Current UK contract market?

**theITcoach.biz** · 1 December 2006, 19:19

Ageism?

Dear Peak Oil,

Having worked with contractors in their 50's and 60's, I wouldn't have thought ageism was a great problem, unless you expect it to be.

Sure there will be ageism around, but it has to fight for space with all the other isms.

If you fancy contracting, the best thing to do is go look for a contract. You will find out soon enough.

All the best
John

**tim123** · 2 December 2006, 11:17

Peak Oil,

I don't think your age is a problem. You're only a bit older than me.

There are lots of jobs around, but employers for embedded people are looking for much closer matches than they used to. Not only do you have to have all the right generic skills, you also have to have the right application area experience as well. It never used to be like this.

Oh and rates are crap. I'm frequently being called about numbers that make a 40K perm job pay better (and no, I'm not joking).

tim

**Paddy** · 2 December 2006, 14:02

Originally posted by PeakOil

Hi,

I left contracting in 2000, just as IR35 arrived and Jobserve was the "great new thing".

I have just joined this forum and so I am very out-of-touch.

I have been a dreaded permie since (senior techie & very well paid, thank goodness).

My skillset is mainly real-time embedded especially in high security areas such as encryption, anti-hacker systems, bank currency machines etc.

My security clearance was foreign and lapsed several years ago.

The bummer is my age ... 51 ... and the fact that my permie job has been mainly high-level design for the last 3 years ... little hands-on ... mainly CEO/CTO level design/marketing/approvals meetings etc.

So ... is there still a vibrant UK contracting market?

Or has most of it gone to Bangalore?

And how about ageism?

Is it even vaguely worthwhile about thinking of returning to contracting?

Any feedback most appreciated!

Thanks!

I am older than you. There is a problem with ageism in the contract market and it starts with agents reluctant to put forward older applicants. I found the way around it is to specialise and move very quickly with the market. The projects that I go to normally involve clearing up the mess made by permies or younger contractors that take a wam-bam-thak-you-mam approach. No matter how many certificates you can collect there is no substitute to experience.

**PeakOil** · 2 December 2006, 16:24

Originally posted by tim123

Oh and rates are crap. I'm frequently being called about numbers that make a 40K perm job pay better (and no, I'm not joking).
tim

40K equivalent???? Sheesh, things have changed for the worse in 6 years!

I am currently self-employed in a non-software role and doing fairly well ... but I was earning as a senior permie not far short of £100k.

Since then I have been offered around £100k ... but in places like Swindon & Bracknell .... miles from my rural home.

Maybe I'll stick with my current little business .... crap money, but only 1/2 mile from home and I'm my own boss.

**tim123** · 2 December 2006, 20:59

If you can get 100K as a perm then take it. You are not going to get close as an embedded contractor ATM.

If you are something else, like a security consultant, then you may be able to match it.

tim

**PeakOil** · 2 December 2006, 21:48

Originally posted by tim123

If you can get 100K as a perm then take it. You are not going to get close as an embedded contractor ATM.

If you are something else, like a security consultant, then you may be able to match it.

tim

The trouble is that £100k means selling your soul.

Very, very long hours and intense dedication to the company.

I had to carry my passport at all times coz I could get into work only to find a plane ticket to some foreign land waiting on my desk.

Don't get me wrong - a senior well paid job can be great fun! You don't really have a boss ... just a board level expectation that you won't mess up ... ever!

It's also makes a change to have a "helicopter view" rather than fighting bits & bytes.

However the pressure (not really stress) is simply unrelentless ... so I'm not sure if I want more of that!

**XperTest** · 4 December 2006, 08:53

You have a "Winston 'I solve problems' Wolve" job paying a 100k yet you're looking at contracting to improve your lifestyle?

**premiere** · 4 December 2006, 21:00

Originally posted by PeakOil

40K equivalent???? Sheesh, things have changed for the worse in 6 years!

I am currently self-employed in a non-software role and doing fairly well ... but I was earning as a senior permie not far short of £100k.

Since then I have been offered around £100k ... but in places like Swindon & Bracknell .... miles from my rural home.

Maybe I'll stick with my current little business .... crap money, but only 1/2 mile from home and I'm my own boss.

I assume that's Hewlett Packard....?

**DimPrawn** · 4 December 2006, 21:15

Do you still need the money at 51?

I would have thought it would make more sense to do something you enjoy as you near retirement (lets face it, who wants to work in the traditional sense in your fifties).

Embedded contracting in is not a big payer. Not now with China and India anyway.

Current UK contract market?