Why are more contractors going permanent ?

[Fred Bloggs]

What does smoke mean?

"in the smoke" means in London.

[wurzel]

For myself, I'm looking at returning to a permie role at this time simply because of the paucity of realistic contracts out there. In recent months, my personal experience has been that there's been nothing but tyre kickers in the market, who'll happily waste your time with no intention of ever engaging your services. In busier times a good agent will act as an effective roadstop to that sort of client and manage their expectations better, but in quieter times they'll pass any opportunity on to you, even where they know deep down there's not a realistic prospect of your skills being within the client's budget.

The last time I saw this kind of widespread trend was nine years ago during the last mini-dip. I returned to a permie role back then, and stayed working that way for five years, since once you're out it's easier just to stay out (because you need to have immediate availability to be able to contract).

No doubt it'll swing the other way again in time to come. And ironically when the market does pick up things will be twice as hot, since there'll be even less contractors left to do the available work. Swings and roundabouts. I couldn't advise anyone in a permie role to make the leap at this time, but there'll be a right time to do so at some point in the future.

From reading your posts I get the impression you're a .Net developer.

Not looking myself right now but there seems to be quite a bit on Jobserve compared to a couple of years ago. Are you restricting your contract searches to your local area or something?

[Ketchup]

There are a lot of .net jobs about at the moment. The problem is there are s lot of tulip .net devs around who have been forced into contracting by redundancy. Some of the ones who have interviewed where i am at the moment have been an embarassment to the profession, one who cliamed to have 6 years experience had never heard of interfaces!!!!

One thing i have noticed recently is a lot of roles require "excellant communication skills", one agent alluded to this being to deter the Bobs.

[kaiser78]

I take the view that if you are good at what you do you will always find contract work. If you are only average this then becomes more difficult and the permie option becomes more of a reality.

[The Spartan]

WKS - I agree if you standout because of your skills and experience you're bound to find work, I got the opportunity of a lifetime in March to work for one of the top 3 global companies in the world and I'm here till next year. I only got a look in because I had both the skills and experience they needed.

[Payso]

From someone who has just turned to contracting.

I wanted to get out of being a permie as I was working at an software engineering consultancy. We had to work anywhere we were sent, long hours and improve our skills in our own time. We then demonstrate these skills to client or other consultants to 'enhance' your reputation within the consultancy.

It seemed a logical progression to go it alone as I felt that I was fairly well prepared for contracting after 3+ years of this.

[insur]

...one who cliamed to have 6 years experience had never heard of interfaces!!!!.

You serious? Some one sat in an interview and actually owned up to not knowing about interfaces??????????? Wow! REALLY !!???

[Ketchup]

You serious? Some one sat in an interview and actually owned up to not knowing about interfaces??????????? Wow! REALLY !!???

I suspect he had been working in support and thought it was an easy step from fixing bugs to cutting code. Have to admire he enthusiasm, good luck to him, he seemed like a really nice guy and keen to learn.

[The Spartan]

I've seen some people blag jobs without having the relative experience and getaway with it, I'd never personally do it as I'm sure it'd come back to haunt me one way or another

[Swamp Thing]

For myself, I'm looking at returning to a permie role at this time simply because of the paucity of realistic contracts out there. In recent months, my personal experience has been that there's been nothing but tyre kickers in the market, who'll happily waste your time with no intention of ever engaging your services. In busier times a good agent will act as an effective roadstop to that sort of client and manage their expectations better, but in quieter times they'll pass any opportunity on to you, even where they know deep down there's not a realistic prospect of your skills being within the client's budget.

+1. I'm happy remaining a contractor for the foreseeable future, and have had little time on the bench in the last 7 years. But I am worried about agencies who are happy to issue phantom opportunities and harvest your CV. I feel that with better CRM tools, LinkedIn and better jobs portals, some agencies believe it's easier and cost-effective to scrape contractor data and work it as new business rather than concentrate on retaining good existing contractors for the next gig. It doesn't help that agencies have a high turnover of consultants, many of whom are inexperienced and will peddle anything if they think it will interest you.

Additionally, I find a client will take 4-6+ weeks to source and offer a role whereas 5+ years ago I would be in there within 2 weeks. Quite often the client is juggling whether to pay high/get contractor in, or pay modest/take time to get a perm. When faced with a contractor cost for say 3-6 months, they baulk and decide to spin out the recruiting process another month or so.

And then you find that the role has magically disappeared (that's if the agency can be bothered to follow up with you). Official line: change of direction. Real outcome: client got the perm they wanted.

I've experienced this 3 times in the last 12 months (the last opportunity was spun out over 3 months!!), and all the while I've fortunately been in contract. But if I'd been on the bench I'd be spitting