Why did you get into contracting

[nomadd]

Thanks for this.

This is for you Cojak and all the other experienced contractors out there - Have you seen an increase in the number of contractors?

My suspicion is they are on the up and the good news is that due to the vast number of projects currently on hold, we'll be looking at a huge recruitment drive for contractors to support the new projects and renewal of older systems.

Still talking rubbish, I see.

I still haven't figured out what on earth you are trying to achieve with this thread? You certainly seem to be as muddled in your thinking now as you were in your first post.

This whole thread smells of nothing more than a "bored-permie-winding-up-contractors" thread. Or, if not that, then a "bored-agent-winding-up-contractors" thread.

I'll wait until you come back with all these "requirements" for contractors that you keeping talking - and only talking - about. Up until then, I'll continue to call b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t.

Cheers,

Nomadd

[Not So Wise]

Have you seen an increase in the number of contractors?

My suspicion is they are on the up and the good news is that due to the vast number of projects currently on hold, we'll be looking at a huge recruitment drive for contractors to support the new projects and renewal of older systems.

Yes there has been a huge increase in contractors over the last decade and half, but my personal feeling this is not so much due to the need for "proper" contractors but rather more companies trying to side step employment regulations to fill a temporary need

If we are 1000% brutally honest many of the roles contractor fill these days are just high skilled/high level temp positions, these roles might be short term or long but regardless at their core they are still just temp positions (and yes included myself in that) and rest are just disguised employee's

When in yesteryear, majority of contractors used to be much more than that, then they were highly specialised/experienced people with scarce skills that even the biggest client companies would not have in house and could never afford to keep in house. Now contractors like this are few and far between

My suspicion is they are on the up and the good news is that due to the vast number of projects currently on hold, we'll be looking at a huge recruitment drive for contractors to support the new projects and renewal of older systems.

Yes there will be a huge recruitment drive for IT staff in general and contractors in particular (at the start) once recession starts to loosen it's grip as companies try to clear the backlog of projects that are currently on hold and try to catch up with the latest developments (like release of Windows 7).

The only real question is when this start, the longer it takes the bigger the demand will be. If I was a client I would be trying to get my projects started as soon as possible before people/resources get scare and rates (thus costs) go up, as a contractor one should be looking ahead to make sure they are well positioned to take advantage of the new requirements

Personally I feel we will start to see the upturn in 2nd quarter next year, with demand and rates peaking sometime late in 2012 (and a crash again around 2015)

[R6steve]

Still talking rubbish, I see.

I still haven't figured out what on earth you are trying to achieve with this thread? You certainly seem to be as muddled in your thinking now as you were in your first post.

This whole thread smells of nothing more than a "bored-permie-winding-up-contractors" thread. Or, if not that, then a "bored-agent-winding-up-contractors" thread.

I'll wait until you come back with all these "requirements" for contractors that you keeping talking - and only talking - about. Up until then, I'll continue to call b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t.

Cheers,

Nomadd

Don't be so suspicious, yes I'm a permie and no I'm not a recruiter and as far as I can tell I don't think I've wound anybody up, except you, but I doubt that's very hard to do , only joking, no need to be nasty back .

It's very hard to find views and backgrounds of contractors, you're a secretive bunch, not surprising really bearing in mind some of the posts I've seen about the Revenue hounding you. I've asked the contractors here and a few suggested this site for a wider opinion. It's a good site and on the whole the posters are pretty happy to share their views, which is I think the purpose behind the forum concept.

The main thrust of the project I'm working on is to attract more contractors through a little more marketing including social networking sites and if possible reduce the cost of taking contractors on i.e. removal of the agent fees, which will ultimately reduce the daily rate we pay, but not affect the rates you get. Agents provide a valuable service albeit at a high cost. And no before you get all suspicious again, I'm not working for a company that is just about to launch a contractor networking site or anything like that.

[nomadd]

The main thrust of the project I'm working on is to attract more contractors through a little more marketing including social networking sites and if possible reduce the cost of taking contractors on i.e. removal of the agent fees, which will ultimately reduce the daily rate we pay, but not affect the rates you get. Agents provide a valuable service albeit at a high cost. And no before you get all suspicious again, I'm not working for a company that is just about to launch a contractor networking site or anything like that.

Rubbish. Agency rates for large clients are as low as 10%, if not even lower at present. Agencies are desperate for work, so the old days of them being "high-cost" is just nonsense. Yet you are going to cut out the agencies, do all the paperwork and deal with all the hassle - on an ongoing basis - and still offer contractors a decent rate? Dream on.

And I'd love to see the contracts your company is going to come up with in order to protect yourself from the legal minefield that is using a large number of contractors directly. Ask yourself a question: Why do 99% of companies go via agencies - and no, it's not because they just love paying agency fees (even when they are low.) I'd also love to see your payment terms, contract terms, etc., as I'm sure they'll be pretty well stacked in your favour and not the contractors.

And yet for all the nonsense you've been talking - like your latest post - you still chose to create a thread entitled "Why did you get into contracting?" I'll ask you once again - for the third time now - what on earth has that got to do with the business requirement you claim to be researching? Answer, absolutely nothing.

You are just a forum troll.

Nomadd

Ps. And I'm still waiting for you to post your requirements. You haven't even asked about the specific skills for the fields you are supposed to be working within. How dumb is that. Still, I'm sure you'll know that the contractors you get will be a "perfect fit" for your company once you know "why they went into contracting!" Oh, and I went into contracting (as you insisted on knowing) as a way to get over the death of a dearly beloved family pet. ...Can I have a place on one of your your new super-duper contracts now?

[Not So Wise]

God nomadd what is your issue with him? You have been jumping on his back since first post for no real reason except you don't like his question...and it was not even one covered in the FAQ

Rubbish. Agency rates for large clients are as low as 10%, if not even lower at present. Agencies are desperate for work, so the old days of them being "high-cost" is just nonsense.

Incorrect, some are still charging high margins (35-40%) and 10% would be low even in todays market (something only large clients with a prefurred supplier will get)

Yet you are going to cut out the agencies, do all the paperwork and deal with all the hassle - on an ongoing basis - and still offer contractors a decent rate? Dream on.

Why not? Pay contractor what they normally expect, get to keep agents margin, already a saving saving of 10% (your figure) from the get go

And I'd love to see the contracts your company is going to come up with in order to protect yourself from the legal minefield that is using a large number of contractors directly. ..... I'd also love to see your payment terms, contract terms, etc., as I'm sure they'll be pretty well stacked in your favour and not the contractors.

This is true, and this is where most client clients who go direct screw up...but then again so do agents

Ask yourself a question: Why do 99% of companies go via agencies - and no, it's not because they just love paying agency fees (even when they are low.)

Simple, less hassle, no real other reason (always allowing for plain stupidity/ignorance)

First off, Hiring. In current market anyone advertising a role is if getting flooded with applicants, 300 plus in some cases. Time consuming for client to go though them, then first round of calls/arranging interviews so forth. Hiring manager doing this is a waste of his valuable time, letting HR do it is just asking for headaches for everyone and their mother. So agency makes things simple and easy for line manager

Later, billing, even just a small amount of contractors can create a lot of paperwork for an accounts department, invoices/timesheets to checked, payments to be made, missing payments to be chased so forth. If client has most of their contractors of them though a handful of agencies that's only handful of invoices/payments to made per month, lot simpler

Some places, that work with multiple agencies, are even putting another company between them and agencies now, a consultancy to manage all the paperwork/work agents might create to they only have deal with on contract/invoice (I think these clients are lazy idiots)

But then on flip side have seen a company do what he is talking about, basically started hiring all contractors direct and it worked quite well for them, because they had a HR department that were not up their own arse and large and busy accounts department that was well used to dealing with hundreds of suppliers of all shapes and sizes

[R6steve]

Rubbish. Agency rates for large clients are as low as 10%, if not even lower at present. Agencies are desperate for work, so the old days of them being "high-cost" is just nonsense. Yet you are going to cut out the agencies, do all the paperwork and deal with all the hassle - on an ongoing basis - and still offer contractors a decent rate? Dream on.

And I'd love to see the contracts your company is going to come up with in order to protect yourself from the legal minefield that is using a large number of contractors directly. Ask yourself a question: Why do 99% of companies go via agencies - and no, it's not because they just love paying agency fees (even when they are low.) I'd also love to see your payment terms, contract terms, etc., as I'm sure they'll be pretty well stacked in your favour and not the contractors.

And yet for all the nonsense you've been talking - like your latest post - you still chose to create a thread entitled "Why did you get into contracting?" I'll ask you once again - for the third time now - what on earth has that got to do with the business requirement you claim to be researching? Answer, absolutely nothing.

You are just a forum troll.

Nomadd

Ps. And I'm still waiting for you to post your requirements. You haven't even asked about the specific skills for the fields you are supposed to be working within. How dumb is that. Still, I'm sure you'll know that the contractors you get will be a "perfect fit" for your company once you know "why they went into contracting!" Oh, and I went into contracting (as you insisted on knowing) as a way to get over the death of a dearly beloved family pet. ...Can I have a place on one of your your new super-duper contracts now?

So if you could cut 10% costs from your company you wouldn't do it if it was hard?

And what legal / complex paperwork are you talking about? I'm sure we go through agencies not because its hard but because we always have. Lets face it, if we posted the vacancy on a jobboard I'm sure we'd be inundated.

As for the requirement, read post one of the thread. It's a fairly sensible post, if I called it 'I'm writing a report' I doubt many would read it, therefore the title was thoughtout and was no accident.

Any hoot, I can't remember if I asked 'why did you became a contractor?'.

[saptastic]

Hi,

I'm fairly new in my job (marketing consultant, automotive industry NOT a recruiter, I'm also a permie and not a contractor) and I've been asked to write a guide about the roles of contractors throughout the business and how contractors will more than likely play a larger part on the company (end of the permanent job for life type thing).

I've read lots of posts and seem to have a good handle on what contractors do, how they operate etc however the only bit I'm struggling with is how/why people choose to become a contractor/freelancer in the first place?

I'm guessing it's mainly because of:
1. necessity - couldn't find permie work?
2. design - the allure of more money and potential life style choice
3. hate their boss, culture of the company or combo of both

Is this about right?

Also (on a more personal interest note, this isn't for the report) how many started as a contractor and used it as a stepping stone to starting their own business?

Cheers

Back to the original question - freedom and money - why be restricted to 3/4weeks holiday a year - approved at the bosses "discretion". Theres a whole world out there beyond the 9 to 5 day job.

[nomadd]

Any hoot, I can't remember if I asked 'why did you became a contractor?'.

You did: Page 3. I answered: Page 6. Glad to have helped in your "research".

Cheers,

Nomadd

EDIT: Sorry, gotta go now. Sony GameCom press conference starts in 8 minutes. Slim PS3 FTW.

[RichardCranium]

The main thrust of the project I'm working on is to attract more contractors through a little more marketing including social networking sites and if possible reduce the cost of taking contractors on i.e. removal of the agent fees, which will ultimately reduce the daily rate we pay, but not affect the rates you get. Agents provide a valuable service albeit at a high cost.

You are such a time-waster. That includes your own.

We are mostly technical specialists or business specialists that take a requirement, refine it and implement it. It's what we do.

FFS, JUST BE HONEST, STOP TRYING TO BE CLEVER (it is not working) AND TELL US STRAIGHT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AND WE'LL PROBABLY HELP.

Jeez.

[eliquant]

I got into IT contracting and left permiedome because ...

1) In permiedom I didn't like £0 annual pay increases and £0 bonuses for hours and hours of overtime, contracting offered me alot more money in my pocket a 80% net increase in pay since my last permie job, nuff said.

2) I reaslised that there were no promotion or career opportunities in IT departments, you just came in and did the same job you applied for when you got the job until you died or were no longer needed. Why go with the pretence of permiedom, just go contractign and do exactly the same.

3) permie jobs just would not train or invest in their staff, in over 14 years I got 2 days cheap training once. What was the point I thought.

4) contracting allowed me the freedom to hop from job to job easily with no questions asked as I attempted to do so, the reason I like this is because I tire of IT departments / teams real quick (1 year and I get bored or frustrated with too many things). If I was permie jumping from job to job every 6 months to 1 year is just not possible.

5) The breaks in between contracts give you time to think and reflect on your life and where you should be headed next.