Sunday, May 25, 2008

Is The Worm Turning?

"The worm will turn when trodden upon" is from an ancient proverb meaning the meekest among us will fight back when provoked. It can also mean a change in fortune - Adapted from The Urban Dictionary

It's the "change in fortune" meaning of the idiom that is on my mind these days.

I get quite a few calls from recruiters over the course of a week. These calls provide opportunities to expand my network and help me keep a finger on the pulse of the Oracle skills marketplace, so I try to take them whenever I can.

Over the past three or four weeks, I've noticed a change in the types of recruiter phone calls. Seems like I'm getting fewer of "I have this great opportunity, would you or anyone you know be interested" types of calls. Instead, I'm getting more of "I have these great people, do you have any opportunities for them?" I still get more of the former type of calls, but the mix is definitely changing in favor of the latter. I'm starting to wonder if the worm is turning...are we seeing a drop in demand for Oracle skills?

So, what's the deal? Do those of you in the Oracle skills marketplace (whether you're hiring people, seeking a job, working as a contractor or you're a consultant) see things slowing down? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

4 comments:

thierry said...

it is slowing down. ERP licenses are down, now consulting follows

Anonymous said...

I think it depends on what sector you "live" in. For Life Science/Med Device, things keep heating up. For traditional consumr goods, I hear quite a bit of slow-down

David Haimes said...

Funny, I used to get a lot and then had heard nothing much from recruiters in the last year or so. However the last 3 or 4 weeks I've had quite a few calls from recruiters with open positions to fill.

Hardly scientific, but there you go.

justadba said...

The market has changed as it does with the usual supply and demand. Oracle going after smaller implementations with fewer consultants. But if you have a very strong skillset and no aversion to travel, there's plenty of work to be had.