edinburgh) or elsewhere? From what I remember, there are quite a few technology companies based up-there... but they never used to pay very well compared to companies in England.

Edit: Sorry - ignore my twaddle about Livingstone - you're in Surrey, right.

Um, a lot of the (very) big names have been laying people off. My employer is cutting 20% of its worldwide workforce, including a whole facility in Silicon Glen. That seems quite typical: I've heard similar announcements from other big tech companies. Worrying, but hasn't happened to me yet.

As for Oracle - that's truly selling your soul, and makes Microsoft look almost benign! But it's a huge cash-cow.

[sleepless]

Unless you have specific technical experience, are prepared to work anywhere, take a significant pay cut on your last contract and are extremely lucky, you will not get a contract in the next few months, maybe longer IMO

[durhamborn]

Having seen a rather flat growth in pay the last 2 years I decided to test the jobs market - not great timing really.

But the interesting thing is that in just over a month, I now look to be pretty close to securing 4 job offers. The biggest challenge I seem to face, is actually being able to bunk off work and this website for long enough to go to the interviews.

Now, I guess I am probably in quite a strong position, as I did go to a top University and have a good CV in terms of past and current employers, as well as a good mix of technical and commercial skills. But that aside it does seem there are still plenty of good technology jobs out there.

What experiences do others have? Does it depend on where you live?

I guess things wouldn't be so good if I was property expert.

I did the same.Was working in engineering up until last year.Saw what was coming and applied for 3 jobs in pharmaceuticals where i worked for 12 years.I got offered all 3.

I took the one with the lowest pay of the 3,but really liked the company,and really enjoying the job.

I took a 5k pay cut,but from a job that 2 months ago would of been redundant.

My new employer seems happy as im now helping them with things from when i worked for the worlds 2nd biggest pharma.

Id expect to get a promotion within a year and go above the wage i left behind that has now gone anyway.

Skills are what count,that and dont wait when you smell the coffee where you already are.

[babesagainstmachines]

I walked out on my IT job last year. Programming risk management software. I have great timing

[Methinkshe]

im completely unskilled and no one has ever wanted to employ me other than call centers and warehouses. occasionally i look in the local paper..... cleaner, driving instructor, shopaholic (wtf), extended schools co-ordinator (they wont let me near children even though i pay taxes), plumber (upto £40k lol), out of school club manager, merchandiser?, sales person for 4x4's, legoland photographer... lol, photo people on the rides...

nah, all dead end jobs with not enough pay to buy a house.

most jobs they want people that are happy, bright, positive, team players. Im miserable, depressed, full of hate, a loner and really negative about most things. im totally unemployable.

i'd like to be a mercenary though, or an assassin. Or a serial killer, but i didn't see those vacancies in the paper. I supposed they are advertised in the same mystical place that movie star jobs, aerospace engineers, porn stars and CEO roles are advertised

I'm not surprised you are unemployable after reading your comment following the death of David Cameron's disabled son. Happily it was deleted by the mods before it was read by too many, but I haven't forgotten it - because I, too, have a disabled child, and I was extremely offended, thus it logged in my memory. And contrary to what you may think, with her hopeful and sunny disposition, her willingness to try and try and try against all the odds, my daughter brings greater joy to me, to her family, her school, and to society than most able-bodied people, especially those who make such claims as: " Im (sic) miserable, depressed, full of hate, a loner and really negative about most things. im (sic) totally unemployable."

[Nicholas Cage]

My move was from textiles after losing my job recently, so now looking for IT work.

Steer well clear of IT Networking, there are no jobs available at the moment and it's not even worth

trying. So don't because it's a waste of time .

[Flat Bear]

Having seen a rather flat growth in pay the last 2 years I decided to test the jobs market - not great timing really.

But the interesting thing is that in just over a month, I now look to be pretty close to securing 4 job offers. The biggest challenge I seem to face, is actually being able to bunk off work and this website for long enough to go to the interviews.

Now, I guess I am probably in quite a strong position, as I did go to a top University and have a good CV in terms of past and current employers, as well as a good mix of technical and commercial skills. But that aside it does seem there are still plenty of good technology jobs out there.

What experiences do others have? Does it depend on where you live?

I guess things wouldn't be so good if I was property expert.

Wow

This is the most bullish post concerning the economy/jobs market for a long time but it does sort of tie in with a piece of antidotal I have come across.

Couple of IT workers (i take this is what you mean by technology?) arrived from poland 2 weeks ago, speak very little english but apparantely some good IT skills found jobs within days which I thought was lucky. They say they have a number of friends who will be coming over because of this boom in IT jobs. I thought they were wrong as only a few years ago IT was in a bad state.

Expect a massive influx into the IT sector jobs at over 25k (35k a year ago)being accepted at below 20k though. At least something is holding up, has Gordon turned things around? Are these the first signs of green shoots?

Maybe this recession is not as bad as I thought. But hang on a minute, who is offering these jobs though? How are they making money? Will this mini boom last?

[the end is a bit nigher]

Unless you have specific technical experience, are prepared to work anywhere, take a significant pay cut on your last contract and are extremely lucky, you will not get a contract in the next few months, maybe longer IMO

I have no specific technical skills, but a lot of experience in what I do. Other than that, I totally agree with what you are syaing.

[Si1]

As for Oracle - that's truly selling your soul, and makes Microsoft look almost benign! But it's a huge cash-cow.

great at what it does - scaleable - but very unintuitive to prgram, I thought

didn't enjoy it. changed career, less pay, more enjoyable. still technical but not corporate.

[Si1]

Maybe this recession is not as bad as I thought. But hang on a minute, who is offering these jobs though? How are they making money? Will this mini boom last?

it can't last, because the taxes will have to go up after the next election, to pay for all the public borrowing and then we'll have a double dip recession and sluggish growth for years after - unless debt is REALLY inlfated away and public sector pensions are forcibly reduced

Edited March 6, 2009 by Si1

[Guest happy?]

Having seen a rather flat growth in pay the last 2 years I decided to test the jobs market - not great timing really.

But the interesting thing is that in just over a month, I now look to be pretty close to securing 4 job offers. The biggest challenge I seem to face, is actually being able to bunk off work and this website for long enough to go to the interviews.

Now, I guess I am probably in quite a strong position, as I did go to a top University and have a good CV in terms of past and current employers, as well as a good mix of technical and commercial skills. But that aside it does seem there are still plenty of good technology jobs out there.

What experiences do others have? Does it depend on where you live?

I guess things wouldn't be so good if I was property expert.

If it wasn't for the printers and it wasn't for the customers IT would be a great career...

[ZeroSumGame]

My view from the contract / consultancy world is that there are very few jobs out there and the ones that are, are generally paying about 35% down on recent times. Many companies would still pay shite money and take on the dross, although there are a few that will still pay good money for someone with experience and skill.

+1. Gotta agree. Most contractors I know are not doing well.

Sons in I.T. security has worked for Banks and top accounting firms...out of work since October just had two offers and I advised accept the one that seems most secure not the top salary....He used to be able to quit one job and have several job offers to take up but this was a real shock to him......he has also helped so many other people get jobs and when he needed help there was no-one to be seen ..welcome to the real world son...when the chips are down its look after number 1

Good Post.

Um, a lot of the (very) big names have been laying people off. My employer is cutting 20% of its worldwide workforce, including a whole facility in Silicon Glen. That seems quite typical: I've heard similar announcements from other big tech companies. Worrying, but hasn't happened to me yet.

As for Oracle - that's truly selling your soul, and makes Microsoft look almost benign! But it's a huge cash-cow.

Yip. I've been seeing the big ones culling jobs by the hundred.

My move was from textiles after losing my job recently, so now looking for IT work.

Steer well clear of IT Networking, there are no jobs available at the moment and it's not even worth

trying. So don't because it's a waste of time .

Long gone are the days of £100/hr for Cisco skills.

[Hip to be bear]

I guess things wouldn't be so good if I was property expert.

Bizzarely Connells Estate Agents are recruiting 2 Negotiators in one of their Dorset Offices at the moment. I kid you not. Ad in the local paper today.

House Price Crash cancelled!

[Hip to be bear]

I see Honest EA is browsing. Any thoughts re EAs recruiting????

[Stop The Ride]

If it wasn't for the printers and it wasn't for the customers IT would be a great career...

I heard Bank of England is hiring printers.

[grey shark]

I see Honest EA is browsing. Any thoughts re EAs recruiting????

I've caught him a few times browsing