Back to permieland - 1 month in

[BigDataPro]

The same senior management will undoubtedly fly business class to meetings as well.

Exactly. That's what most of the Charities do! They spend awful lot of money on business expenses (!!) and give peanuts to the needy!

[PCTNN]

The same senior management will undoubtedly fly business class to meetings as well.

No doubts about that.

One thing I've noticed is that, at least in my wider team, younger colleagues (say 40 years old or less) don't want to go in the office like ever; the older colleagues are instead the ones supporting the return to the office and shouting how great it is that we're going to be back.

So I get it, if you have annoying wife and teenage kids, a long commute and a day in a busy noisy office doesn't sound that bad

[kloos]

I am 13 months into my first contract (due to end next month but I was pretty chuffed with the 2 extensions) and that's longer than my last 2 perm roles put together. The people are really nice, my boss is amazing and treats me pretty much like a perm with the added benefit that I'M NOT! Going back to the office was hilarious as productivity dropped by about 70% as people spend so much time chatting about their pets and nobody seems to care. I actually finished my project over a month ago and despite my boss being aware of this (and I am being sensible by being open and discussing it with her), nobody seems to mind (very odd, but just keeping my head down and producing a process document or two every week to keep them happy).

What I am finding is that the job is only as good as your line manager. If you get a good one in perm or contract then it's a dream and the opposite if not. But the Brucy bonus of being a contractor is that if you get a bad boss, you're not there for good and you have an escape route at the end of the tunnel. Not that I've experienced this yet, but I can feel it coming as a couple of roles I am lined up for interviews both have less than a 2 rating on TrustPilot and some posts are even from the staff saying how bad the company is!!!

[northernladuk]

I am 13 months into my first contract (due to end next month but I was pretty chuffed with the 2 extensions) and that's longer than my last 2 perm roles put together. The people are really nice, my boss is amazing and treats me pretty much like a perm with the added benefit that I'M NOT! Going back to the office was hilarious as productivity dropped by about 70% as people spend so much time chatting about their pets and nobody seems to care. I actually finished my project over a month ago and despite my boss being aware of this (and I am being sensible by being open and discussing it with her), nobody seems to mind (very odd, but just keeping my head down and producing a process document or two every week to keep them happy).

What I am finding is that the job is only as good as your line manager. If you get a good one in perm or contract then it's a dream and the opposite if not. But the Brucy bonus of being a contractor is that if you get a bad boss, you're not there for good and you have an escape route at the end of the tunnel. Not that I've experienced this yet, but I can feel it coming as a couple of roles I am lined up for interviews both have less than a 2 rating on TrustPilot and some posts are even from the staff saying how bad the company is!!!

Spoken like a true permie. I hopeyou are inside because if you aren't there is so much wrong with the above.

[kloos]

Spoken like a true permie. I hopeyou are inside because if you aren't there is so much wrong with the above.

Yeah, I am a recent ex permie just cutting my teeth on contracting. As it happens I am inside IR35.

They extended my contract for a couple of months asking me to complete a new project for them but they completely misunderstood the requirements of it and expected it to be completed within a month. I am gathering information from the software company but spend a lot of time waiting for replies and as it is the only thing they have asked me to do (and I say again that I have discussed this multiple times with them) what else am I meant to do? I am being paid to search for my next role. It is higher education though and they do play by different rules to the rest of the world.

[BigDataPro]

I am 13 months into my first contract (due to end next month but I was pretty chuffed with the 2 extensions) and that's longer than my last 2 perm roles put together. The people are really nice, my boss is amazing and treats me pretty much like a perm with the added benefit that I'M NOT! Going back to the office was hilarious as productivity dropped by about 70% as people spend so much time chatting about their pets and nobody seems to care. I actually finished my project over a month ago and despite my boss being aware of this (and I am being sensible by being open and discussing it with her), nobody seems to mind (very odd, but just keeping my head down and producing a process document or two every week to keep them happy).

What I am finding is that the job is only as good as your line manager. If you get a good one in perm or contract then it's a dream and the opposite if not. But the Brucy bonus of being a contractor is that if you get a bad boss, you're not there for good and you have an escape route at the end of the tunnel. Not that I've experienced this yet, but I can feel it coming as a couple of roles I am lined up for interviews both have less than a 2 rating on TrustPilot and some posts are even from the staff saying how bad the company is!!!

All good things will come to an end!!! So do bad things! Like a cloud this will also pass.

[northernladuk]

Yeah, I am a recent ex permie just cutting my teeth on contracting. As it happens I am inside IR35.

They extended my contract for a couple of months asking me to complete a new project for them but they completely misunderstood the requirements of it and expected it to be completed within a month. I am gathering information from the software company but spend a lot of time waiting for replies and as it is the only thing they have asked me to do (and I say again that I have discussed this multiple times with them) what else am I meant to do? I am being paid to search for my next role. It is higher education though and they do play by different rules to the rest of the world.

Doesn't take 13 months to learn the difference between an employer and a client. Hint, you don't have a boss or a line manager and you shouldn't be treated like a permie at a client. You need to understand what you are or you'll never be anything more than a permatractor.

[NowPermOutsideUK]

Spoken like a true permie. I hopeyou are inside because if you aren't there is so much wrong with the above.

Substitute line manager for client and you have a fully qualified contractor armed with a pen and notebook ready to bill 1K a day for "consultancy services"

Having been a permie and a contractor I can tell you that many contractors and perms are indistinguishable.... Apart from a contractor coming in with client tattooed on his forehead and some business cards sticking to their soles of their shoes they do the same work day in and day out...

Thats in finance working for large fortune 500 companies - Maybe your experience is different where contractors were born or have special magical properties

[PCTNN]

or you'll never be anything more than a permatractor.

Who cares, as long as the day rate is acceptable and the money comes in the bank account in time. That's all that matters.

[vwdan]

Having been a permie and a contractor I can tell you that many contractors and perms are indistinguishable.... Apart from a contractor coming in with client tattooed on his forehead and some business cards sticking to their soles of their shoes they do the same work day in and day out...

Many are, certainly - but the point is, to *really* excel it's all about attitude and how you come across. No client of mine has ever been in any doubt that I'm a contract consultant - which is probably why I don't spend very long looking the same as the permies. Rubbed up plenty of permie noses over the years by suddenly being invited to meetings nobody else is, or acquiring the ear of certain people. And it's not because I'm "better", it's because I've always presented myself as a consultant first.

Ultimately, it's about know what you are - if you want to just be a permie but on contract wages then fair enough, I guess that's up to you. And, of course, now many roles are Inside by default I suppose it's no harm. But if you want to be more than just another permie, another bum on a seat, then you need to walk in with a different attitude and provide a special sort of value.

Thats in finance working for large fortune 500 companies

Incidentally, my last 2 companies have been literally Fortune 500 (one in finance), and the one before that wasn't F500 but did turnover 30 billion, so I'm not convinced that a large company is a major bar to distinguishing yourself.