Are you optimistic for 2011?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

How is everybody feeling things will go in 2011?

Are things set to get worse?

Will rates go down as new guys flood onto the market from the public sector?

I am feeling quite pessimistic as I can't see the economy moving out of the deep hole for a while yet and all these "signs of recoveries" appear to be false dawns.

[ThomasSoerensen]

I am optimistic regarding my options when I need a new contract come February.

In Germany the recovery seems to be real.

[gingerjedi]

Same, i.e. crap.

[Mich the Tester]

I am optimistic regarding my options when I need a new contract come February.

In Germany the recovery seems to be real.

Same in NL; seems to be OK here. However, am being phoned for permie roles a lot lately.

[Spacecadet]

Same in NL; seems to be OK here. However, am being phoned for permie roles a lot lately.

I keep getting pestered for those too, seems that agents think that downturns are synonymous with easy to convert contractors

[GreenLabel]

I've got work through until March, so the awful December-February quiet period is covered at least. This contract has been good to me - extended four times - so after that I'll take some time out for a few weeks of travel and start the search again in April. I'm told that's not a bad time to be looking, though I guess at the moment it's all relative...

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

So many permie jobs posted.

Sick of them. I can't see the point in going for a permie job paying anything less than 50k and in the North West those are difficult if not impossible to comeby.

[Mich the Tester]

I keep getting pestered for those too, seems that agents think that downturns are synonymous with easy to convert contractors

One just said his client's prepared to pay 'enough to persuade a succesful contractor'.

Now to let them know how much 'enough' is.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

One just said his client's prepared to pay 'enough to persuade a succesful contractor'.

Now to let them know how much 'enough' is.

The gap is ridiculous.

When I was permie I would have jumped at the opportunity to earn 35k. Now I wouldn't be happy with 50k. It just completely prices me out of the market in the North West.

[Mich the Tester]

The gap is ridiculous.

When I was permie I would have jumped at the opportunity to earn 35k. Now I wouldn't be happy with 50k. It just completely prices me out of the market in the North West.

If you're doing well as a contractor in the North West I can't imagine you'll get a better lifestyle anywhere as a permie.