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Perm->Contract - How to handle notice period

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    Perm->Contract - How to handle notice period

    Hello, first post on these forums!

    I have worked as a Business Analyst for the last five years in the insurance industry, more recently specialising in the IT side. I joined my current role in January - originally applied as a permanent staff member, but due to resourcing constraints I ended up joining as a contractor, so I fell into the contracting gig by accident.

    After six months, the company persuaded me to switch to permanent - I had a young baby at home, and the job is - almost literally - on my doorstep. Being a contractor, it meant that I managed to negotiate a fairly lucrative wage as a permanent member of staff, however I am bored senseless. The project is incredibly busy, but I seem to have been marginalised, and am not asked to do a great deal. I am growing wearisome of being proactive and seeking out work, and the promise of development (a key reason for accepting the perm role) has not been fulfilled.

    Being permanent and now completed probation, I am subject to a three month notice period. Via my network, I have a telephone interview for a contract role in testing which I am hopeful of securing. I don't have a great deal of information on the role, but I suspect three months will be unacceptable to the new job.

    How do I best go about approaching the subject of my notice if/when asked during the interview? Is it a case that when/if I decide to take the plunge, I will need to hand my notice in and then hope to secure a role nearing the expiry of my notice?

    My motivation for moving is largely about job satisfaction - financially, once you take into account pension, holiday etc., the move would not be especially lucrative, but currently I feel like I'm treading water and, still being in my early 30s, I am ambitious and hungry to learn. Has anyone else been in a similar position? What did you do?

    #2
    Originally posted by fiisch View Post
    Hello, first post on these forums!

    I have worked as a Business Analyst for the last five years in the insurance industry, more recently specialising in the IT side. I joined my current role in January - originally applied as a permanent staff member, but due to resourcing constraints I ended up joining as a contractor, so I fell into the contracting gig by accident.

    After six months, the company persuaded me to switch to permanent - I had a young baby at home, and the job is - almost literally - on my doorstep. Being a contractor, it meant that I managed to negotiate a fairly lucrative wage as a permanent member of staff, however I am bored senseless. The project is incredibly busy, but I seem to have been marginalised, and am not asked to do a great deal. I am growing wearisome of being proactive and seeking out work, and the promise of development (a key reason for accepting the perm role) has not been fulfilled.

    Being permanent and now completed probation, I am subject to a three month notice period. Via my network, I have a telephone interview for a contract role in testing which I am hopeful of securing. I don't have a great deal of information on the role, but I suspect three months will be unacceptable to the new job.

    How do I best go about approaching the subject of my notice if/when asked during the interview? Is it a case that when/if I decide to take the plunge, I will need to hand my notice in and then hope to secure a role nearing the expiry of my notice?

    My motivation for moving is largely about job satisfaction - financially, once you take into account pension, holiday etc., the move would not be especially lucrative, but currently I feel like I'm treading water and, still being in my early 30s, I am ambitious and hungry to learn. Has anyone else been in a similar position? What did you do?
    Are you a BA or a tester? This rings alarm bells - if you're an experienced and proven BA, why would you switch to a different discipline to go contracting? If you're sure you want to go contracting, go contracting as a BA. Build up some savings and hand in your notice then look for a contract. Very few contracts will wait three months.

    Comment


      #3
      I'm a BA. I've been put forward for a test role after a recommendation from a friend of a friend type scenario...!

      I am not sure I am naturally suited to BA work, so the idea of a change in discipline appeals.... Is this not advisable for a return to contract work?

      Comment


        #4
        Typically contractors tend to be highly skilled workers bought in to fulfill a specific purpose on a short term basis. This implies that usually, the contractor is very skilled in their niche, which is why the day rates are so high.

        So no, I would say it is unlikely you will be successful if you are changing disciplines and contracting; best case is you'll land this gig, then really struggle to get the second because you don't have more than a few month tangible experience.

        Stick to being a BA as a contractor, or change disciplines as a perm would be my advice. Good luck!

        Comment


          #5
          If there is not much difference between your current salary and a day rate, then I would stay where you are.

          The reason being that you have the security. At your best, you can get 240 billable days a year and that's it as a BA/Tester whatever. You can have health issues, your family can have health issues or all sorts of reasons why you can't function at 240 days per year, year in year out.

          The second reason is that as a perm, you have the opportunity to climb up the ladder (or sideways) and find something that you like to do. If you jump off now as a BA then you are a BA contractor, end of (like myself actually). If you hang about then you can maybe climb up and get a higher day rate being something else.

          It's just to say that it's difficult to change your role once you start contracting, agents just look at what you did last when you go for roles so go for a test role and it can be harder to get a BA role than a test role. Have a look at what you want to do and change on the company dime.

          Comment


            #6
            simples

            Originally posted by fiisch View Post
            but I suspect three months will be unacceptable to the new job.

            ?
            so secure role and just tell current Client you leave on Friday job done

            You will probably find your "3 month" notice period has no penalties associated with it thus meaningless

            Comment


              #7
              If you have worked for any of the insurers I've contracted for then as a perm you have scope, if you show you are interested, to change roles. Incidentally some of the BAs I've met use to be testers. They changed when they saw that the role was easily outsourced.
              "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by tarbera View Post
                so secure role and just tell current Client you leave on Friday job done

                You will probably find your "3 month" notice period has no penalties associated with it thus meaningless
                Apart from royally pissing off his current employer, you mean?

                Don't we call out contractors who do this kind of "bail-early" thing?

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by tarbera View Post
                  so secure role and just tell current Client you leave on Friday job done

                  You will probably find your "3 month" notice period has no penalties associated with it thus meaningless
                  I doubt that the above is true.

                  And if it is, there reference will include what you did.

                  Personally, I would get another gig, hand in notice, then take sick leave. Though for 3 months that is quite a push.

                  Maybe hand in notice then get a gig?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I sometimes struggle with these questions. You're becoming a businessman, so think and act like one.

                    What would you do if you wanted to set up a small business such as, say, a burger bar but had to give three months notice in your current permanent role? Well you would give the notice, honour your commitments then sail off into the sunset and run your own business.
                    It's the same with setting up a small business as a contractor. You honour your commitments then go your own way. Just as the burger bar may take a few months to get off the ground, so may your contracting business.
                    Contracting is not like being in business, it IS being in business.

                    Comment

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