End-of-Year Trends

As usual, those of us who are looking to stay busy in 2025 tend to touch base to compare notes with each other. Although, even the people retiring seem interested in hearing how the rest of us are doing. In any case, we compare notes whether looking for consulting projects or positions within companies. For me, either one if my current customer doesn't get their 2025 budget item for my services approved.

I purposely mention budget approval because that is one key, here. This is the time of year when most companies in the US are getting their budgets approved. Some of the companies are already starting to look for people, in preparation for their 2025 hiring or project work.

Typically, the budget item they're looking for is for an employee to be around for a longer period, or it is for consultants to work with a specific project. Keep in-mind that these are two separate budget areas and most companies are not going to try to switch from one to the other. However, I have had a couple recruiters come to me with the "rent to own" scenario where, if you do a "good" job, apparently you have a chance of being hired.

I tend to look a those with a jaundiced eye, considering they often want a person to move, to pay for the move themself, and there's no guarantee that person will get hired in any particular timeframe if ever. If you need something at least temporary or it would provide you with important experience even if you're not eventually hired, then go for it. But remember that there are no guarantees and do not plan your life around a hiring event that might never happen is all I am saying to you.

In any case, this is the time of year when we do typically begin to see more activity with job ads and with customers planning their 2025 project work. This year is no different. With that said, I would not say it is particularly stellar, but for those who were getting burned-out from looking, now might be a time for you to return to your search if you have the interest to do so.

What I have noticed, though, is that there is not necessarily one software product in our area that stands out. I have had recruiters contact me on a wide variety of brands. In comparison, last year, everything seemed to be for LabVantage, as an example. It just seems that the projects stand out for a particular brand, most years. This year, I would say that does not seem to be the case.

Here is what that might mean for you - if there are few projects for each brand and if there is a glut of people looking within that brand, it is a lot harder to find work. If you're flexible, you have some chance to work in areas where there are fewer available people. In fact, there are some brands that are so new to your area that there will be no-one at all to fulfill it. If the customer figures that out and if you're local, it is no guarantee you can land it but it could be the leverage you need.

Note: I do not keep a list of these projects. If something doesn't grab my immediate attention, I don't keep track of it. I just mention this because I need to be clear about this because, once I publish this, someone or another will contact me to ask about my "list" and then be upset when I tell them I don't have one. There are other people in the industry who do that sort of thing, such as the people building services groups.