How are contractors perceived when they apply for permanent jobs?

[blue_grover]

I'm very curious about how employers and recruiters for permanent positions regard people who have been contractors. Half of me thinks they may have a good opinion of them because contractors have to be independent, skilled and adaptable. The other half of me thinks they might be perceived as flight-risks, people who may not be considered "team players" and people who will simply go back to contract as soon as the market picks up etc... This is all guess work on my part - anyone want to share their thoughts on this?

[AnthonyQuinn]

My update

more than 'lack of team spirit' the main issue is that some people feel you'll be back in contracting the moment you can.

But then they would normally feel that your skills are dependable.

[bombaycat]

I'm very curious about how employers and recruiters for permanent positions regard people who have been contractors. Half of me thinks they may have a good opinion of them because contractors have to be independent, skilled and adaptable. The other half of me thinks they might be perceived as flight-risks, people who may not be considered "team players" and people who will simply go back to contract as soon as the market picks up etc... This is all guess work on my part - anyone want to share their thoughts on this?

I think it might depend on your cv - I've been contracting since 1996 but still get asked to be permie almost every time I apply for anything - was permie from 1989-1996. Depends how choppy your history is perhaps - I have 3-5 year stints at one place generally so maybe that's why. A lot of 3-6 month contracts might look slightly different to prospective employer.
If you come across right at interview I think you should be fine.

[JoJoGabor]

Yeap I've been contracting for 5years but got a permanetn job now. Everyone asked why I was moving to permanent as they has concerns I would up and leave at the first sniff of a contract/motivated only by money etc.

Luckily I had jsut got back in the country so rattled off some tosh about only contracted to save money to go travelling etc, moving around couldnt commit. Luckily they bought it.

FIrst sniff of a good contract though and I'm outta there! Well once the market looks better as a whole

[BolshieBastard]

About as welcome as a jobbie in a swimming pool! That's how.

[Fred Bloggs]

Funnily enough, I have generally no thoughts of heading back to permiedom but a very good job has cropped up locally that I have inquired about. I doubt the money would be good enough, but if I don't inquire I'll never know. How the prospective employer will view my CV full of 3 to 8 month gigs I don't know. Somehow I'm guessing my interest will go nowhere, oh well...........

[Liability]

It depends. If you have had numerous longer term contracts in your career than its not deemed as too mad. If you have had say 10 x 3 monthers [aside from you being tulipe] it will look worse.

[d000hg]

I'm very curious about how employers and recruiters for permanent positions regard people who have been contractors. Half of me thinks they may have a good opinion of them because contractors have to be independent, skilled and adaptable.

Not everyone thinks about contractors what contractors do. Some argue it's easier to be a total slacker as a contractor in fact... I'd say contractors are not automatically more or less able than permie counterparts.

[KentPhilip]

but I still get asked to be permie almost every time I apply for anything

Yes but that's by agents who are only after a quick buck. It is the employers whose opinions really matter because they are the ones left picking up the pieces when an ex-contractor leaves after a few months of expensive training etc.

[bombaycat]

Yes but that's by agents who are only after a quick buck. It is the employers whose opinions really matter because they are the ones left picking up the pieces when an ex-contractor leaves after a few months of expensive training etc.

Well yes I am aware of that which is very irritating, I even had a pimp tell me in 2003 that contracting was dead and I'd better go permie - I laughed in his face rejected his permie offer and got myself a contract.
I actually meant that I normally get it from clientco mostly and during contracts at every renewal. Have never quite understood why as I would have thought it was more expensive for them to have a permie than a contractor. Always managed to sidestep it so far, I think it may be that they think they have some kind of tax exposure - probably the pimp tells them this I don't know - stupid really.