I read your blog and it makes a lot of relevant observations that reflect well what I see and hear from various sources.

If I compare this to the same period in 2007 leading up to a start in April that year, I didn’t actually have to look very hard, mostly waited for phone calls and scan a few job sites, as well as keeping in touch with you guys. I actually had a choice of 5 potential assignments.

Compare that to the same period this year and its a stark contrast. The phone hardly rings, when I scan appropriate sites there are hardly any suitable projects and the agencies all tell the same tale.

What I am also finding is that when I have chanced across what appears to be a good project, I either don’t progress because the criteria is so exact that clients want every possible box ticked – with one recent example they wanted actual experience in a very niche market but still with all of the operational skills. One or two where I have made progress, I find there is inevitably the “internal candidate”, who quickly is seen as the cheapest and easiest option. Clients seem to prefer the risk of failure with short term cost saving.

Like yourself, I am surprised there is little sign of a requirement for turnaround and I would add restructuring and relocation. As manufacturing shrinks and consolidates there are a lot of “relocation” projects being discussed but again people are unwilling to pay for expert skills. I actually know of an instance where the current Warehouse Manager has been asked to manage a relocation and he readily admits he hasn’t a clue!

Anyway, your blog made interesting reading and I believe from our perspective we have to hope that with any green shoots also comes the courage and conviction to seek out experts who can actually produce the goods for improvement.

Your point about very slow decision process about interim jobs is certainly my current experience, as well as jobs just not coming to fruition after an early contact and good fit established etc.

Very frustrating!

Ian.