Perm to contract

[Dubfire]

Hey,

Heres the issue..

Left the forces and went in to a government job as a contractor but perm with the Agency that placed me. Been doing the job since the end on august and the contract is due to last 12 months. Right, so im contracted out to company and work under the banner of a contractor in nutshell.

Thing is the guys im working with doing the same job who have ltd companys, umbrellas etc.. are on a fair(to say the least..) bit of coin more than me doing the exact same job. They all have the same experience and skill set and also have been placed by the same agency. I get sod all benefit for being perm, been told that their is no training budget for one, and none of the benifits of being a contractor as in I get paid a pittance. Angency are always trying to persuade me to stay on as perm, because its a bigger cut for them of course. Collegues have said I should quit the perm and go demand to go on the contract or threaten to leave. Plus there is plenty of other contracts out there.

Reason I find myself in said situ is because I was wet behind the ears coming out of the forces and was new to the contract world. As a side issue I also dont want to be a perm for years anyway as the contract world is where I want to be in the future. As first job out of the forces not sure how to play it as would of prefered not to rock the apple cart.

So what would you guys do in same situ, is going to be good cop or bad?

Feedback would be much appreciated

Dub.

[VectraMan]

Sounds like you know the answer. If you rock the apple cart, there's always a risk that it'll sink, but if there's pleanty of other work that will allow you to work via a limited, you shouldn't have to worry too much. The agency may try to place someone else, but it's more likely they'll want to keep the client happy by keeping you on (assuming the client are happy with you of course).

[BolshieBastard]

Sorry but you're not currently a contractor. You're agency staff working on client site.

You dont say how long ago you left the forces with this 'contract' role. If you'veonly been in this role since August past you've hardly any experience. As such, even if you go limited co and become a fully fledged contractor, you could find your lack of experience go against you especially in this market.

Based on that premise, your options as I see it are to either sit tight and get more experience or, inform agency you want parity with the other people it has on site provided they are also agency staff and not contractors.

I expect the agency will say take it or leave it.

[chris79]

I would accept the unfortunate position you are in, find another job (contracting), then when you have another offer on the table rock the apple cart and see what happens. If it sinks, then you're not losing out, equally you might even end up in a better place by looking anyway. At least by looking and applying it will give you an indication as to how well placed you currently are in the contract market. The post above makes sense in that it could be a case of sitting tight just to get a bit on the old CV etc.

Certainly the risky thing to do is to make demands, from my own experience the agency doesn't give a sh*t they can replace you in a flash with someone willing to do it. Not very often they beg you to stay unless you are some kind of freak prodigy with unique skills that they won't find elsewhere. They will more often than not just look at is as YOU being the problem and will be happy to watch you pack your stuff.

[edit]

Also just wanted to say that as unfair as it might seem, don't look at what other people have got, concentrate on what you need out of the situation. If you spend time comparing yourself to everyone around you, you will always be dissatisfied with what you are doing.

[/edit]

[thunderlizard]

On their first ever contract, most people get suckered into a rubbish rate or rubbish contractual terms or both. I certainly did. It sounds like you have already decided you want to go the limited company contracting route, so go ahead and negotiate yourself some decent terms, either with this customer or another one.

[Dubfire]

Thanks for the replys.

There is pleanty of work out there in a large thanks due to the fact I Dv'd so finding something else wouldnt be a problem. Though I do have a lease on a flat which runs till feb, so im going to be stuck in the job either on peanuts on the breadline working for this agency, as they rake it in. Or take it to the blood suckers and demand a jucy contract.

Btw all the guys im working with are contractors, im the only one working for the agency.

Another point not mentioned before is that the agency are looking for a couple more people to start the same job but have been not been able to fill the places. And a coulple of the guys im working with have set up other gigs and are due to leave without seeing out the remainder of the contract. So have I got the agency over a barrel then with these points in mind?

[chris79]

I once rocked the boat to get what I wanted (an increase) and it worked, it's all a gamble.. they'll either do it or they wont. There's no way to know unless you did it. The question is could you live with the consequences of having nothing rather than something?

A lot of contractors have normally earned enough money and have built up savings in business account to see them through such times so can afford to take the risk. It's all down to your own personal circumstances more than anything.