Anyone regret going back to permie?

[northernladyuk]

Well that's the odd thing. I've not had much opportunity to be able to pick where I work in pursuit of need to end gigs and accommodation is driven by where the work is. I'm just starting my 3rd year of being away from home. It's not a problem at the moment but much of that touted flexibility hasn't really been there for me. The holidays thing is massive for me so that flexibility is great but the way I'm working general flexibility isn't really there. I am aware that is my choice though.

You're right there, love.

[HugeWhale]

This. Do it for 6 months and if it doesn't work out it will just look like a 6 month contract on your CV if you word it right . Keep the Ltd open until you decide obviously!

You and nluk are right of course. I hadn't even thought of it like this.
I know it's daft, but I've come to think of permies as a different species and was assuming that I'd have to have a completely different mindset when approaching the role.

[quackhandle]

I have a young family and am a little tired of living out of a suitcase.
There's a permie role within 30 miles of my home that has a decent basic (about 60% of what I've been making as a contractor). I think that if I apply I'd have a reasonable chance of getting it.

However, I'm concerned that six months in I would regret it. The performance appraisals, the development reviews, the office politics, the line management, the BS HR processes, the fixed hours, the inability to just tell people to eff off if necessary, the team meetings, seeking approval for time off, team building sessions, having to deal with staff's tulip issues....you know, all the BS that you don't have to anything like the same extent when you're contracting. Getting away from all this was an important driver in me becoming a contractor in the first place!

What are others' experiences of going back to permie? Have people generally regretted it? Or, after several years as a contractor, is it easy to just filter all of this stuff out?

HW

Is this not contracting anyway? Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

qh

[northernladyuk]

You and nluk are right of course. I hadn't even thought of it like this.
I know it's daft, but I've come to think of permies as a different species and was assuming that I'd have to have a completely different mindset when approaching the role.

I know a contractor whose interests I represent (ahem) who moved overseas and took a permie job. Absolutely hated it. Handed in notice after 3 months, went contracting and stole the client.

[northernladuk]

You and nluk are right of course. I hadn't even thought of it like this.
I know it's daft, but I've come to think of permies as a different species and was assuming that I'd have to have a completely different mindset when approaching the role.

Yeah and no disrespect to you but I don't like this. A certain poster with initials PC refers to them as knobheads and same for agents. I can't see anyone is being a good supplier with such a poor opinion of the people they work with/for and do business with. That attitude has to manifest itself when you are working however much people think it doesn't and all it can do is cause problems.

They may have a different mindset but it's just something to understand and play to your advantage.

[vwdan]

Yeah and no disrespect to you but I don't like this. A certain poster with initials PC refers to them as knobheads and same for agents. I can't see anyone is being a good supplier with such a poor opinion of the people they work with/for and do business with. That attitude has to manifest itself when you are working however much people think it doesn't and all it can do is cause problems.

They may have a different mindset but it's just something to understand and play to your advantage.

"If everywhere you go stinks of tulip, check your shoes!"

[HugeWhale]

Yeah and no disrespect to you but I don't like this. A certain poster with initials PC refers to them as knobheads and same for agents. I can't see anyone is being a good supplier with such a poor opinion of the people they work with/for and do business with. That attitude has to manifest itself when you are working however much people think it doesn't and all it can do is cause problems.

They may have a different mindset but it's just something to understand and play to your advantage.

I wasn't criticising permies in any way.

[Eirikur]

Went back into a permie job a few years ago, I lasted three months and then the 360 reviews, town hall meetings, weekly 1 to 1, daily huddles, field days and christmas dinners came up (and not to forget a good contract) and I was gone.

[northernladuk]

I wasn't criticising permies in any way.

Yeah I know but you've probably seen people do.

[curtis]

Good way to think of it as just a low paid contract if you don't like it go but the issue is you will be treated differently from day 1 walking in there as a permanent rather than a contractor as their perception and reason for hiring you will be different.