Anyone Worried?

[The Tartan Cottage]

Well it looks like my pwc opportunity has fizzled out. They wanted to do a second interview within a couple of days but 1 week later and they’re not returning the agent’s calls.

Thinking it’s time to start stacking shelves. Damage limitation.

[barely_pointless]

Thanks Barley, or perhaps I should say shukraan

As an ex pwc contractor, do you know if it’s still necessary to undergo the Cooperisation process as part of your onboarding?

It was the stuff of legend back in the 90s.

It's been a while since I worked for them , but my program director was excellent and I did not have any major issues with them in the UK, I actually thought they were good to work for, but that was almost 15 years ago, more recently, 8 years ago, I worked with and for a company very near my username, Barely Pointless in Australia, now these guys were the business, complete C you next Tuesdays, every trick in the book, late payment, dodgy requirements, as you say, co-operation IP disclosure, client history disclosure (no me acquerdo ), it almost gets farcical when you meet the partners, as they know you know they know you know that they're basically trying to screw you, which gets real fun as they need you more than you need them close to a project closing.

Delightful and stressful at the same time. Be careful!

[The Tartan Cottage]

Things are still "unreal" to be honest, just dropping my work kit back to an "aviation related" client tomorrow, I actually really liked them, pity the industry has tanked. Not a bad client, only contractor standing in May which was a decidedly Donald Sutherland invasion of the body snatchers moment at remote meetings...

Pwc (having worked for them) are really often no more than an agency where they (that is the partners) get a cut of your rate especially if you're a multi skilled contractor (front end/backend/middle/cloud etc, or a BA/PM/Process) add in the IP and knowhow you've gained in various industries and someone like PWC/Arthur Anderson(... sorry they've been liquidated) , Baring Point (see my username and you'll get the idea) and you're essentially working for an agency who'll leech your IP out of you and re-sell it.

These businesses would often have to use 2-3 maybe even 4 FTE at 0.5/0.6 to compensate for an experienced contractor, so don't sell yourself short.

Current market , Fair enough, but current market is a very poor time to be trading 10-20 years IP to swap for a gig that's going to leech sorry steal all your IP and drop you once they don't need you anymore.

I'm getting decidedly better at gardening and arabic (Pimsleur)

cheers
Barely

Thanks Barley, or perhaps I should say shukraan

As an ex pwc contractor, do you know if it’s still necessary to undergo the Cooperisation process as part of your onboarding?

It was the stuff of legend back in the 90s.

[barely_pointless]

I've had work from the framework, it helps if you can frame your services in the way a consultancy would and if you can offer more than just a bum-on-seat programmer or analyst resource. You need to be able to showcase ability to manage complex programs, develop strategies and handle C-level discussions

It's not for everyone, and if you haven't got a decent pocket-book of people you can bring in to team with you working under your limited company then you'll get nowhere, but if you win one of these gigs they are extremely lucrative

I won a G-Cloud gig 3 years ago, hard lesson, made some , squandered most with some crappy colleagues, its certainly not fair, there is huge canvassing going on, our IP was our key USP which it still is, but the contract was awarded on best match to delivery a systems upgrade, which any old boots could have done, tbh , I'm almost ready to give up on G-cloud as the other two directors in our shared LTD did sweet FA , I'll probably still apply for the next one - due soon, but it's very difficult to pick what's going through the minds of the public sector purchasers ....... if anything...........

[barely_pointless]

Things are still "unreal" to be honest, just dropping my work kit back to an "aviation related" client tomorrow, I actually really liked them, pity the industry has tanked. Not a bad client, only contractor standing in May which was a decidedly Donald Sutherland invasion of the body snatchers moment at remote meetings...

Pwc (having worked for them) are really often no more than an agency where they (that is the partners) get a cut of your rate especially if you're a multi skilled contractor (front end/backend/middle/cloud etc, or a BA/PM/Process) add in the IP and knowhow you've gained in various industries and someone like PWC/Arthur Anderson(... sorry they've been liquidated) , Baring Point (see my username and you'll get the idea) and you're essentially working for an agency who'll leech your IP out of you and re-sell it.

These businesses would often have to use 2-3 maybe even 4 FTE at 0.5/0.6 to compensate for an experienced contractor, so don't sell yourself short.

Current market , Fair enough, but current market is a very poor time to be trading 10-20 years IP to swap for a gig that's going to leech sorry steal all your IP and drop you once they don't need you anymore.

I'm getting decidedly better at gardening and arabic (Pimsleur)

cheers
Barely

[The Tartan Cottage]

Well, a disappointing end to the week just as things started looking up.

Got myself a phone interview with pwc Friday afternoon. Agent couldn’t confirm the time but said it would be sometime between 3pm and 6pm.

So there I am on tenterhooks surrounded by some hastily scrawled crib sheets and then it’s 6pm and still no call. Spoke to agent but seems client has temporarily gone awol.

Frustrating to say the least.

Well I finally got the call. It seemed to be one of those chats just to establish that we’re on the same page before a more rigorous interview that will take place in the next day or two.

Eggs are still in that one basket.

[The Tartan Cottage]

Problem is the lack of baskets at the moment.

Well yes, exactly.

It’s the only basket that’s come my way in 3 months so all my eggs are going in it.

[SussexSeagull]

So pwc are basically like your average courier? Turn up when they please and you're supposed to be grateful?

Don't keep your best eggs in that basket.

Problem is the lack of baskets at the moment.

[ladymuck]

So pwc are basically like your average courier? Turn up when they please and you're supposed to be grateful?

Don't keep your best eggs in that basket.

[The Tartan Cottage]

Well, a disappointing end to the week just as things started looking up.

Got myself a phone interview with pwc Friday afternoon. Agent couldn’t confirm the time but said it would be sometime between 3pm and 6pm.

So there I am on tenterhooks surrounded by some hastily scrawled crib sheets and then it’s 6pm and still no call. Spoke to agent but seems client has temporarily gone awol.

Frustrating to say the least.