State of the Market

[hungry_hog]

Pretty simple - client is paying you a lot of money (sometimes 3x more than a permie).
They expect you to be there on time. They don't care whether you have a 5 minutes walk from round the corner or a 4 hour train journey from Mordor. It's irrelevant really. Most people seem to manage it.

Most places where I have worked the contractors roll (actually a lot of permies too) in at 8-8.30, partly to avoid rush hour nonsense and also as it gives you a head start on the day. I should specify I have always worked in Banks (or AM) so maybe this is a cultural thing?

There are no issues leaving at 5 (or 4 in fact) at the client is normally aware you have arrived early, unless there is a specific reason to stay (e.g. prod issue).

People on here seem very entitled, wanting to be paid 150k+ and moaning about arriving at 9, what are you lot doing - going clubbing the night before?

[SussexSeagull]

Pretty simple - client is paying you a lot of money (sometimes 3x more than a permie).
They expect you to be there on time. They don't care whether you have a 5 minutes walk from round the corner or a 4 hour train journey from Mordor. It's irrelevant really. Most people seem to manage it.

Most places where I have worked the contractors roll (actually a lot of permies too) in at 8-8.30, partly to avoid rush hour nonsense and also as it gives you a head start on the day. I should specify I have always worked in Banks (or AM) so maybe this is a cultural thing?

There are no issues leaving at 5 (or 4 in fact) at the client is normally aware you have arrived early, unless there is a specific reason to stay (e.g. prod issue).

People on here seem very entitled, wanting to be paid 150k+ and moaning about arriving at 9, what are you lot doing - going clubbing the night before?

The banks also had a reputation historically of employing (and I am comfortable using that word) permatractors who you would probably struggle to notice the difference with permanent staff in everything but pay.

With one exception every contract I have ever had involved some degree of flexibility on both sides and it worked out just fine.

[hungry_hog]

yep 100% agree

[SchumiStars]

I did work for a medium sized company that they had to buzz to let you in and out, even for lunch. It was a way of them knowing you were present in the building.

They promised the contractors SC clearance, however drastically fell short of this by a long way.

I interviewed for them and they got someone else and I had taken another role. However 6mths latter they then hired me without doing an interview so must have made a good impression the first time round.

Glassdoor has some scathing reviews of the place.

[Snooky]

Most places where I have worked the contractors roll (actually a lot of permies too) in at 8-8.30, partly to avoid rush hour nonsense and also as it gives you a head start on the day. I should specify I have always worked in Banks (or AM) so maybe this is a cultural thing?

I've also always worked for investment banks / asset management firms (35+ years in the City ) and have never experienced this type of clock watching. I've always had very flexible arrangements, so although I'd usually arrive between 7.30 and 8.30, occasionally I might not turn up till 10 unless I'm due in a meeting. The client managers have never had any issue with this because they could rely on me (a) to work the paid hours and more and (b) to pitch in and work however long it takes when the s*** hits the fan.

If I'd ever encountered a client where they nitpicked about arriving at 9.05, my attitude would have been: that's fine, if you insist on a work-to-rule arrangement that's what you'll get. I would also privately explain this to the client manager. They can't have flexibility when they need it but then not offer it when you need it, it's a two-way street.

[ladymuck]

Being someone who is perpetually early for things because I hate being late, I always build in buffer time. I'd much rather have to find something to do for 15 minutes than risk turning up a few minutes late. Having lived in that London for 11 years now, I know how variable transport can be.

This does drive HWMBO bonkers Especially when I start apologising for being a few mins late for a restaurant booking (yes, I know the booking says 15 mins grace period).

A client nit picking about arriving 7 minutes late sounds like a proper nightmare and I wouldn't enjoy that at all. I would still build in my usual travel buffer time but I would make damn sure I don't enter the building until billing time.

[ResistanceFighter]

There was a small bit of pickup over the last few weeks, but that seems to have gone out with a whimper over Easter. Fingers crossed it picks up after the Easter holidays

[TheDude]

I have applied for a couple of perm positions via company Workday systems.

I assume if there are no updates from 'under review' or 'in process' then you have basically been ghosted.

[oliverson]

There was a small bit of pickup over the last few weeks, but that seems to have gone out with a whimper over Easter. Fingers crossed it picks up after the Easter holidays

Totally agree with this. But aren't the holidays over? Haven't 'the decision makers returned from holiday?

Having said that, I was approached about a contract yesterday from my network, pretty much offered it. Wait for it, £ 340 a day, Azure cloud, DevOps, etc. I don't to 50% off sales!

[SchumiStars]

There was a small bit of pickup over the last few weeks, but that seems to have gone out with a whimper over Easter. Fingers crossed it picks up after the Easter holidays

From what I have seen, YMMV, is that the LI hype is all about collecting CVs and selling your data onwards.

Had any weirdoes contact you?
Had any calls for insurance?
Had any calls for wills, surveys, houses in Dubai?

I have had all these!