I guess that's why they call it the blues ...

**Pickle2** · 9 March 2009, 11:31

Posts: 1

You could try posting on here more?

**GCR99** · 9 March 2009, 11:41

Originally posted by ziggy View Post

Hey folks,

What are your strategies for coping with this downturn?

No ... I'm not looking for tips on how to hunt even longer for more jobs, speak to more pimps or get interviews for contracts that are at rates that I was on as a permie 10 years ago ... I'm talking about the humdrum boredom of just hanging around the house all day, trawling the jobsites, checking for new emails/voicemail every hour, eating junk food, watching junk TV, snapping at the missus, etc?

I've done all of my minor DIY jobs now ... there isn't a squeaky hinge in the whole house ... and no, I am NOT going to order and label all of the nails and screws in my garage (that's called obsessive-compulsive) ... I'm trying to decide whether to just job hunt maybe twice a week, check my email once a day and leave my mobile on ... and just throw myself into a big DIY project and be prepared to write off the year.

What are you guys/gals thinking? I'm sooo bored seeing the same old jobs being re-posted on the jobsites ... asking for everything plus the kitchen sink but wanting to pay pocket money ... aaahhh ... it's an employers/pimps market at the moment ... but it's hard enough putting up with all of the daily cr*p that you normally have to put up with when pay is good and work is plentiful ... but doing it for a pittance? ... or even worse ... as a permie!

Ziggy

go permie, it may be your only option unless you can tough it out financially for the next 9 months

**Svalbaard** · 9 March 2009, 11:43

Am off April / May and then back at current client co to run another SAP project. Plans so far..

1. Skiing April.
2. Divemaster course in May.
3. Bit of DIY.
4. Antifoul underside of boat - need a big motivational push to get this done.

**Ruprect** · 9 March 2009, 11:50

Originally posted by GCR99 View Post

go permie, it may be your only option unless you can tough it out financially for the next 9 months

years

- sasguru

**Foxy Moron** · 9 March 2009, 11:52

House prices only ever go down

**rootsnall** · 9 March 2009, 11:56

A serious disciplined retraining effort or a major DIY project, in both cases were you put the required hours in each day religously. I've done both in the past during slow spells and I'm pretty sure it paid off. I've also drifted along doing not much when out of work and enjoyed drifting but you get fed up sooner or later. I have a nasty feeling this slow spell will be slower and longer than previous ones so a bit of discipline is defo required in my case. I'm just about to put in planning permission for an extension as my fallback for the summer months if I'm benched.

**crimdon** · 9 March 2009, 12:03

My gig ends March 31st so with the river fly fishing season starting a week before that, its almost perfect timing

**expat** · 9 March 2009, 12:38

Originally posted by ziggy View Post

Hey folks,

What are your strategies for coping with this downturn?

No ... I'm not looking for tips on how to hunt even longer for more jobs, speak to more pimps or get interviews for contracts that are at rates that I was on as a permie 10 years ago ... I'm talking about the humdrum boredom of just hanging around the house all day, trawling the jobsites, checking for new emails/voicemail every hour, eating junk food, watching junk TV, snapping at the missus, etc?

Do you read books?

**badger7579** · 9 March 2009, 14:18

Learn to play poker better than anyone else in the world and earn s*** loads.. Thats my plan B

Or whilst benched up my skills. In this climate the more skills you have the better the chance of getting off the bench.

I guess that's why they call it the blues ...